Model year record

2008 Honda Civic Hybrid recalls & problems

The 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid has 4 safety recalls and 64 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (19 complaints).

Recalls4safety recalls

Complaints64filed by owners

Crashes · fires5 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths3 · 1reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Air bagsJun 27, 2019

Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

Recall 19V5020009,555 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.

Air bagsMay 16, 2019

Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

Recall 19V37800019,138 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.

Air bagsJan 10, 2017

Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

Recall 17V030000977,708 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.

Air bagsMay 24, 2016

Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

Recall 16V3460002,719,386 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2008 Honda Civic Hybrid 4-DR. w/SAB

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Civic Hybrid Hybrid

42mpg combined

City / highway	40 / 45 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.3 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (variable gear ratios) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $1,600/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Electrical system	19	2	2	60,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	14	0	0	80,625 mi
Air bags	11	2	1	77,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling	9	1	1	50,000 mi
Vehicle speed control	6	1	0	68,063 mi
Fuel system, gasoline	5	0	0	33,458 mi
Engine	4	0	0	91,500 mi
Power train	3	0	0	50,000 mi
Wheels	2	0	0	—
Electronic stability control (esc)	2	1	1	—
Visibility/wiper	2	0	0	—
StructureBody	2	1	1	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Equipment › Electrical › Navigational system(global positioning system)
The contact owns a 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid. The contact stated that the navigation system time display became inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where the contact was informed that parts were on back order. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.
Jan 1, 2022 · 70,000 miles
Engine
I HAVE A 2008 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. THE IMA BATTERY WAS REPLACED AT CURRY HONDA IN CHICOPEE, MA IN 2014. AS CONSUMER REPORTS REPORTED IN 2014 THE IMA BATTERIES ARE VERY UNRELIABLE. MY IMA BATTERY RECENTLY WENT BAD AGAIN AND NOW HONDA IS SAYING IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY. FULL DISCLOSURE THE CAR HAS A SALVAGE TITLE. THIS DID NOT MATTER IN 2014 WHEN IT WAS FIRST REPLACED. UPON FURTHER INVERTIGATION I SEE THE WARRANTY ON THE BATTERY IS NOW 11 YEARS OR 162.000 MILES. MY CAR HAS UNDER 130,000 MILES AND IS LESS THAN 11 YEARS OLD. ALSO THE IMA BATTERY IS LISTED UNDER THE EMISSION SYSTEM AND SHOULD BE COVERED FOR SAFETY ISSUES. HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/TSBS/2012/SB-10051509-6014.PDF
May 1, 2019 · 128,000 miles
Steering
'TAKATA RECALL' THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING LOCKS UP AT RANDOM TIME WHEN THE CAR IS ALREADY IN MOTION; IT IS VERY RANDOM. I COULD NOT GET IT FIXED BECAUSE IF THE CAR IS NOT ACTING UP WHEN GETTING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT TELL ME THE PROBLEM. IT FIRST START HAPPENING IN JUNE 2018. IT STOPPED FOR MONTHS AND NOW IS MESSING AGAIN OUT OF NO WHERE.
Jun 12, 2018
Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ALTHOUGH THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS NOT OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VACAVILLE HONDA (751 ORANGE DR, VACAVILLE, CA 95687) ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY REPAIRED THE WARNING INDICATOR; HOWEVER, IT WAS STILL ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000.
Jan 1, 2019 · 139,000 miles
Visibility/wiper
WIPERS ON 08 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID GO ON EVERY TIME THE CAR IGNITION IS STARTED. AFTER 7-8 SWISHES, WIPERS STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. HONDA SERVICE BULLETIN 07-071 REPORTED THIS ISSUE ON 9/24/10 AND RECOMMENDS REPLACING WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR COVER PLATE. OTHER INTERNET SEARCHES RECOMMEND REPLACING THE ENTIRE MOTOR ASSEMBLY 76505-SNA-A02. DEALER REPAIR QUOTE WAS OVER $500: $117 FOR THE MOTOR ASSEMBLY PLUS LABOR. ONLY 06-07 MODELS ARE COVERED IN THE SERVICE BULLETIN 07-071, BUT THERE ARE 240 REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM AT HTTPS://REPAIRPAL.COM/WIPERS-WONT-PARK-DUE-TO-WINDSHIELD-WIPER-MOTOR-FAILURE-531?TRK_LOC=RR# . THE SAME PART WAS RECALLED IN 2003. HONDA CONSUMER AFFAIRS DECLINED TO…
May 1, 2018 · 105,902 miles
Fuel/propulsion system
..I WAS NOTICING GAS FUMES IN MY GARAGE FOR ABOUT A WEEK...EARLY ON CALLED DEALERSHIP AND SAID I HAD RECENTLY GASSED UP...I WAS ADVISED TO SEE IF MAYBE ODOR WOULD ABATE ON ITS OWN PERHAPS DUE TO SPILLING UPON FILLING...IT DID NOT...THERE WAS A CRACK FOUND WHERE THE GAS TANK CONNECTS TO THE ENGINE AND SMALL AMOUNT OF GAS WAS LEAKING REQUIRING A REPLACEMENT OF GAS TANK AND REPAIR WOULD BE ABOUT 1350....I LOOKED ON LINE TO FIND INFO RE RECALL NOTICE FOR SOME 80000 VEHICLES FOR SAME PROBLEM....HOWEVER ALTHOUGH MY CAR WAS IN THE SAID GROUP....MY VIN WAS NOT...ALSO I PURCHASED MY CAR DEC 07 LEAVING FIVE MONTHS OUT OF EXTENDED WARRANTY IF APPLIED.....I HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED THE DEALERSHIP GAVE…
May 4, 2018 · 120,000 miles
Fuel/propulsion system
I OWN A 2008 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. THAT STARTED SMELLING LIKE GAS AND NOW IT IS LEAKING REALLY BAD TO THE POINT THA I AM AFRAID IT WILL CATCH FIRE .
Apr 10, 2018
Wheels
2008 HONDA CIVIC HAS EXCESSIVE, DANGEROUS REAR TIRE WEAR. NO HEAVY TOWING OR ANYTHING CRAZY, AND THE INNER EDGE OF THE TIRES (ABOUT 3" INWARD) WEARS COMPLETELY OFF BY 15,000-20,000 MILES, WELL SHORT OF THE FRONT TIRES, OUR REAR OUTER EDGE OF THE TIRE. VERY DANGEROUS, EXPENSIVE, MAKES NOISE AND AFFECTS BRAKING. HONDA HAS A TSB, BUT WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE IT AS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT REQUIRING A RECALL.
Oct 4, 2017 · 117,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

Pedestrian alert soundsClosedLed to recall 22V063000
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review…
DP22005 · opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023