2008 Honda Civic Electrical System Problems

This one happend to my 18yrs brother in law . He using my car to get to his school i dont know what happend he said brake didnt went through . No injury got a car crash thats all . But the sad thing is my insurance went up and the car history gonna be under my safety driver record . Dmv said im a good driver thats why they email me a safety driver number to renew my license no waiting in line . Maybe next renewal im not gonna get that treatment again

THIS VEHICLE HAS A DEMOBILIZER UNIT THAT CONTROLS VEHICLE STARTING AND IS CONNECTED TO KEYS , WHEN UNIT GOES BAD THERE IS NO WAY TO START VEHICLE WITHOUT IT BEING REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMED BY HONDA , THERE ARE UNFORTUNATELY NUMEROUS THINGS THAT CAUSE THIS PROBLEM INCLUDING JUMP STARTING IR EVEN DISCONNECTING BATTERY , WHEN THIS HAPPENS CAR IS IMMOBILIZED AND STRANDED WITH NO WAY TO FIX , WHEN BROUGHT TO DEALER FOR THIS ISSUE WE WERE TOLD PART WAS ON NATIONWIDE BACK ORDER , I BELIEVE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF AND DO NOT TRY TO REMEDY OR HAVE PARTS AVAILABLE , CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER AND IS NOW WAITING WHO KNOWS WHEN FOR PARTS NOT TO JE BACK ORDERED

AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF MAKING SURE EVERYTHING IS OFF THE WOULD NOT START THE NEXT MORNING SO I TOOK IT TO THE FOR THE SECOND TIME HE CHANGE THE BATTERY AND STARTER THE NEXT DAY THE STILL WOULD NOT START TOOK IT BACK TO HIM STIL COULD NOT FIND OUT WHAT WAS KILLING THE BATTERY FOR THE THIRD TIME, AFTER HAVING THE CAR ALL DAY AGIN IT SEEMS THAT SOMETHING WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS NOT SHUTTING OFF. I SAY IT'S ELECTRICIAN PROBLEM

THIRD (HIGH) BRAKE LIGHT DID NOT FUNCTION UPON ANNUAL INSPECTION. APPEARS A SOLDERED CONNECTION WAS DEFECTIVE. ORDERED A REPLACEMENT 3RD BRAKE LIGHT AND IT TO, NEW OUT OF THE BOX, ALSO DID NOT WORK AND AGAIN HAD A FAULTY SOLDER JOINT AT CONNECTION TO LIGHT. SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.

CHANGED THE PASSENGER AIRBAGS AT RECOMMENDED DEALER BY HONDA. THEY SUPPOSEDLY CHANGED IT AND SHOULD HAVE DONE THE PROPER CHECKS TO MAKE SURE ALL IS WELL BUT IT WAS OBVIOUSLY NOT DONE AS THE CAR ENDED UP LOCKING UP SEATBELTS ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER FROM A MINOR POTHOLE THAT THE CASE MANAGER IS CALLING A COLLISION. I COULDNT BELIEVE HE INSISTED THAT THIS (HITTING A POTHOLE AND AIRBAGS GOING OFF) HAD HAPPENED TO HIM ALREADY TRYING TO MAKE IT SEEM NORMAL. MORE IMPORTANTLY, FROM THE CODES THAT THE SHOP INFORMED ME OF, SEAT SENSOR ON PASSENGER SIDE WAS NO GOOD AND ALTHOUGH NO ONE WAS SITTING ON IT IT LOCKED BELTS AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO INFLATE. THEY ARE WITH MY CAR 60 DAYS AND COUNTING.... NEVER HONDA AGAIN.

THE CAR HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SRS WIRING HARNESS THAT CONTROLS AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND DRIVER AND PASSENGER SAFETY. THIS CAUSES THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO COME ON AND PREVENTS PROPER DEPLOYMENT. THE PROBLEM IS EXTREMELY COMMON IN HONDAS, SPECIFICALLY 8TH GENERATION CARS. THE CAUSE IS A POORLY MADE WIRE THAT GETS CAUGHT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT TRACK, CAUSING A SHORT IN THE WIRE. IT CAN ONLY BE REPAIRED PROPERLY AND SAFELY BY REMOVING THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS AND REPLACING IT. THIS REQUIRES THAT THE CARPETING AND THE DASHBOARD BE REMOVED AND TAKES 6-8 HOURS WORTH OF WORK, AND IS REPLACED WITH A $200-400 PART DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU TAKE IT. IT CANNOT BE FIXED EASILY OR AFFORDABLY BY THE CONSUMER, AND PREVENTS THE CAR FROM BEING SAFE TO DRIVE OR PASSING INSPECTIONS IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA. THE PROBLEM MAY HAVE OCCURRED SOONER, AS THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY PURCHASED USED A FEW MONTHS AGO. IT HAPPENS IN MOST HONDAS AND IS NOT COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER'S 150,000 MILE WARRANTY ON OTHER PARTS DESPITE HAVING RELEASED A TSB TO ALL DEALERSHIPS BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS SO COMMON. IT PRESENTS A DANGER TO DRIVERS AND DESERVES TO HAVE A RECALL ISSUED.

