Used 2008 Honda Civic Sedan Consumer Reviews
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Just bought a 2008 Civic LX
BllG, 11/03/2015
2008 Honda Civic DX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
106 of 108 people found this review helpful
Bought a used Civic last week for my daughter. Got a good deal at 113000 miles and wanted to post for others that might be lookng at this car to let you know how it has held up. Body was in great shape - a few minor dings and what not but no paint chipping, fade, or peeling. No rust. Interior, which has been critized, has held up well. No scratches or anything detracting from the interior. Cruise control, A/C, displays, radio, etc., all working with no issues. Also, I'm 6'2" and have zero issues sitting in the front seats...back seats might be an issue but driving it I'm very comfortable. Engine still runs strong, no leaks, and the transmission shifts very smoothly even under full acceleration onto the interstate. Plus, these vehicles have a timing chain vice belt, so you don't have to concern yourself with the inevitable 100,000 mile, $1000, timing belt replacement. Power steering works great with no noise from the power steering pump. Car tracks straight and true down the road and handlng is solid. You definitely feel the bumps in the road but this isn't a luxury car with the associated suspension. Engine does vibrate and you can feel it sitting at a stop light esp with the A/C on. But, again, it's a 4 cyl and it isn't really distracting. Road noise is definitely there on the highway but I don't sense there are any leaks through the weather stripping...it's just an economy car. Couple of issues that are to be expected with this car's history. The passenger side visor had failed...a quick fix through Amazon at $50. Also, the starter, no kidding, quit the same day we bought it. Don't naively send your wife off to the store to get the battery replaced because the car won't start without a jump...you'll wind up replacing a perfectly good battery when its really the starter. I've always done minor maintenance like this on my vehicles but after seeing what was involved (starter placed above the front axle and exhaust) I took it to a shop to get replaced. Getting lazy in my old age. Also, and this is unique to my car I'm sure, what I thought might be a simple alignment to fix an off-center steering wheel resulted in the removal and adjustment of the steering column...all told, about $450 to get everything fixed. Driver's side power steering boot is leaking and there is a minor rattling, knocking sound when we turn all the way to the right...will probably have to replace that sometime but not today. Flushed the power steering fluid...helped somewhat but not totally. So, am I pleased with the car? Yes...with a whole week with my daughter driving it. But the engine works well, transmission shifts very well, the A/C and everything else is holding up well (knock on wood). Believe it will be a good car for my daughter as she finishes H.S. and moves onto college. So, if you are wondering about this car with over 7 years on it, I think its held up very well. Definitely one to check out for a new driver.
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The Best car you could ever have if you needed one made in 2008
hiker323, 08/19/2014
2008 Honda Civic LX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
70 of 71 people found this review helpful
I want to write this with tears because this is the most reliable car that I have owned and yesterday I found out that it will be loss. A week ago my car was sandwiched between two other vehicles. It provided the best protection one could ask for. My back is gone and my front is damaged, but I have remained completely safe. If you choose this car it is reliable, safe and will protect you well. *though my car is gone, I want you to know how safe this car is & that it will protect you.
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troublesome
charley33, 03/13/2012
2008 Honda Civic LX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5A)
19 of 19 people found this review helpful
I have this civic since new. Its got 60k miles. During that time I have the cv joint replace 5 times and battery replaced once under warranty. I had the starter replaced once at 40k miles for $500 and engine mount replaced once at 59k miles for $300. Now I think my civic has a suspension problem. I wonder if honda quality have declined or my dealership (northwest honda, MD) is incompetent and causing problems.
BEST CAR EVER!!!!
Frank, 08/05/2016
updated 08/15/2024
2008 Honda Civic EX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
21 of 22 people found this review helpful
I'd call this gem a little Mercedes if I didn't know better, but its better than any Mercedes. With 223,000 miles, I have never replaced anything except the tires (Kumho Solus) at 106,000 and 195,000 miles, the brakes twice, at 113,000 and 220,000 miles and the ac clutch coil & compressor at ~165,000 ($2,500 combined cost). That's it. Going mostly hwy miles between 65 and 85 mph, I average 39 mpg. The car is deceptively fast when you need it and feels safe at speed. With the manual, it seems you can go from 65 to 90 in seconds. Only gripes: It is not great in snow. Some of the power door locks don't work, I've disabled them all. Uses about 2 quarts of oil in between 9,000 mile oil changes and the most annoying thing: the radio volume goes up & down with your speed and I cannot find a way to fix that. Updated 8/10/19 - Still have my 2008 Civic EX Sedan. Currently has 294,000 miles and is still my daily driver. I still am only using my 9th thru 12th tires on the vehicle. Pretty cool to get 300K miles using only 12 tires! (Kumho Solus) AC compressor went for the second time at 270,000 miles. Miles per gallon have slightly gone up to 40 from ~38 when I first got the car. I am still on second battery. Original engine/trans/clutch, in fact valve cover gasket has never been changed! Best vehicle I've ever had for reliability/value/comfort/safety. Update 2/12/22 - Am not driving nearly as much now so probably won't reach 500,000 miles. Was driving 40,000 miles per year, now less than 10,000 per year. Currently has 318,000. Only change is new tires, only the fourth set ever at 307,000 miles. Still has never had any work on engine, trans or clutch. Current mileage is 340,000. Original starter went at 336,500; replaced at non-dealer for about $300.
