13 Common Honda Civic Problems

A list of some of the most common issues Civic owners have to deal with.

  1. Denso Fuel Pump Failure

    The impellers inside of Denso branded fuel pumps may have been excessively exposed to a drying agent during manufacturing. This leads to them cracking, absorbing fuel, and deforming so badly that they stop sending fuel to the engine. Honda …

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  2. Honda Sensing Problems

    Honda sensing is a group of safety systems to help drivers monitor changing road conditions. However there are growing concerns about malfunctions in the system that cause the auto-brakes to engage randomly, the radar to get confused on sun…

    Continue reading article "Honda Sensing Problems" An illustrated CR-V with blue triangles beaming out from various parts of the car where there are sensors
  3. Oil Dilution in Honda's 1.5L Engine

    Excess fuel vapors in Honda’s 1.5-liter engine aren’t burning off and diluting the engine’s oil. This raises the oil level, triggers warning lights, creates a terrible smell, and brings into question the prospect of long-term damage caused …

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  4. TPMS Warning Light

    TPMS, or tire pressure monitoring systems, are a mildly controversial feature of some modern cars. While it's nice to have quick access to the current PSI readings of your tires from the comfort of your driver's seat, some manufacturers (he…

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  5. Civic Visor Keeps Falling Down

    A federal court has approved a class action lawsuit settlement against Honda after the popular automaker failed to fix or warn owners about defective sun visors. The settlement affects over 2 million Honda Civic and Civic Hybrid owners and …

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  6. Civic Rapid and Uneven Tire Wear

    The Internet has been abuzz with complaints about uneven and rapidly wearing tires on the 2006-09 Civic. These uneven tire problems can quickly turn into braking issues and also lead to reports of difficult to control vibrations, giving som…

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  7. Honda's Extremely Uncomfortable Seats

    An alarming number of people have complained that their late-model Honda has the most uncomfortable seats of any car they've ever owned. The problem seems to affect the 2008-2014 model years with a particular, back-crippling emphasis on the…

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  8. Rodents Chew Soy Wiring

    Honda switched to a soy-based coating for their wiring that is more biodegradable. It sounds like a pro-Earth move by the automaker, but the real reason is probably a little less triumphant: the coating costs less than plastic. Still, less …

    Continue reading article "Rodents Chew Soy Wiring"
  9. Peeling Paint and Clear Coat

    Is your Honda shedding clearcoat and peeling off paint at an alarming rate? You're not alone. Far from it actually. Even the most ardent, wax-happy, electric car polisher wielding owner can find their paint tearing off in sheets. So what gi…

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  10. Automatic Transmission Failure

    If you own a Honda released between 1999-2004 and haven't had any issues with your automatic transmission, may I suggest you go to your nearest conevnience store and play the lottery? 'Cause you're one lucky son-of-a-gun.

    Continue reading article "Automatic Transmission Failure"
  11. Civic Cracked Engine Block

    A manufacturing defect allows the 2006-2009 Civic's engine block to develop a crack, allowing coolant to leak out and cause the engine to overheat and eventually fail. Although never recalled, Honda did extend the Civic's engine warranty to…

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What Civic Owners Complain About

Sometimes it helps just to tally up the complaints and see where the biggest stacks are. Use this information to learn about troublespots or to run for the hills.

What Breaks the Most

Years to Avoid

Civic Generations

The Civic has 7 generations, each with their own issues. Using the same PainRank™ system we've determined that you're better off avoiding the 7th generation (2001–2005).

Civic Key Numbers

  1. 6,465 complaints

    Running tally of owner grievances filed to CarComplaints.com.

  2. 1,315 service bulletins

    Documenting the process of troubleshooting common problems.

  3. 73 recall campaigns

    Time-sensitive, free repairs for widespread safety problems.

Recent Civic News

There's a lot of news out there, but not all of it matters. We try to boil down it to the most important bits about things that actually help you with your car problem. Interested in getting these stories in an email? Signup for free email alerts over at CarComplaints.com.

  1. Honda will extend the powertrain warranty on more than 1 million vehicles in the US that continue to have oil dilution problems.

    The 1.5-liter Earth Dreams engine is notorious for gasoline diluting the oil, which triggers warning lights, hurts performance, and creates an awful smell inside the cabin. The extended warranty is available to owners in all 50 states despite Honda’s insistence that the issue only happens in extreme cold weather.…

    keep reading article "Honda Extends Powertrain Warranty for 1 Million Vehicles With Oil Dilution Problems"
  2. There’s a fix coming for rising oil levels in the CR-V and Civic, but your eligibility largely depends on where you live.

    Honda’s N60 service campaign will attempt to fix the oil dilution problem with software updates to the transmission control module and electronic fuel injection system. Additionally, drain plug washers and climate control units may be replaced.…

    keep reading article "Honda Has an Oil Dilution Solution, For Some"
  3. Honda is recalling a small number of 2017-2018 Civics and CR-Vs] because of a loose magnet in the electronic power steering system.

    How bad can a loose magnet be? “Unless it's properly secured, the magnet can dislodge and during a turn where the wheel is as far as it can go, the power steering assist will be applied in the opposite direction.

    Oh. I’m guessing that’s a jarring and unwelcome surprise.

    keep reading article "Loose Magnet in Electronic Power Steering System"

See All Civic News

What Owners Say About Their Civic

Cracked Engine Block and Coolant Leaks in 8th Generation Civic

On some 2006–08 and early production 2009 Civics, the engine (cylinder) block may experience engine coolant leaks, resulting in engine overheating and cracking. It was a Service bulletin 10-048, not a recall. This saved my life. I got my engine for free under this bulletin. It wasn't a recall because the first bulletin stated that these engines MAY or MAY NOT crack.

2008 Civic Owner in TX

Cracked Engine Block and Coolant Leaks in 8th Generation Civic

Suddenly noticed the heat gauge rise quickly. Stopped car right away and checked coolant. Coolant was extremely low and noticed leaking from what i thought was the water pump. Took it to my mechanic only to be told the block was cracked and needed an engine that would cost $2500.

2008 Civic Owner in OH

The Civic's Rapid and Uneven Tire Wear Problem

I think I'm too late to file a claim for the control arm issue. I've had to replace my tires once a year since I bought it 5 years ago. I also have to replace the front brakes almost every year, which I believe is related to the whole premature wearing and whatever else is causing the frequent replacing of tires.

2006 Civic Owner in PEI, Canada