10.0

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
110,700 miles
Total Complaints:
3 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. replaced engine (2 reports)
  2. not sure (1 reports)
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problem #3

Jul 012018

Civic LX 1.8L

  • Manual transmission
  • 160,000 miles

While driving and without warning, I suddenly heard a boom sound coming from the engine, white smoke from the exhaust pipe and clear smoke from the engine. There was no warning lights for low oil or overheating, nothing showed up on the dash board. I stopped right away, looked under the car and then a gush of oil came out pouring right in my eyes. The piston connector rod had blown out throw the oil pan.

I just had checked the oil and topped the coolant before driving the 100 miles and everything was at normal level. I serviced the car on time and often. The only problem I had noticed previously was depleted coolant and intermittent over heating corrected by adding coolant. I would periodically smell this short sweet burning smell and always thought it was coming from other cars but not knowing its from my car.

One exceptional problem was fast coolant depletion and I always wondered how this car was taking so much but never noticed any leaks. Per Honda manufacturer instructions I took the car to Honda and they are saying it is my problem, there was "no engine block cracking but a piston rod blowing out". How could the piston connector break if the car was not overheating from the depleted coolant? Had I known about the extended warranty I would have taken the car for inspection at Honda.

I love Honda, I have bought 3 Hondas in my life and my family buys Hondas but this is the last one we will ever buy. I shall preach and persuade my friends and family to buy Toyota. its is not worth buying something defective and then the dealership turns around and claim it is my fault that the engine blew up when they really know the engine blocks were cracking and loosing coolant. They knew my phone number, even VIN number by just calling Honda manufacturer customer service number but they could not even communicate the extended warranty information or the manufacturing defects likely to affect some of these cars.

I feel Honda has not been honest and the customer service is horrible. I hold them liable for the defect and it pains me that I have lost a car, I have no money to buy another one. This is the car I expected 4 more years out of it

- Peter J., Raleigh, US

problem #2

Sep 252017

Civic EX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 62,000 miles

I own 2008 Civic EX (62,000 miles) and while driving on highway the car all of a sudden started shaking, all lights on dashboard went on and car stopped. Towed to a local repair shop and they diagnosed engine failure due to overheating was told that the engine is damaged. Called American Honda since the car has the extended warranty (10 years unlimited mileage) they advised me to tow it to the nearest Honda dealer for a diagnosis ($150.00). The dealer tells me that after diagnosis they cannot pinpoint the problem. I need to authorize another $600.00 for a tear down of the engine in order for them to find what caused the engine to fail. After that if they decide that the engine failure was due to some other reason then I have to come up with 5-6 thousand dollars for a rebuilt engine. I believe this is an excuse not to cover the repair under extended warranty (Warranty for 10 years with unlimited mileage). Spoke with people at American Honda but they were useless giving me all kinds of excuses. Now I will be forced to junk a car with such low mileage and in excellent shape because I cannot afford to shell out 5-6 thousand dollars for the repair.

My experience with Honda and their warranties was horrible even though when I purchased the vehicle I purchased additional warranty.

American Honda is not an honest company. They just want your money and your business. They do not respect their customers.

- Stephen S., Westbury, US

problem #1

Apr 192015

Civic LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 110,000 miles

I bought this car brand new, am the only driver. Oil changes every 6k miles. Just had oil changed, filters replaced on 4/3/15. Driving in town on 4/19/15, suddenly at stop sign, car stalls. Thought it was odd, restarted...pressed gas, made odd noise & jerked forward but drove. I was trying to make it home since it was only a couple of miles away.

I made it only one mile, engine light came on, car stalled in the middle of the turn onto a main road. I had to coast into a fast food restaurant parking lot. Awful smell in car, turned car off immediately & right side of hood had white/grey smoke coming out. Called roadside assistance. My repair guy said engine is completely gone, overheated so badly it needs to be replaced. I cannot understand this whatsoever. This cannot be right?

It never gave me any indication there was a problem before the stall....no engine light, just stopped. Thank God I did not have my children in the car or was not on a highway. This could have ended so much worse. My problem is this is going to cost me $3000 to fix..I just paid this off last year & was hoping to make it last longer. Hondas are supposed to be known for their reliability, I will never, ever buy another one again. I will be getting more information once I get it in for a second opinion. I want to know WHY this happened.

- Terrilynn O., Rensselaer, NY, US