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Dead Reliable, just not an enthusasts car
68oramac1, 02/13/2015
2008 Honda Civic LX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
28 of 31 people found this review helpful
I bought my '08 LX in June of 2012 with just under 92,000 miles on the clock. Now, it has 134,000 miles and is still going strong. I have had only minor issues with the Civic overall eg. visors and clutch master cylinder. The car is very spacious compared to others in the class, which was helpful being 6'2". The only exception is the placement of the e-brake being where you rest your leg, which you get used to rather quickly. I hardly ever drop below 30mpg even in mixed driving. But it does come at a cost, below 4000 rpm, you are lucky to have as much torque as a mid 80's Mazda Rotary engine at idle! The lack of torque can make it a chore to drive around town/city.
To the moon and almost halfway back!
Brian Stebbins, 06/21/2020
2008 Honda Civic EX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
9 of 9 people found this review helpful
I bought my Honda Civic EX new in May 2008. I commute 80 miles round trip each day and do a lot of personal miles too. Right now I have 326000 miles on this car and can’t say enough good things about it! It’s cost me nothing beyond tires and normal maintenance. Can’t beat Honda for reliability even if it’s not the most exciting car to drive. Sure, you can buy flashy cars if that’s your thing. If you just want a solid cost effective car then Honda’s are fantastic. I’m about to buy a 2020 Civic Hatchback EX and I expect that will last me 12 years if I want to keep it that long.
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Mileage Drop After Tire Change
pamski, 01/03/2012
2008 Honda Civic LX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5A)
46 of 53 people found this review helpful
I purchased a used 2008 Civic. Now at 37,000 miles I had the tires replaced. I'm sure these were not the original tires, but I bought it from a dealer that does that sort of thing. Anyway, the day the tires were replaced my mileage went from 40 on the Hwy to barely 30 on the Hwy. Why is this? Not cheap tires, and they were to proper size according to the Civic Manual. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Hands down the best bang for your buck
Comiche, 07/20/2016
2008 Honda Civic LX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5A)
13 of 14 people found this review helpful
This review will be a little biased as I've always been a Honda owner. My previous car was a 1986 Honda Accord DX Sedan which saw me through my college years. Had it not been for me totaling my 86 Accord at an intersection, I'd probably still be driving it. It passed on at about 375000 miles. I purchased my 2008 Civic LX Sedan at the end of 2008. It currently has 150000 miles on the odometer which means it's just starting to stretch it's legs in Honda terms. So far I've had to replace the starter which, because my car was under warranty, was replaced by the dealer. Other than that all I have to say is that the car is very reliable, comfortable, and moderately fuel efficient. I say moderately fuel efficient because today's cars are very fuel efficient with the introduction of hybrid and electric cars to the market. Those that complain about the car's lack of performance need to take a hard look at themselves in the mirror and ask, 'are you an idiot?' If you want to own a Civic and want performance, it's called the Si model. Every other model other then the Si is built for fuel efficiency. Great car, tough to beat compared to it's competitors, great value, absolutely the best bang for your buck.
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Great Car
Wynonah, 11/01/2010
2008 Honda Civic EX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5A)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
Great Car!! Here are the cars I have owned in the past few years. (I change my cars about every 6 months). I have a friend in the car business so when a new deal comes up we sell my car and get a new pre-owned one. I have had a Lexus ES300, Infinity I30, Two Lincoln Continentals and my last car was an Acura RL. I no longer look for or want another car. My 2008 Civic EX is a keeper.
Will still drive anywhere
SIRich, 04/16/2019
updated 04/17/2020
2008 Honda Civic EX-L 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I have owned my 2008 civic for eleven years. My only complaint is having to repair the AC compressor clutch after 133000 miles. I have no other issues. I still own the car and drive it back and forth to Florida and local trips. Update: Twelve years and 142,000 miles still going strong.
