7.1

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$680
Average Mileage:
69,850 miles
Total Complaints:
20 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. replace (17 reports)
  2. not sure (3 reports)
2008 Honda Civic engine problems

engine problem

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2008 Honda Civic Owner Comments

problem #20

Dec 252019

Civic LX 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 91,963 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This is the 3rd time I am changing the engine mounts on my car. Google search says this fairly common in Civics.

- Ajay R., Doha, Qatar

problem #19

Oct 012017

Civic EX 4cy

  • Automatic transmission
  • 59,000 miles

60000 Miles (honda 1B svc code) was completed. One week later I received notice from dealer that right side mount was collapsed and would need to be replaced. Replacement cost would be in the $4-500 range. I immediately went to internet and began to see that this mount was obviously defective -- based on the history of complaints.

WHY NO HONDA RECALL? The "amusing" thing is that I had a previous query into the Honda dealer about exploring their current "deal" for trade-in/purchase of a new Honda. FORGET IT! Based on my personal experience plus research of their history, I'll be "anti-Honda" henceforth.

- Don B., Sacramento, US

problem #18

Jul 012017

Civic LX 1.8L 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 100,000 miles

After a cold start, when I engaged the clutch in first gear I would experience a severe shaking of the front dash board, the kind you would expect from an earthquake, not a minor shake. This would go away after the car warmed up. Apparently this is a known issue among civics in this generation, a weak motor mount. Well this motor mount has already been replaced twice during the extended power train warranty and now I will have to replace it another two more times. The last time cost me about $300 for the OEM part and $135 for labor. I would highly recommend you use an aftermarket motor mount because I've had to replace this so many times. There's also videos on YouTube to show you how to do this but you'll need a handful of tools. Occasionally you could avoid this problem if you engage the clutch very very lightly, then your car will warm up quickly enough to expand the rubber mount so that it does not rub against the frame causing the vibration, but an unfortunate defect from a reputable economy make regardless.

- Ernest S., Richardson, TX, US

problem #17

Sep 152011

Civic LX Vtech

  • Automatic transmission
  • 42,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I went into the Honda dealership 14 times to try to get my problem resolved. Initially it was a clicking sound coming from the front passenger tire. I went in and they told me I needed new tires and breaks. I had them replaced (although Brake Masters didn't want to change my brakes. They told me they were fine). The problem still wasn't fixed so after a bunch of griping they finally took it in and told me I needed a new engine mount mine was cracked.

When I receive my car back it is still making a noise and I brought it back to Bell Honda and was refused service by the advisor. He told me there was nothing more they could do for me. I waited a couple weeks to see if it was just me and it wasn't so I brought it to a different dealership. There was a mechanic in from Honda and he hopped in and said, "I think I hear what you are talking about." He takes the car and comes back 20 minutes later with a big part in his hand and asks me if this looks familiar? I told him no. He then asked if I recently had some work done on my engine and I said yes. He said, well your engine mount cracked and they replaced it. This is your old engine mount. I asked him how he got it and his response was the mechanic that worked on it - left it in your engine!!

I called Honda Customer Service to inform them of how unprofessional this is and they asked me, "what would you like us to do about it?".

Now five years later - my engine mount is cracked again and of course out of warranty. I bought a Honda because i thought it was reliable.

- Sheryl C., Phoenix, AZ, US

problem #16

Oct 012015

Civic LX 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 57,882 miles

CAR WAS REAR-ENDED, REPAIRED AND SOON AFTER CAR STARTED SHAKING AND SOUNDING LIKE A MISSILE READY FOR TAKE-OFF!!!! DEALERSHIP, STATED POSIIBLY, BUT HIGHLY UNLIKELY DUE TO ACCIDENT. DID DIAGNOSIS AND DETERMINED MOTOR MOUNT ON RIGHT SIDE ISSUE. CAR IS 2008 HONDA CIVIC 57882 MILEAGE. HAVE ANYONE HAD SIMILAR ISSUE? FROM VIEWING SOME OF THE POST, POSSIBLY A CLASS ACTION AND MAKE SOME NOISE FOR HONDA TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS ISSUE. R U WITH ME??????

