WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATES FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY AND DOES NOT STOP. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES MOSTLY LOWER SPEEDS WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN/LIGHT AND ALMOST CAUSED MULTIPLE REAR END COLLISIONS. *TR
2008 Honda Civic
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Civic years
Owner complaints for the 2008 Honda Civic are substantially higher than the model-year median of 183.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Civic years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
688 reports with mileage · 228 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 177 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 156 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 112 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
916 reports2008 HONDA CIVIC, PURCHASED NEW. PREMATURE FRONT BRAKE WEAR INCLUDING ROTORS AND PAD AT 23,975 MILES. CAR PULLED TO RIGHT AND PULSATING PEDAL. WHEN APPLY BRAKES. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. HONDA MOTOR COMPANY DENIES THERE IS A PROBLEM AND WILL NOT COMPENSATE OWNER FOR THE REPAIRS. *TR
MY HUSBAND WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE HE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVERS SIDE, AND THE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MY HUSBAND SUFFERED NUMEROUS INTERNAL BRUISING , A FRACTURE IN HIS BACK AND A DICS THAT BULGES IN HIS BACK, HE WAS THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE AND ALL THESE INJURIES ARE MAINLY ON HIS LEFT …
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MY HUSBAND WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE HE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVERS SIDE, AND THE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MY HUSBAND SUFFERED NUMEROUS INTERNAL BRUISING , A FRACTURE IN HIS BACK AND A DICS THAT BULGES IN HIS BACK, HE WAS THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE AND ALL THESE INJURIES ARE MAINLY ON HIS LEFT SIDE OF HIS BODY WHERE THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. HE WAS TOLD FROM DOCTORS THAT HE IS LUCKY TO BE ALIVE, BUT HIS INJURIES COULD TAKE IN EXCESS OF A YEAR TO HEAL. HE WAS HIT IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOTALED DUE TO THE DAMAGE. HE SAID THAT WHEN THEY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IT TOOK AWAY HIS BREATH BECAUSE THE FORCE THAT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WAS EXTREME. *TR
08 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID - WHEN THE BATTERIES ARE FULLY CHARGED, THE GENERATOR IS NOT USED FOR BRAKING. WHEN THE BATTERIES ARE NOT CHARGED, THE GENERATOR IS USED FOR BRAKING. DURING THE TRANSITION, I HAVE BEEN SURPRISED MANY TIMES BY THE LACK OF BRAKES. WHEN THE BATTERIES ARE NOT CHARGING YOU HAVE TO REALLY PRESS HARD ON THE BRAKES…
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08 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID - WHEN THE BATTERIES ARE FULLY CHARGED, THE GENERATOR IS NOT USED FOR BRAKING. WHEN THE BATTERIES ARE NOT CHARGED, THE GENERATOR IS USED FOR BRAKING. DURING THE TRANSITION, I HAVE BEEN SURPRISED MANY TIMES BY THE LACK OF BRAKES. WHEN THE BATTERIES ARE NOT CHARGING YOU HAVE TO REALLY PRESS HARD ON THE BRAKES TO EVEN SLOW DOWN. THEN, IF YOU ARE EXPECTING TO PRESS HARD AND THE GENERATOR HAS KICKED BACK IN, YOU ARE THROWN FORWARD AS THE BRAKES WORK FINE. I THOUGHT THIS AND THE OCCASIONAL HERKY-JERKINESS THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT IS NORMAL. BUT, AFTER READING ABOUT THE TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKE ISSUE, THE HONDA IS JUST AS BAD, IF NOT WORSE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE DAY ONE OF OWNERSHIP. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT HAS A 2008 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SPEED CONTROL ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE. WHILE GOING UP HILL THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SAID THE VEHICLE DID STOP, BUT WHEN THE DRIVER STARTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE SPEED …
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TL* THE CONTACT HAS A 2008 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SPEED CONTROL ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE. WHILE GOING UP HILL THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SAID THE VEHICLE DID STOP, BUT WHEN THE DRIVER STARTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE SPEED OFF FROM THE LIGHT EVEN THOUGH THE DRIVER LIGHTLY PRESSED ON THE GAS . THIS IS THE ONLY TIME THAT THIS FAILURE HAS HAPPENED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6008.