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Its better than a brand new 2010 ford focus!!
Cleveland, 03/22/2017
updated 10/05/2017
2008 Honda Civic LX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I got this car from a man who did all the work on it himself. The car was used by his wife to go to and from work. Immediately when I got into it, I fell for the car. The man had gotten it certified from a Honda dealer preowned and it ran better with 111k on it than my ford focus did with 60K on it, also the build quality of the interior was far better than the Ford. My biggest downside to the honda is the hard seats and its hard to get out of compared to the Ford, here is more about that car. I had a brand new 2010 Ford Focus EX, fully loaded, and all I miss about it, is the seats, stereo and gas mileage. The build quality compared to the honda was very bad. Ford used so much plastic for the dash, door panels, and console that by the time it had 40K miles on it, the inside started to rattle like it was falling apart already. Once I reached 60K it started to idle rough, with 150K spark plugs in it!! I found that selling a fully loaded,leather, sunroof, heated seats etc did not help the value of my return when I sold it back to a dealer. The honda runs perfectly and the man told me he had not changed the spark plugs or wires, the car now has 149K on it and it still runs exactly the way I bought it. It is highly reliable, virtually never needs any repairs and the gas mileage on the HWY with cruise control is quite good. I can drive from Chattanooga Tn to ATL Ga on a quarter of a tank!!! The ford had better gas mileage but terrible build quality.
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104k miles, 4 years later....
por944t, 06/03/2014
2008 Honda Civic EX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5A)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
I have just rolled over to 104k. This was a certified pre-owned 20k car from the dealership when I purchased it 4 years ago. Overall, this car has been reliable, affordable, and relatively roomy. I've averaged 29-30mpg in the city/35 highway. This car is my daily driver. Longest drive was 16 hours one way (at 90k) and no problems. Next service appointment is for the water pump/belt- hopefully this goes smoothly.
Disappointed by this model
lafreewarian, 08/08/2012
2008 Honda Civic EX-L 4dr Sedan w/Navigation (1.8L 4cyl 5A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I have owned Hondas for over 25 years. While the gas mileage of my 2008 Civic is good, the interior noise is irritating, the headrest not in a comfortable position, and after 22,000 miles I had to purchase 4 new tires. The passenger side automatic door lock stopped working and had to be replaced. As of 2012 the car has only 28,000 miles. My last Honda, a 1990 Acura Legend, was a great car and is still going strong. Never any problems with interior and few with engine. I won't buy a Civic again.
Some flaws but I'm buying another one
Toomanycars, 07/09/2010
2008 Honda Civic LX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
This car is above most Detroit built, easier to maintain, and improve. When I first got the car and did a long trip, I hit an amazing MPG of 55. I' haven't hit again: avg city 25-35, highway 35-45. I live where there are a lot of hills and often having a manual is a bad idea but it works great once u get use to it. I've had a tone of chevys, fords, and dodges, I bought a 99 civic and then this one. the 99 feels like a toy compared to the 08. the 08 has more capability and room than all my previous small cars. I don't leave a car as is sense no car is perfect, this is the first car I didn't need to do a single thing to the engine, but I did install a new air intake any ways :) helped with hp.
Sorry Guys but I guess I bought a Lemon
same_ole_ford, 02/28/2012
2008 Honda Civic LX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5A)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
First the maintenance Rear tires have prematurely worn out twice due to a faulty alignment set up from Honda which they had refused to own up to even though they published a service bulletin about the problem. Left front drive shaft failed 42,000 miles replaced both rear wheel bearings at 65,000 miles now the rear shocks are leaking fluid and must be replaced as well. Also there is a Service bulletin about the engine block cracking and leaking antifreeze, which translates into a half done engine rebuild as Honda will not replace the whole engine. Everyone here talks about 70 MPH = 40+ MPG I drive mine 55 to 60 mph on the interstate the best ever is 34MPG. 1st and last Honda anything I buy
Over the Hill
ukyagr, 12/02/2013
2008 Honda Civic EX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
The first year of ownership was great, but it has since been in steady decline. I bought this car based off of reputation, but unfortunately it will soon have to go. No longer can Honda claim reliability and high build quality with this vehicle. Problems include failing door locks, window motors, visors, blower fan electrical components, and A/C compressor failure. Honda has mailed extended warranties on paint and visors already. I expect eventual class action or warranty extension on the AC/blower issues - very common on this model. My dealer does not even charge me diagnostic fees on the AC or fan anymore. The car was babied and often garaged. All of these problems with only 62,000 miles.
