2008 Honda Civic Problems

High Complaint Volume

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2008 Honda Civic. Part of Generation 8 — 2006–2011.

20072009
Complaints
1,078
per 10K Sold
32.2
US Sales
335,126
Crashes
89
Fires
8
Injuries
65
Fatalities
Recalls
6

Worst 2008 Honda Civic Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1165 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:100,725 mi
Crash-related:37
Fires:1
#2155 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:127,722 mi
Crash-related:2
Fires:2
#3109 complaints

Visibility

Avg mileage:43,433 mi
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2008 Honda Civic.

Airbags
165
complaints
Crashes
37
Fires
1
Avg Miles
100,725
Engine Problems
155
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Avg Miles
127,722
Visibility
109
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
43,433
Body Structure
69
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
Avg Miles
70,132
Suspension:Rear
51
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
21,096
Suspension Failures
43
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
49,100
Electrical Faults
41
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
51,421
Engine & Cooling
37
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
66,236
Transmission / Drivetrain
29
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
57,890
Tire Defects
28
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
26,009
Unintended Acceleration
25
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
1
Avg Miles
33,674
Wheel Issues
22
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
133,980
Steering Defects
21
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
61,960
Wipers & Visibility
21
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
79,940
Hydraulic Brakes
19
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
Avg Miles
17,554
Brakes
16
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
149,924
Structural Problems
14
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
62,194
Automatic Transmission
13
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
16,546
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
45,071
Other Equipment
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
17,706
Seat Belt Issues
9
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
77,643
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
30,830
Manual Transmission
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
28,143
Air Bags:Frontal
7
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
Avg Miles
34,931
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
43,890
Gasoline Fuel System
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Avg Miles
55,782
Headlight/Taillight Failures
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
58,866
Fuel System
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
221,774
Air Bags:Side/Window
5
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
26,174

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2008 Honda Civic. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2008 Honda Civic

6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~3,730,379 vehicles.

19V502000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~9,555 affected

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.

19V378000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~19,138 affected

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.

18V268000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~1,335 affected

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.

17V545000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~3,257 affected

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.

17V030000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~977,708 affected

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.

16V346000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~2,719,386 affected

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.

Other Honda Civic Years

2008 Honda Civic — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2008 Honda Civic reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 2008 Honda Civic has 1,078 NHTSA complaints, 89 crash-related, and 6 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Airbags with 165 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2008 Honda Civic?
Top reported problems: Airbags (165 complaints, avg 100,725 mi); Engine Problems (155 complaints, avg 127,722 mi); Visibility (109 complaints, avg 43,433 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2008 Honda Civic?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 74,268 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2008 Honda Civic?
NHTSA complaints for the 2008 Honda Civic include 89 crash-related reports, 8 fire reports, 65 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2008 Honda Civic have any recalls?
Yes — 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,730,379 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2008 Honda Civic?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (airbags) and verify open recalls have been addressed.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Honda Civic reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

Check Your Specific 2008 Honda Civic

Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.

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