COOLANT LEAK - I HAVE ABOUT 32,000 MILES ON THE CAR - STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I NOTICED COOLANT LEAK FROM ENGINE BLOCK . TOOK CAR TO HONDA DEALER - THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND ARE GOING TO CORRECT IT. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS FAILURE. *TR
FAULTY REAR UPPER ARMS IN THE 2008 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID CAUSING REAR TIRES TO BECOME SEVERELY CUPPED. I SPOKE TO HONDA CORPORATE MANAGER WHO SAID THAT THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE TIRES. *TR
SUBJECT:REGENERATIVE BRAKING POSSIBLE PROBLEM COMMENTS: I AM A 2008 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID OWNER THAT IS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS AS STATED IN THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE. PROBLEM WITH SURGING OF THE CAR WHILE BRAKING OR A SLIGHT REDUCTION IN STOPPING POWER. HTTP://WWW.LEFTLANENEWS.COM/NHTSA-REVIEWING-THIRD-GENERATION-TOYOTA-PRIUS-BRAKIN…
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SUBJECT:REGENERATIVE BRAKING POSSIBLE PROBLEM COMMENTS: I AM A 2008 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID OWNER THAT IS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS AS STATED IN THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE. PROBLEM WITH SURGING OF THE CAR WHILE BRAKING OR A SLIGHT REDUCTION IN STOPPING POWER. HTTP://WWW.LEFTLANENEWS.COM/NHTSA-REVIEWING-THIRD-GENERATION-TOYOTA-PRIUS-BRAKING.HTML WHAT IS DIFFERENT IS THAT IT IS LIMITED TO THE FIRST FEW MINUTES WHEN DRIVING, AFTER SUCH TIME IT DISAPPEARS. ALSO, IT DOES NOT ONLY HAPPEN AFTER HITTING BUMPS IN THE ROAD, IT IS ON A SMOOTH ROAD. THIS IS NOT AN ACCELERATION ISSUE, AS THE TACH DOES NOT SURGE OR THE CAR DOES NOT JUMP FORWARD, JUST THE LOSS OF STOPPING POWER. THE ABS SYSTEM DOES NOT ACTIVATE AS I DON'T HEAR THE NOISE COMMON TO WHEN ACTIVATION OF THE ABS OCCURS. AND IT WILL HAPPEN REGARDS OF HOW HARD THE BRAKES ARE PRESSED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM DOES GO AWAY AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND A FEW STOP SIGNS. *TR
PURCHASED A 2008 HONDA CIVIC FROM LOCAL DEALER NEW. THIS VEHICLE HAD ALOT OF ROAD NOISE FOR THE GET GO..BUT SAW ONLINE THAT ROAD NOISE WAS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH HONDA'S. HAD MY CAR REGULARLY SERVICED AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP OVER THE LAST YEAR. LAST MONTH DEC 2009 ROAD NOISE BECAME EXCESSIVE AND TOOK CAR INTO DEALERSHIP. THEY…
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PURCHASED A 2008 HONDA CIVIC FROM LOCAL DEALER NEW. THIS VEHICLE HAD ALOT OF ROAD NOISE FOR THE GET GO..BUT SAW ONLINE THAT ROAD NOISE WAS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH HONDA'S. HAD MY CAR REGULARLY SERVICED AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP OVER THE LAST YEAR. LAST MONTH DEC 2009 ROAD NOISE BECAME EXCESSIVE AND TOOK CAR INTO DEALERSHIP. THEY LOOKED THE CAR OVER AND SAID TIRES HAD EXCESSIVE WEAR BECAUSE I HAD NOT ROTATED THEM EVERY 5000 MILES. CAR IS A YEAR OLD HAS 20000 MILES AND HAS HAD ROAD NOISE ALL ALONG. DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE TIRES AND DENIED PROBLEM. CAR NOW HAS NEARLY 30,000 MILES AND IS UNDRIVABLE AT THIS POINT. HAVEN'T REPLACED TIRES AS IT IS NOT AFFORDABLE. BUT CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. DEALER SAID SUSPENSION PROBLEMS NOTED IN 2006-07 MODELS HAS BEEN FIXED, BUT PROBLEM SEEMS RAMPANT IN THE 2008 IF YOU LOOK ON THE INTERNET AS WELL AS SAFETY REPORTS YET NOTHING HAS BEEN RECALLED, AND HONDA IS NOT STANDING BY THEIR PRODUCT. NOW I AM STILL PAYING FOR A CAR THAT SITS IN THE DRIVEWAY AND IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE...CANT SELL AN UNSAFE VEHICLE..PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM. *TR
MY DAUGHTER WAS A PASSENGER IN A 2008 HONDA CIVIC 4DSD. WHILE IN A PARKING LOT, THEY WERE CUT OFF BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND STRUCK SUCH VEHICLE BROAD SIDE. THE AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED, AT WHICH TIME MY DAUGHTER WAS STRUCK IN THE FACE BY PARTS OF THE DASH BOARD. WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED IT BROKE THE DASH IN SUCH A WAY THAT SHE WAS …
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MY DAUGHTER WAS A PASSENGER IN A 2008 HONDA CIVIC 4DSD. WHILE IN A PARKING LOT, THEY WERE CUT OFF BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND STRUCK SUCH VEHICLE BROAD SIDE. THE AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED, AT WHICH TIME MY DAUGHTER WAS STRUCK IN THE FACE BY PARTS OF THE DASH BOARD. WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED IT BROKE THE DASH IN SUCH A WAY THAT SHE WAS STABBED IN THE FOREHEAD BY THE DASH BOARD PIECES. I DO KNOW AIR BAGS ARE A GOOD SAFETY DEVICE.THE WAY THE DASH BOARD SECURING THIS SYSTEM, BROKE, IS NOT SAFE,AND NEEDS TO MAINTAIN ITS BASE TO WORK PROPERLY. IN THIS CASE, THE DASH BREAKAGE, TAKES AWAY THE BENEFIT EXPECTED FROM THIS AIRBAG SYSTEM. SHE WAS HOSPITALIZED, AND NEEDED 23 STITCHES. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE IF IT HIT HER IN THE EYE, AND IS AN UN ACCEPTABLE CONSEQUENCE TO A LOW SPEED CRASH. *TR
Official recalls
719V502000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Jun 27, 2019
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are F5F and Q5E.
19V378000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
May 16, 2019
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator installation and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are M4O, P4R, T4Q, and W4P.
18V268000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Apr 26, 2018
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are K1P, and M1O.
17V545000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Aug 31, 2017
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash, an incorrectly installed passenger frontal air bag inflator may deploy the air bag improperly, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began October 30, 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are O07, Y0A, N06, G05, M04, Y01, and O09.
17V030000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Jan 10, 2017
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The manufacturer has mailed an interim notification, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KE1 and KE2.
16V346000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
May 24, 2016
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall is KA4, KA5, KA6, and KA7.
08V535000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Oct 14, 2008
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE BRACKET MAY BECOME LOOSE WHICH COULD RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE FUEL HOSE CONNECTOR. A DAMAGED CONNECTOR COULD LEAD TO A FUEL LEAK AND INCREASES THE RISK OF A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NUT ON THE FUEL FEED HOSE BRACKET. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 13, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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