Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2008 Honda Civic, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Air bags177
- Engine156
- Visibility112
- Suspension99
- Structure85
- Engine and engine cooling55
- Unknown or other54
- Power train52
- Electrical system51
- Tires30
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 50 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 252 2008 Civic vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 190 people died inside them, and 45 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2008 Honda Civic failed the safety check 2.57% of the time — 4% more often than the average 2008 passenger car (2.48%). Median odometer at inspection: 144,262 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 2008 Honda Civic cars on Dutch roads are the 1.3 hybrid (70 kW, 94 hp), 1.8 petrol (103 kW, 138 hp) and 1.3 petrol (61 kW, 82 hp), out of 5 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.3 hybrid | 70 kW 94 hp | 1,379 |
| 1.8 petrol | 103 kW 138 hp | 548 |
| 1.3 petrol | 61 kW 82 hp | 321 |
| 2.0 petrol | 148 kW 198 hp | 44 |
| 2.2 diesel | 103 kW 138 hp | 22 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
2,322 first registered in 2008 are on Dutch roads; 15% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €24,501.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde1,506
- Band onvoldoende profiel1,112
- Licht- donkerscheiding dimlicht onduidelijk803
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld795
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt685
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm641
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)634
- Schijf-, trommelrem loopt niet vrij502
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
16,333 cars built in 2008 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 2,288 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 23,599 of these cars first registered in 2008 took their annual MOT test. 56% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2008 the figure was 57%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2008 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 25.9% | 19.8% |
| Suspension | 18.2% | 17.2% |
| Brakes | 9.9% | 11.3% |
| Tyres | 7.6% | 7.6% |
| Visibility | 6.0% | 6.7% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 4.1% | 7.3% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
1,687 of these cars first registered in 2008 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 222,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
1,601 2008 cars are on the New Zealand register; 44% arrived as used imports, 54% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 3 variants: combined 7.7–10.0 L/100 km (about 24–31 mpg US), CO₂ 177–230 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civic · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 8.6 | 6.5 | 7.7 |
| Civic · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 9.5 | 6.8 | 8.3 |
| Civic · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 11.6 | 8.1 | 10.0 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 2008 Honda Civic.
| 2017009 10 Jan 2017 | Airbag On certain vehicles, long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature, combined with high temperature cycling, could eventually degrade the propella… |
| 2014345 11 Aug 2014 | Steering On certain vehicles, a fault in the Electric Power Steering (EPS) system could result in an immediate loss of power steering assist without warning to the drive… |
| 2008384 21 Oct 2008 | Other On certain vehicles, the bracket that covers the fuel hose connector is normally secured with a nut and bolt, however during assembly the nut was omitted. In t… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2014 Fit EV, 2010-2014 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2013 TSX Sport Wagon, and 2010-2012 ZDX and 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, 2012-2014 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2013 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 Honda Accord and Pilot, 2010 Accord Crosstour, 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 Element, 2007 and 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2012 Insight, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2012 Ridgeline vehicles. The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2008-2012 Accord, 2010-2012 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2012 Fit and Pilot, 2010-2012 Insight, and 2009-2012 Acura TSX vehicles that received replacement passenger frontal air bag inflators. One dealership may have incorrectly installed the replacement air bag inflators.