2008 Honda Civic: engine failure

Filed Jun 6, 2023 · Engine · NY

The vehicle started dripping coolant at a pretty consistent rate, and it is a cracked engine block. Honda has issued a service bulletin regarding the issue, but most of these vehicles (2006-2009 Civics) are now out of warranty and have to replace the engine at their own expense.

Filed Jul 7, 2022 · Engine · CA

While driving to work, the owner noticed a smoke coming out of the hood. The owner also noticed that engine temperature shot all the way up indicating that the engine might be overheating. Upon taking to a nearest auto shop, the owner was told that the engine block has a crack which is causing leak. Honda is aware of this issue and has provided extended warranty for 10 more years from the date of purchase. Unfortunately, the owner experienced cracked engine block issue 14 years after the date of purchase - 4 years after the extended warranty had expired. Upon calling the dealership, the owner was informed to file a claim with North America Honda. If Honda was aware of cracked engine block, why did it not replace engines in all affected models and trim levels?

Filed Aug 17, 2020 · Engine · 137,565 miles · FL

Good afternoon, my 2008 civic (137,500 miles) overheated while on highway & after pulling over & checking coolant spill tank saw it was empty. Next day refilled radiator with coolant & after starting car noticed coolant leaking on ground at front right side of engine. I could not locate leak. Drove to nearest honda service department & at service (via pressure test of engine cooling system) a crack in engine block between cyl. 1 & 2 was located. I was told by service tech that honda is aware of engine block crack/ defect & instead of issuing a service recall what they did was a warranty extension of 10 years. However, that warranty expired 2 years ago. Service manager called american honda corp. For goodwill assistance to try & help with repairs but american honda rejected/ declined the request & has left me without a vehicle. I am not able to pay for a new engine. I have no car for work, for my mom/ dad doctor visits/ for supermarket/ for life. Costs of repair are are above $5,000. I was the 2nd owner of my 2008 civic & was not notified by honda of the warranty extension or of a possible recall notification of this safety issue. I received recall for the air bag (tekata), but did not receive anything for a cracked engine block. Why is that? How is american honda corp. Allowed to do a "warranty extension" to resolve a major safety problem only when the engine cracks & only when you notice you have a problem. Without any prior warning, these vehicles can have an engine failure/ stall while driving at higher speeds, increasing the risk of crash. As a lifelong honda owner (20 years '97 accord and '08 civic) I am beyond disappointed. Disappointed not because of what honda legal department did via "legal loop holes," no. I'm disappointed I will never own or drive a honda again. Good day.

Filed May 12, 2020 · Acceleration, Engine · GA

Coolant leaks are coming from engine block. The leak causes coolant to drain away, leading to overheating or total engine failure. The vehicle will not accelerate, and shuts off in traffic. Honda failed to alert all owners starting in 2010. To date a recall still has not been made on my vehicle for technical service bulletin 10-048. Please see the following links: https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/03/free-engine-replacement-for-2006-2009-honda-civics/index.htm

Filed Feb 25, 2020 · Engine · 75,000 miles · FL

Car temperature started to increased rapidly, smoke from engine, revving but not accelerating much and finally it overheated and died. Can to find out that the engine block cracked from radiator leak that honda knew about and did not inform me of. Maintenance done at dealership regularly and was the only owner of car. Because I drive so little miles per year, problem happened just after the extended warranty they had to 'resolve' this problem for owners. Why wouldn't they tell me about this problem before they knew about it. Had to make too many phone calls to finally have them replace the engine for $3500. It's unscrupulous for a corporation to know there's a problem but just extend the warranty and not recall it and then not honor the extended warranty even though it was just outside the time window. Very displeased with honda.

Filed Mar 27, 2019 · Engine · 99,269 miles · TN

I bought this car used in july 2018. Shortly after that the car ran hot. I took it to the mechanic and was told that the engine block had a crack and had to be replaced. I replaced the motor causing me $4257 dollars. The owner of bob morton garage told that she had been told by the honda's representative that there had been a problem with the engines on the honda civic cars and for me to check it out. I was still having problems with the car spurting forward without warning, so they suggested that I take it to the dealership which I did. It was the idler causing problems. I asked one of the employee handling my car that morning if there had been any recalls or problems with the honda civic cars and I was told no. Then I went on the internet and found that there had been multiple complaints about the engine block cracking and having to be replaced. Since I have had to replace the engine, I need to know what to do now in terms of reimbursement.