I AM HAVING AN ONGOING PROBLEM WHERE MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGINS TO REV UP AND ACCELERATE FORWARD. THIS ISSUE FIRST HAPPENED IN FEBRUARY 2017. I WAS IN A FAST-FOOD DRIVE THRU WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV UP TO 3000 RPMS. I SHIFTED INTO PARK WHICH CAUSED IT TO REV AT 5000. AT THAT POINT, I SHUT OFF THE CAR. I STARTED IT AGAIN AND THE CAR WAS FINE. I CONTACTED HONDA OF NORTH AMERICA. THEY SENT AN ATTORNEY OUT TO TALK TO ME AT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP. HONDA KEPT MY CAR MOST OF THE DAY AND TOLD ME THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THEY EVEN INSINUATED THAT MAYBE I HAD MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL... I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER 15 YEARS. I THINK I WOULD KNOW IF MY FOOT WAS ON THE GAS PEDAL... THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS SAFE AND THAT IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN I SHOULD CONTACT THEM... THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN ON APRIL 24TH AT LAX AIRPORT. I WAS AT THE TOLL BOTH PAYING FOR MY PARKING AFTER A TRIP. THE CAR BEGAN TO REV UP JUST LIKE BEFORE. I THROUGH THE CAR IN PARK AND IT ALMOST RED-LINED. I SHUT THE CAR OFF. THE WOMAN AT THE TOLL BOTH WITNESSES THE INCIDENT. I TOLD HER TO GET HER SUPERVISOR AND ANYONE ELSE THAT COULD COME OVER. HONDA DID NOT TAKE ME SERIOUSLY THE FIRST TIME CLEARLY! HER SUPERVISOR CAME OVER. I EXPLAINED THE SITUATION TO HIM AND ASKED HIM TO FILM THE CAR AS I STARTED IT UP AGAIN. HE BEGAN TO FILM AND I TURNED THE IGNITION. THE CAR WAS REVVING AT 4000 AND RISING FROM THE MOMENT I STARTED IT. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT IT OFF. IT DID THIS TWO MORE TIMES. THE FINAL TIME I STARTED IT, THE CAR REVVED NORMAL. I PAID MY FEE AND THE WOMAN RAISED THE GATE. AS I PULLED OUT, THE CAR JERKED FORWARD AND PULLED ME INTO TRAFFIC. I WAS NEARLY T-BONED BY A TAXI. I PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE CAR. IT WAS FINE AFTER THAT. I CONTACTED HONDA AND THEY REFUSED TO REINSPECT THE CAR UNLESS I WOULD PAY OUT OF POCKET. THE CAR HAS NOT DONE IT SINCE. THANK YOU.

CAME OUT TO START THE CAR IN MORNING BUT CAR BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. JUMP STARTED CAR AND DROVE TO WORK. CAME BACK AFTER WORK AND CAR WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. JUMP STARTED CAR. TOOK TO A AUTO PARTS STORE. CHECKED BATTERY WHICH TESTED GOOD. CAME HOME CLEANED BATTERY CABLES, TIGHTENED AND RECHARGED BATTERY. IN MORNING, BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. SUSPECT CAR HAS ELECTRICAL SHORT THAT IS KILLING THE BATTERY. CAR HAS APROX. 120K MILES ON IT AND HAD ENGINE REPLACED AT 50K DUE TO CRACKED ENGINE BLOCK (COVERED UNDER RECALL)

MY HONDA WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE WHEN I TRIED TO START IT THE KEY WOULD NO LONGER GO INTO THE IGNITION. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH. HAD IT REPLACED AND NOW THE REMOTE KEY WON'T WORK ON THE DOORS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ALARM SYSTEM WOULD ACTIVATE INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BATTERY HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED IN ORDER TO DEACTIVATE THE ALARM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,761.