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Acura TSX, 2011-2012 Acura TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Acura ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2012 Honda Accord Crosstour and Honda Insight, 2009-2012 Honda Fit, 2009-2012 Pilot, 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2012 Honda FCX Clarity and 2006-2011 Honda Civic, Civic Hybrid, Civic NGV vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, if not included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain 2009 Acura TSX, Honda Fit and Pilot, 2008-2009 Honda Accord, 2006-2009 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, and 2007-2009 Honda CR-V vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, if not included in "Zone B" above, Honda is recalling certain 2008 Honda Accord, 2006-2008 Honda Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV and 2007-2008 Honda CR-V vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Acura TSX, 2011 TSX Wagon, 2010-2011 Acura ZDX, 2008-2011 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid, and Civic GX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2010-2011 FCX Clarity and Insight, and 2009-2011 Fit, and Pilot vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless already included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain model year 2008 Honda Accord, 2006-2008 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic GX, and 2007-2008 CR-V vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Vehicles not originally sold or ever registered in either Zones A or B are not subject to this safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
HONDA IS RECALLING 128 MY 2008-2009 CIVIC SEDANS. A BRACKET THAT COVERS THE FUEL HOSE CONNECTOR IS SECURED WITH A BOLT AND NUT, BUT DURING ASSEMBLY THE NUT WAS NOT INSTALLED.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Honda told its dealers about the 2008 Honda Civic: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10237952 | Service News - The navigation clock and date are incorrect. This is due to a limited GPS receiver Capacity resulting in a rollover of the internal chip memory; the rollover occurred on January 1, 2022, at 12:00AM local time. |
| 10206994 | ServiceNews Article - The clock shows the incorrect time. This issue is due to a limited GPS receiver capacity resulting in "rollover" of the internal chip memory; the "rollover" will occur on January 1, 2022 at 12:00AM local time. As a result, the navigation date and time will be incorrect. |
| 10172570 | Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement front passenger's airbag inflator only. |
| 10159786 | Service Bulletin - American Honda is conducting an inspection of certain vehicles that have previously had the passenger's airbag inflator replaced as part of the Takata Passsenger's Airbag Inflator recall. If you completed the repair described by this service bulletin on or before May 10, 2019, make sure to use the Warranty Claim Information provided below. |
| 10145895 | Service bulletin - American Honda is conducting an inspection of certain vehicles that have previously had the passenger's airbag inflator replaced as part of the Takata Passsenger's Airbag Inflator recall. |
| 10141175 | Service bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement front passengers airbag inflator only. |
| 10141170 | Service bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement front passengers airbag inflator only. |
| 10128559 | Dealer message - On Monday, June 23, 2014, American Honda announced three recalls for various 2001-11 Honda models. As of July 23, 2014, affected VINs have been identified, and service bulletins 14-040, Safety Recall: Accord, Civic, and Others ? Front Passenger?s Airbag Inflator Can Be Over-Pressurized, 14-045, Recall: Front Driver?s Airbag Inflator May Produce Excessive Pressure After Long-Term Exposure to High Absolute Humidity Recall, and 14-046, Recall: Front Passenger?s Airbag Inflator May Produce Excessive Pressure After Long-Term Exposure to High Absolute Humidity have been posted to I |
| 10128531 | Dealer message - On Monday, June 23, 2014, American Honda announced three recalls for various 2001-11 Honda models. As of August 4, 2014, affected VINs have been identified, and VIN status inquiry has been updated. |
| 10124264 | Service bulletin - American Honda is extending the warranty on the EPS (electric power steering) to 10 years from the original date of purchase or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first. This warranty covers vehicles where the steering feels heavier than normal, or is hard to turn, particularly when the vehicle is not moving, and the EPS indicator comes on with DTC 61-04 (open/short in the EPS motor harness [steering diagnosis]) or DTC 32-09 (current sensor [initial diagnosis]) stored. |
| 10124263 | Service bulletin - The exterior paint on the hood and the leading edge of the front fenders may crack or look chalky or cloudy. Also the roof, trunk, upper portions of the quarter panel, and the upper portions of the doors may look chalky or cloudy. American Honda is extending the warranty on the paint of the affected vehicles to 7 years from the original date of purchase with no mileage limit. This warranty extension does not apply to other paint issues like rock chips, scratches, bird droppings, sap, etc. |