- Crescentia L., Conyers, GA, US

problem #15

Sep 112015

Civic LX 1.8L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 128,761 miles

2008 Honda Civic LX Automatic; lower passenger side motor mount failed under warranty at 48,500 miles and has failed again at 128,760 miles on 9-2015. It looks like you can't get a whole lot of miles out of this part. I guess if I can get another 80,000 miles out of the new one, I should be lucky. I guess Honda doesn't consider this a problem.

- Alex P., Port Lavaca, TX, US

problem #14

Jan 162015

Civic EX V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 56,256 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Started having noise when the car first started (and the car had been sitting for many hours). It sounded like it was idling really loud. Even in reverse, the noise could be heard; it was only until the car was in drive that the noise went away. There was also some vibration. I took it in to the dealership and they found nothing wrong with it. Over a few months, it continued to get worse until it finally started to vibrate when in drive, especially when I took my foot off the pedal. This time the dealership figured out the problem.

Surprising that the mount is bad after only 56K miles. I had a 1998 Civic that had over 100K miles and never had an issue.

- K S., Indianapolis, IN, US

problem #13

Aug 032015

Civic EX 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 95,000 miles

I've been driving for over 50 years and this is the first motor mount I have had go out. Seems like an issue Honda needs to address !

- pirate64, Ozark, MO, US

problem #12

Sep 182014

Civic EX 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 69,000 miles

Six months ago, I heard an annoying sound from under my hood. A 'roar.' The mechanic wanted to keep it overnight and start it cold, which made sense, I guess, because it -the noise- is most noticeable on cold engine starts- I didn't want to be without my car overnight and next morning. In January 2015, I took my Civic to the Honda dealer with an extension on the engine because of possible cracked engine/overheating. Though, my civic wasn't over heating, yet, I asked my 31 year old son to go with me. He has a mechanical mind and I can trust him. Alas, I believe the verdict was a "loose/ engine mount driver's side. It would cost $(oo something to fix. Sooo, It really annoying and not good with only 74,000ish miles on it.

Thanks for letting me add to Bad Engine Mount Complaints. Perhaps, if enough people complain to Honda I hope bad engine mounts can be covered.

'

- Julie M., Denham Springs, LA, US

problem #11

Jul 082014

Civic EX 1.8L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 66,500 miles

The water pump pulley came off and damaged the water pump, and belt tensioner. I'm very lucky the damage was not a lot worse than it was. The car was out of warranty, just over a year and about 1500 miles. I ordered Original Honda Replacement Parts from Honda Parts Cheap, for $235 to my door and repaired my car myself in about 3 hours total labor, verses the $1427 estimate from the local Honda Dealer.

The new water pump included a different attachment of the pulley which indicated to me that the failure on my car was not the first. I felt like that just shy of $1200 labor was a lot of money to replace an obvious factory defect, and consider the local Honda Dealer can buy the parts a lot cheaper than me. I bought a Honda for no other reason than their perceived quality. This problem along with others will keep me from ever buying another Honda Product! My car must have been engineered and built on a Friday!

- vette825, Burleson, TX, US

problem #10

Dec 022014

Civic LX

  • Manual transmission
  • 81,120 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

1) Driver side visor broke - Covered by Honda Warranty

2) A/C Clutch & Coil Set Replaced/76,092 Miles/06/24/2014/$862

3) Passenger side Motor Mount/81,120 Miles/12/02/2014/$556

4) Going in next week for cracked paint on hood and fenders - Partially covered by Honda Warranty. Nighthawk Pearl Paint. Honda will only pay for a portion of the car to be painted. Not sure how you match 2008 and 2014 paint?

5) Also received a Warranty Extension of the Engine Block.

- Philip H., Indianapolis, IN, US

problem #9

Nov 072014

Civic LX 1.8L

  • Manual transmission
  • 90,000 miles

The sound is horrible especially when I start the car in the mornings. This car is only 6 years old but I already replaced AC and now sounds like I need to replace engine mounts that will cost me about $600. Horrible!