Filed Feb 22, 2019 · Engine · 125,000 miles · PA

My used 2008 honda civic was overheating and I dropped it off at my garage for evaluation. On 2/14/2019, my mechanic informed me that my engine block was cracked and was under warranty. I contacted north american honda, inc. And requested they replace the engine under warranty. They refused as the car was totaled and salvaged. I had never been notified about the problems with 2006-2009 civic engines and the warranty. Had I been notified by honda, when my car was totaled in 2014 because of a severe hail storm, I would have accepted the $10,000 from the insurance company and bought a replacement car. Since my car in 2014 was six years old, I thought that all warranties had expired long ago and salvaging the car appeared to be a good deal. I got $10k and had a mechanically and operationally sound vehicle with low mileage. Research has since shown that hundreds of civic owners were not notified and honda routinely strictly enforces the warranty. For four years honda was selling a defective car and doing everything possible to hide from the public. Many owners recounted the car just shutting down on them. I often drove in 70mph speed limit zones on the pa turnpike in heavy commuter traffic. Had my engine shut down suddenly there was significant possibility that I would have been killed in the subsequent accident. This was obviously a serious safety issue. I cannot understand why the federal safety agency did not force honda to issue a provisional recall. Also, honda should have issued an unlimited warranty instead of restricting the warranty to 10 years from date of purchase. It appears to be a case of unfair and deceptive business practice at best and outright fraud at the worst.

Filed Nov 7, 2018 · Engine · 50,400 miles · OH

I have a 2008 honda civic with 50500 miles. I bought used a year and two mins ago. I bought it off someone I knew that had full maintence records. About a month ago I started having temperature issues with it slowly leaking cooloant. I took it to a trusted mechanic and he said I had crack in my engine block. I called honda and that I was outside of the ten year warranty extension. They have a known defective issue with there engine block and they said I would have to pay 4000 to replace the engine. I found this ridiculous that a car with 50000 has a cracked engine block. I bought a honda because they are supposed to be reliable. Never again

Filed Jul 20, 2018 · Engine · 147,000 miles · VA

Engine block coolant leak I bought this 2008 honda civic in winchester va on 1/13/2018 fro s&w auto1908 valley ave winchester va on valley ave. They stated it had a new engine that it had been replaced by honda due to block being replaced in 2006 to 2008 because the developed a coolant leak. On 1/16/2018 after buying it check engine light came on and gauage for hot/cold went to hot. Took it back to s&w after calling as they instructed me to. They stated was a loose wire and that should take care of it and not to worry if that hot/cold thing should hot again. However it happened again on july 8 2018 and my car would not start. Took it to garage and found out had leak and needed water pump replaced. However mechanic called and that was fixed but come to find out engine block had a leak/cracked and you can see from top water pooling. Took back to s&w auto and they said yes it is cracked and I would need to take to miller honda 3985 valley pike winchester va miller honda winchester va. I did this am 7/20/2018 at 7:00 am and they wanted to charge me $110 to look at it. I work two jobs and don't have this kind or money to fix a problem that was to be fixed and was told was a new engine that honda replaced. Miller honda jeff called at 9:02 am 7/20/2018 and was very rude. I want this issue resolved immediately and it should not cost me to have it looked at once again.

Filed Nov 16, 2017 · Engine · 42,000 miles · KS

Engine developed a crack in the side and a coolant leak. This is a known defect and honda has a warranty campaign but won't replace my engine due to a salvage title because of a theft recovery, not an engine rebuild or engine damage. The car only has 42000 miles. The replacement has been quoted at about $4400. The technical service bulletin is 10-048 and I think honda is just avoiding responsibility to replace the engine due to the salvage title technicality. I will never buy another honda and I own three now. I will tell everyone I know about the risks of poor quality engineering and unacceptable customer service that honda has displayed in this circumstance. There needs to be a class action lawsuit.

Filed Oct 17, 2017 · Engine · 64,128 miles · NY

While driving on the highway the car stopped in the middle of the highway all lights on dashboard turned on. Called 911 for assistance since couldn't exit the vehicle. Car was towed to a repair shop near where the incident occurred. Shop diagnosed that the engine seized due to engine overheating. After I found out that the engine overheated and seized I took my car to honda for diagnosis because sometime after I bought this vehicle, I was notified by honda that the engine may experience coolant seepage that can result in engine overheating, thus american honda extended the warranty of the engine to 10 years from original date of purchase with no mileage limit. My car was only 9 years old with only 64,000 miles on the odometer. Honda service acknowledged the engine overheated due to coolant seepage but unfortunately they refused to honor the extended warranty they offered originally. Very disappointed with honda for not recalling these engines from the very beginning, instead of putting their customers in danger of very serious situations such as the one I described.

Filed Jul 20, 2017 · Engine · 195,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 honda civic. The contact stated that the engine failed and the engine coolant leaked, which caused the engine to overheat. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic (a plus autos 5002 west okmulgee street, muskogee, ok 74401 phone: 918‑687‑9693) where it was diagnosed that the head gasket failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 195,000.