2008 Honda Civic Hybrid: problems, recalls and reliability
4 recalls and 64 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is fuel/propulsion system (22% of complaints); the 2009 and 2010 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Jun 2019
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 64 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“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.”Owner report · Equipment · Jan 2022
“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”Owner report · Engine · May 2019
“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.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jan 2019
Show 7 more owner reports
“'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.”Owner report · Steering · Jun 2018
“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 .”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Apr 2018
“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.”Owner report · Wheels · Oct 2017
“Tl* the contact owned a 2008 honda civic hybrid. The contact stated that his mother-in-law was involved in a front end collision after losing control of the vehicle on the freeway. The contact stated that all the air bags deployed except the driver side air bag. The vehicle was towed to a collision shop, but it had not been determined if the vehicle was destroyed. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. There was one fatality due to the crash. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not provided.”Owner report · Air Bags · Apr 2017
“Tl* the contact owns a 2008 honda civic hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v346000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2016
“Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 honda civic hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v346000 (air bags); however, the part for the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. Parts distribution disconnect.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2016
“In july 2016, honda sent me an initial letter advising me of an airbag recall in my vehicle. According to the letter and NHTSA's website, the remedy would be available no later than fall 2016. To date, there is still no remedy available and I have not received an additional letter from honda.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2016
When filing, owners marked a crash in 5 of these complaints and injuries in 3 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 4 campaigns
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
How other years compare
Counts are not adjusted for time on the road here - see all Civic Hybrid years ranked fairly for the age-adjusted comparison.
Check your exact Civic Hybrid by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid reliable?
NHTSA has 64 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on record for the 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid. The most complained-about area is fuel/propulsion system (22% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 70,750 miles or less.
Does the 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid have open recalls?
4 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning air bags. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.