- ikate, Lakewood, OH, US

problem #8

Jan 152014

Civic VTI 1.8L 4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 32,933 miles

My 2008 Civic developed a harsh engine vibration through the steering and body, I investigated several online forums and then had the local Honda dealer confirm my diagnosis of a collapsed right upper engine mount. The quote for the repair was AU$500.

As the vehicle only had covered 53000km on sealed smooth roads I contacted Honda Australia and submitted a complaint.

Honda Australia responded politely to my concern, however they refused to accept there is a systemic issue with the longevity of this engine mount.

I have just disposed of a 1994 Volvo 940 with 300,000 km that is still on its original engine mounts. Honda and Toyota are rated first for customer service/service and loyalty. The Civic will be my last Honda .

Regards Brett Lewis

- Brett L., Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

problem #7

Nov 082013

Civic LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 57,650 miles

Hondas and bad motor mounts go together. Honda has a long and sad history of selling vehicles with defective motor mounts. In my case, the warranty had expired 4 months before the motor mount went out at 57,000 miles. Honda absolutely refused to do anything about it, other than charging me $440 to replace it.

The visors also came apart on this car. And I just received a notice they've extended the engine block warranty due to the blocks cracking.

Prior to purchasing my 2008 civic, I had a 2002 civic. That one had problems as well. While any car requires routine maintenance, today's new vehicles will easily go 100,000 miles before things start wearing out. Unless you have a Honda.

No more Hondas for me. While they were once a great car, they've cheapened the current models beyond belief.

- Bill K., Henderson, NV, US

problem #6

Sep 052013

Civic EX

  • Manual transmission
  • 46,328 miles

My Honda is only 5 years old, a 2008 Honda Civic ex and after I just spend $730.00 for front and rear brake pads at the dealership. Which is outrageous. I also have four brand new all season tires and an alignment with them for $630.00 I come to find out that I have a cracked engine mount and due to the vibrations have caused more wear on my shocks as well. I had the bottom mount replaced, both front tire rods due to dry rot and weakness $331.00 and now I need to replace the upper mount, possibly both shocks in front with mounts so this job should cost me over $700 more on my car. I have read there are numerous complaints about bad engine mounts on Honda Civics to the point where there really should be a recall. The additional amount I have needed to put into my car currently is wholly due to bad parts/design used by the Honda Manufacturer and feeling they don't need to notify the customers despite numerous complaints made by Honda owners.

- juliema, Danvers, MA, US

problem #5

Sep 172012

Civic EX 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,000 miles

click to see larger images

bad engine mount

I was disappointing to find the front passenger motor mount went bad because I associated Honda with high reliability. I knew something was wrong when I went to start the car one morning when the temperature was about 60 degrees and I heard a very loud and low rumbling sound. I would also get some vibration in the car when I selected park or reverse. The noise would go away after a few minutes of driving. I did some research online and found this to be a somewhat common problem but I got it fixed for free because it was still under power-train warranty.

- redhondacivic, Austin, TX, US

problem #4

Jul 112013

Civic EXL

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

I keep my cars around 8 years and 150K miles. I've never had bad engine mounts before. This car has had no accidents or any trauma so I am at a loss.

- Kristine K., Perry Hall, MD, US

problem #3

Oct 062012

Civic LX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

Supposedly there was a recall on these mounts, but because it is not considered a safety feature, hazard. Honda did not find it necessary to contact their customers.

I think that is poor customer relations/service for Honda to do. It it was a recall/problem from the beginning, I feel that it should be corrected at no cost to the customer.

- Patricia S., Killeen, TX, US

problem #2

Mar 162011

Civic LX 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 24,855 miles

Honda should takecare about the durability and life of engine mounting

- Jimmy J., Abu Dhabi, Abu DHabi, United Arab Emirates

problem #1

Sep 292011

Civic

  • Automatic transmission
  • 77,000 miles

figured this would be covered under warranty or at least part of the recall !

2006/2007 models had the same problem

- Theresa J., Annapolis, MD, US

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