What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Engine, steering. Purchased the car from a certified dealership in January 2026. After 3 months of driving, the car began exhibiting performance issues. During a normal acceleration pattern, the car would go into a ‘limp mode’ where all dashboard lights would turn on and the car’s performance became severely limited. Acceleration is barely possible when this happens and the car must be turned off and restarted in order to get the car out of ‘limp mode,’ which is a MAJOR safety concern communicated to Honda. It is also of major concern that every time there is a performance issue, every light illuminates, not allowing the driver to diagnose and safely operate the vehicle without Honda assistance with diagnosis. Honda scans revealed P3004 engines misfire code- recommendations included replacing a spark plug. I replaced all four spark plugs and performance returned to normal. Steering recall (Recall Campaign SJS- 2022-25 Civic EPS Grbx Safe ) was also repaired on 6/24/2026- the car was exhibiting steering tightness and locking behaviors which were resolved after this repair. On 7/9, the car was traveling at 70mph when all dashboard lights came on once again. The car did not exhibit performance degradation at this time and was immediately taken for additional engine scan, which provided new code P0299 Turbocharger Underboost problem. Honda reported this code was not present during the scans on 6/24/2026. Dashboard warning lights disappeared on 6/25/2026. On 7/16/2026, the car began exhibiting major steering wheel locking and tightness, much worse than before the steering recall was fixed. I am unsure if it is related to the Turboboost issue. The car also began exhibiting engine performance issues again, rendering the car unsafe to operate until taken back to Honda for further diagnostics.
2008 Honda Civic engine problems
207 complaints (23% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 99,700. 3 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 207
- of this car's complaints
- 23%
- typical mileage
- 99,700
- crashes
- 3
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
- Engine9
- Cooling system8
- Exhaust system1
- Engine: oil/lubrication: seals/gaskets1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Honda Civic engine problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2008 Honda Civic engine
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Overheating 78Engine failure 26Stalling 13Loss of power 11Check engine light 10Won't start 9Knocking 5
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
What 2008 Honda Civic owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Engine temperature suddenly rose high, pulled over. Discovered what appeared to be coolant on front of block. Had diagnosed and found to have a cracked block. Contacted Honda, the refused to do anything as it wasn’t a recall only a warranty bulletin. This needs to be recalled so people who are affected can get their cars fixed.
Engine block cracked. Leaking coolant and rendering vehicle useless.
Engine has a crack block on the front. It is a known issue but it is past the warranty that honda offered. I think they should extend the warranty more.
Oil is leaking and now coolant is leaking. Did not buy the car brand new bought it from a pre owned vehicle dealership
Engine block crack over heat during driving
As I was driving my car home on 8/31, I looked at the temperature gauge and saw my car was overheating. I make sure to check my temperature gauge periodically while driving so I am positive it’s the first time it’s popped up. I tried to pull over ASAP, but was in nonstop traffic and the car stopped moving. No lights were shown on the dashboard. I had recently gotten an oil change end of July when I purchased the car. Car was inspected by the state, 7/17/23 and passed. Car had a complete vehicle inspection the end of July as well and passed with flying colors. Car was diagnosed to have a cracked engine block by Conrad’s. My oil and coolant mixed. It has not been seen by a Honda manufacturer. No inspection done by insurance.
The contact owns a 2008 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle started overheating. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled to the side of the road, where she noticed that coolant was leaking onto the ground. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to Firestone, where it was diagnosed that there was a crack in the engine block, and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that she would be charged a fee for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 134,000.
No warning except temp Guage rising extremely fast pulled over no coolant no obvious leaks took to shop cracked block along with all the other 2008 Honda civics with the same factory defect My car is late to show signs and I missed the warranty extention 130000 miles Expected to run at minimum 200000 unacceptable business practice
The contact owns a 2008 Honda Civic. The contact stated while entering the vehicle, the contact discovered a coolant leak underneath the vehicle onto the ground. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a crack in the engine block. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 144,000.
Questions about the 2008 Honda Civic engine
Does the 2008 Honda Civic have engine problems?
Owners have filed 207 complaints about the engine of the 2008 Honda Civic, 23% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 2008 Honda Civic engine problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 99,700 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2008 Honda Civic engine?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
What year does the Honda Civic have bad engine?
The Honda Civic model years with the most engine complaints are 2006 (377 complaints), 2007 (243 complaints) and 2008 (207 complaints).
Other 2008 Honda Civic problems
Airbags 177Visibility 133Suspension 99Body 85Transmission 52Electrical 51Brakes 42Tires 30Acceleration 29Steering 24Wheels 24Fuel system 15Seat belts 9Seats 7Lights 6Driver assistance 4Locks 4
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