WHEN I TURNED MY HEADLIGHTS ON, MY DASHLIGHTS GO COMPLETELY OFF, LEAVING ME WITH NO LIGHTS ON THE INTERIOR DASHBOARD; FUEL, SPEED, ETC., ALL LIGHTS GONE. WHEN I TURN MY HEADLIGHTS OFF, THE DASHLIGHTS COME BACK ON. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT AND THIS CAR IS WAY UNDER MILEAGE FOR ITS YEAR; I WORKED AT HOME.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA CIVIC. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO INITIATE THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM BUT IT FAILED TO WORK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR COMPRESSOR HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,300.

THE AIR BAG LIGHT (SRS LIGHT) HAS BEEN COMING ON AND OFF FOR ABOUT A MONTH. THE HONDA DEALER SAID IT WAS A CODE 32-10, AN OPEN IN THE FRONT PASSENGER' SIDE AIRBAG INFLATOR. NEED TO REPLACE THE FLOOR WIRING HARNESS PER SB 10-001, THE SRS PORTION OF THE FLOOR HARNESS HAS A POOR CRIMP IN IT. THAT IS ON THE DEALER WORK ORDER. THE HONDA DEALER SAID THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND THE REPAIR IS ABOUT $1300.00. THIS IS NOT A WEAR ITEM, WIRING HARNESS SHOULD NOT FAIL AND CAUSE A SAFETY ISSUE, INOPERATIVE AIR BAG. THANK YOU FOR REVIEWING. I BELIEVE HONDA HAS A ONGOING PROBLEM THAT NEEDS ADDRESSING. ALSO, I'VE REQUESTED THE FAULTY WIRING HARNESS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT, PLEASE CONTACT ME. *TR

THE BATTERY DIES WITHOUT WARNING AFTER THE VEHICLE SITS FOR ONLY A FEW DAYS. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BATTERY WITH A NEW OEM BATTERY. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ACROSS MANY FORUMS ABOUT THIS PHENOMENON ON CIVICS. *TR

AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR NOT ENGAGING WHILE CAR IS IDLE AND IN DRIVE. *TR

TWO YEARS AGO WE WENT TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP IN COCOA FLORIDA BECAUSE OUR AIR CONDITIONER WAS CUTTING OUT AND THEN COMING BACK ON, AND THEN CUTTING OUT. WE PURCHASED A $5 RELAY SWITCH AND PROBLEM STOPPED. A YEAR LATER IT STARTED AGAIN, WE GOT ANOTHER RELAY SWITCH AND PROBLEM STOPPED AGAIN, NOW A YEAR LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN, WE GOT A NEW RELAY AND IT DID NOT CORRECT ISSUE. TODAY I CAME ONLINE AND FIND OUT IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE HOWEVER THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A RECALL. WHY NOT? THE PAST YEAR HAS BEEN AWFUL WITH THIS CAR. WE HAD TO GET A RENTAL CAR FOR A WEEK BECAUSE HONDA PAINTED MOST OF THE CAR BECAUSE THERE WAS A RECALL. WE STILL HAVE PLACES THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAINTED BUT HONDA REFUSED. THEN WE WERE TRAVELING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND THE CAR STARTED OVERHEATING, WE FOUND OUT IT WAS ANOTHER KNOWN ISSUE, THE BLOCK CRACKED AND AGAIN WE HAD TO GET A RENTAL CAR BECAUSE MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH WORK AND OUR CIVIC IS OUR ONLY TRANSPORTATION. WE BOUGHT IT BECAUSE WE HAD BEEN TOLD HONDA CIVICS ARE AWESOME RELIABLE ETC. NOW, THE AIR ISSUE. I HAVE HAD ENOUGH. *JS

THE FRONT OF HOOD AND FENDER AREA . PAINT IS CHIPPING AWAY. IT IS CALLED CROW'S FEET. LINES AND CHIPS ALONG WITH CRACKS ARE VERY VISIBLE TO THE NAKED EYE. HONDA HAS A TSB ABOUT IT, SINCE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE BUT THEY ONLY CLAIM TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE THAT HAVE PROTECTION PLAN. WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE THEY NEVER OFFERED ME, NOR SPEAK OF PROTECTION PLAN. SO WHAT CAN I DO? *TR

2008 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. CONSUMER STATES DYING IMA BATTERY ISSUES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER PERFORMED AN UPDATE TO THE BATTERY, BUT IT ONLY WORKED FOR A FEW DAYS AND THEN THE SAME LOSS OF CHARGE WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN; ESPECIALLY IN HOT WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE THE IMA CHARGE WHEN GOING UP A HILL AND WHEN MAKING TURNS. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. UPDATED 10/24/12. *JB