| 10124255 | Dealer message - Today, September 23, 2014, American Honda is announcing a warranty extension for all 2006-07 Civic Hybrid, 2006-09 Civic Si 2-door, 2007-09 Civic Si 4-door, and 2007-08 Fit. An issue with the electronic power steering is being addressed by this warranty extension. Resin contamination of a failsafe relay may cause increased resistance. Increased resistance can cause the EPS control unit to detect an open circuit in the harness, setting DTCs 39-02 and/or 61-04 and shutting power steering assist off. To increase customer confidence, American Honda is extending the warranty on |
| 10118515 | Dealer message - Beginning September 26, 2017, the 2006-2011 Civic Engine Block (part number 10002-RNA-A50 and 10002- RNE-A01) warranty claim submission will enforce proper engine ordering through iN. |
| 10118211 | Dealer message - Beginning September 26, 2017, the 2006-2011 Civic Engine Block (part number 10002-RNA-A50 and 10002- RNE-A01) warranty claim submission will enforce proper engine ordering through iN. |
| 10115839 | Dealer message - Beginning August 29, 2017, the 2006-2011 Civic Engine Block (part number 10002-RNA-A50 and 10002- RNE-A01) warranty claim submission will require proper engine ordering through iN. On July 19, 2017, a new applica??on was added to assist your dealership with this new process, which is similar to the current IMA ba??ery, audio, and A/T ordering. Without proper engine block ordering through iN, warranty claims will not be accepted. |
| 10115799 | Service bulletin - On some 2006?08 and early production 2009 Civics, the engine (cylinder) block may leak engine coolant, resulting in engine overheating. To increase customer confidence, American Honda is extending the warranty of the engine block to 10 years from the original date of purchase, with no mileage limit. |
| 10115219 | Service bulletin - For any TPMS-related warranty repairs, all recorded DTCs must now be entered into the warranty claim. Make sure your repair order includes those DTCs. |
| 10115201 | Service bulletin - On some 2006-08 and early production 2009 Civics, the engine (cylinder) block may leak engine coolant, resulting in engine overheating. To increase customer confidence, American Honda is extending the warranty of the engine block to 10 years from the original date of purchase, with no mileage limit. |
| 10115157 | Service bulletin - On some 2006 - 08 and early production 2009 Civics, the engine (cylinder) block may leak engine coolant, resulting in engine overheating. To increase customer confidence, American Honda is extending the warranty of the engine block to 10 years from the original date of purchase, with no mileage limit. |
| 10108873 | Dealer message - American Honda (AHM) is investigating certain 2008 Civic CNGs with a customer complaint of rough idle or Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) on with the misfire DTCs P0300 through P0304 stored. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind. |
| 10108481 | "SERVICE BULLETIN - THE FUEL TANK IN ALL HONDA NATURAL GAS VEHICLES MUST BE INSPECTED FOR DETERIORATION OR DAMAGE EVERY 3 YEARS OR 36,000 MILES, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. THIS IS A REQUIREMENT OF HONDA AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL LINES AND RELATED PARTS SHOULD BE INSPECTED TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE OK." |
| 10108204 | "DEALER MESSAGE - THIS IS TO INFORM YOU THAT HONDA SERVICE BULLETIN 06-015, NATURAL GAS FUEL TANK AND FUEL LINE INSPECTION, HAS BEEN REVISED TO INCLUDE INSTRUCTIONS FOR ORDERING THE CNG FUEL TANK INSPECTION LABELS. THESE LABELS CAN BE ORDERED FROM HELM, INC. EITHER ONLINE AT HELMINC.COM OR BY CALLING 800-782-4356. ASK FOR PART NUMBER Y1041." |
| 10108113 | "DEALER MESSAGE - THIS IS TO INFORM YOU THAT HONDA SERVICE BULLETIN 06-015, NATURAL GAS FUEL TANK AND FUEL LINE INSPECTION, HAS BEEN REVISED TO INCLUDE INSTRUCTIONS FOR ORDERING THE CNG FUEL TANK INSPECTION LABELS. THESE LABELS CAN BE ORDERED FROM HELM, INC. EITHER ONLINE AT HELMINC.COM OR BY CALLING 800-782-4356. ASK FOR PART NUMBER Y1041." |
| 10108038 | "SERVICE BULLETIN - FOR VEHICLES WITH SCI COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG) FUEL TANKS, HONDA IS NO LONGER REPLACING THE FUEL TANK AND SOLENOID VALVE ALTOGETHER. IF YOU REPLACE THE FUEL TANK SOLENOID VALVE, YOU MUST NOW REINSTALL THE ORIGINAL FUEL TANK." |
| 10108021 | "SERVICE BULLETIN - FOR VEHICLES WITH SCI COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG) FUEL TANKS, HONDA IS NO LONGER REPLACING THE FUEL TANK AND SOLENOID VALVE ALTOGETHER. IF YOU REPLACE THE FUEL TANK SOLENOID VALVE, YOU MUST NOW REINSTALL THE ORIGINAL FUEL TANK." |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)