MY 2008 HONDA CIVIC LX STARTED EXPERIENCING DOOR LOCK PROBLEMS IN MARCH OF 2011 (I CAN PROVIDE THE EXACT DATE, BUT WILL NEED TO GO THROUGH PAPERWORK TO FIND IT.). SINCE THAT POINT IN TIME, I HAVE HAD OVER A DOZEN LOCKS REPLACED. I HAVE THE DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK REPLACED 3 TIMES, THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR DOOR REPLACED 4 TIMES, THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR REPLACED 3 TIMES, AND THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR REPLACED 4 TIMES. THIS PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED EVEN AFTER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY RAN OUT. THERE IS SOME KIND OF ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSING THE PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD CALLED AMERICAN HONDA TO GET THERE HELP AND THEY OFFERED TO FIX THE PROBLEM AS LONG AS I PAID $100 TOWARDS THE COST OF REPAIR. THAT IS RIDICULOUS CONSIDERING THE HISTORY OF ISSUES. THE CIVIC WAS TAKEN TO OTHER SERVICE PLACES AND THEY AGREED THAT THERE WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR LOCKS AND ELECTRICAL. IN ADDITION, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE CV AXLES TWICE ON THIS CIVIC. THE FIRST WAS DONE UNDER WARRANT AT APPROXIMATELY 38,000 MILES. I HAVE SINCE HAD TO CONTACT AMERICAN HONDA A SECOND TIME, AND BECAUSE AGAIN THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY I WAS REQUIRED TO PAY $400.00 TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR. THIS WAS NOT A FAIR COMPROMISE SINCE THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES. THE THIRD PROBLEM CONCERNS THE WHEELS BEARINGS. THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT LEFT WHEEL WAS REPLACED SHORTLY AFTER THE AXLES WERE REPLACED. I NOW AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARING GOING BAD. I SPOKE WITH A MASTER MECHANIC, AND HE INFORMED ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE TECH AT SOUTHPOINT HONDA IN DURHAM HAVING OVER TORQUED THE BOLT TO SECURE THE WHEEL BEARING. I BELIEVE THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED THE FIRST TIME. AT THIS PONT IN TIME, I CAN NO LONGER USE THE KEY FOB TO ENTER THE CAR, SINCE THE DOOR LOCKS DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, AND THE CAR IS CONSIDERED TO BE A LEMON BY SEVERAL MASTER MECHANICS. *TR

'08 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID EXPERIENCING A DRAMATIC DECREASE IN FUEL ECONOMY. IMA BATTERY SUSPECTED. DEALERSHIP UPGRADED SOFTWARE (AS PER HONDA RECALL) AND TOLD ME THAT TO GET BETTER MPG'S I SHOULD SHUT OFF MY HEATER (WE LIVE IN WISCONSIN!) AND RECOMMENDED AN AIR FILTER CHANGE. I STATED THAT AN AIR FILTER AND SHUTTING OFF THE HEAT WOULD NOT INCREASE MY MPG'S FROM 28-31 BACK UP TO IT'S PRIOR PERFORMANCE RANGE OF 40-50. VEHICLE IS STILL DRAMATICALLY UNDERPERFORMING. NOTE: SERVICE ADVISOR @ BERGSTROM HONDA ADMITTED THAT IN HIS 4 YEARS THERE THAT HE HAS SEEN MANY CIVIC HYBRIDS WITH SEVERE TIRE CUPPING (I PREVIOUSLY FILED COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE ALSO, VEHICLE IS GOING ON IT'S 3RD SET OF TIRES WITHIN 57,927 MILES!) AND ALSO MENTIONED THE POOR PERFORMANCE AFTER THE HONDA SOFTWARE UPGRADES TO FIX THE IMA ISSUES. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT HONDA IS WELL AWARE OF THE IMA ISSUES AND IS TRYING TO HIDE THEM UNDER THE SOFTWARE UPDATE (TO SAVE REPLACING "X" NUMBER OF EXPENSIVE HYBRID BATTERY'S). I BELIEVE THAT AS OWNERS WE HAVE LOST VALUABLE LIFESPAN ON THESE BATTERYS AND THAT WE HAVE LOST OUT ON A GOOD PORTION OF OUR HYBRID BATTERY WARRANTY COVERAGE DUE TO HONDA'S DESIGN. *TR