250k miles and still running
Rich Rod, 06/10/2022
2008 Honda Civic LX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5A)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
I bought this car back in 2017 with about 145,000 miles for $3000 and yes the engine block did crack at 185,000 miles but I was lucky enough for the dealership to cover it 100%. I also had water pump, shocks, control arm, ac compressor, thermostat, alternator, and belt tensioner with belt replaced at 200k. If you buy this car be prepared to put money aside because these things will break sooner or later. Aside from that everything else has held up well like the automatic transmission, timing chain, motor mounts, power windows, and radio with speakers. I’ve been using it for food delivery mainly and it is great on gas mileage and never left me stranded before. Still using car hopefully I can make it to 300,000 miles without any major issues fingers crossed. Honda are great cars but like any car none are 100% trouble free but luckily all the parts I replaced weren’t expensive as I bought all the parts from Rockauto and had a trusted mechanic do the job cheaper price than dealership. If you are considering buying this car make sure the engine block is still good and if it hasn’t been replaced make sure to keep an eye on the coolant which is the cause to crack the engine block when it leaks and over heats the engine
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Give the CRV a whirl and you will love this car
Linda Stewart, 04/24/2018
2008 Honda Civic EX-L 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
This car was purchased new in 2009 so I have driven it for almost 10 years. If you have a bad back or your a senior like me it sits a little to close to the ground for comfort. It is very difficult to exit for a senior. This is the only negative thing I have to say about this car. The fuel economy is great & trunk space is huge for such a little car. I love the heated seats for winter & sun roof. It is easy to park & drive with great handling ability.
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Best used car ever
Rich Anderson, 01/02/2017
updated 07/06/2018
2008 Honda Civic EX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
(Update - I have now owned this car for 3-1/2 years. It has about 110K miles on it. ZERO repairs, still looks great in and out, still drives great. Minimal maintenance. Its so nice I couldn't bare to pass it on to either of my kids! Instead I bought them both '08 Sonatas and I still drive this. You simply cannot beat well cared for Hondas and Toyotas as used cars. I think this one will last 10 more years and 100,000 more miles easy - still looking nice inside.) I bought this car when it was 6 years old with 74K miles on it for $8500. It looked new inside and out, and 2 years later it still seems like a new car. Is an EX trim, but has leather interior - just a very, very nice daily driver. The biggest dilemma I have with this car is that I think I deserve something nicer (I make good money), but it is just too nice to pass down to my 16 year old (who would trash it), and it really is so nice. Drives smooth, no mechanical problems, looks good in and out. I drove from LA to OKC and got 40Mpg (above spec). Gets 25 on all city driving. This is the 3rd Honda I have owned and all have been very good cars. I get the feeling this car will still be on the road 20 years from now! It is on its second set of tires at 96000 so they wear well. I love the way the instrumentation is laid out - with the big, digital odometer placed high on the dash so the steering wheel doesn't get in the way of seeing it. Minor faults are as follows: Its not a sports car - acceleration is so-so. The position of the front-left windshield down-tube seems to get in the line of sight when making left turns, it doesn't have built-in bluetooth (but most 2008s don't). Overall I give it 5 stars and you just can't go wrong buying a well-cared-for, used Honda Civic.
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Excellent Economical Car
Arthur Tucker, 06/03/2008
2008 Honda Civic EX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
My wife and I needed a new car. We have owned 7 Accords since 1987, the latest being a 2002 Accord EX. We wanted Honda quality, reliability, and resale value, but needed better fuel economy (we got "only" 25 MPG highway with the 2002 Accord EX). We have had our red Civic EX for 2 weeks now, and love this car. This is a sharp looking car. It has a sun roof, alloy wheels and anti-lock brakes. The highway ride is smooth and acceptably quiet, although a couple of bumps on bridges on I-89 in Vermont were a bit jarring. For a trip from Boston to northern Vermont and halfway back which included mixed city, highway, and country driving, we got 36.5 MPG, on only our 3rd tankful of gas.
Great!
N.A., 10/10/2007
2008 Honda Civic EX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
After extensive research (a must being an engineer) and looking and test driving multiple cars, I settled on this model. It gives you all the extras you want with a reasonable price. The design is amazing, and fun to drive. I owned a 99 Honda EX Coupe and it was noisy on the highway. This one, however, it was really quiet. Inside is very spacious and comfortable. Would definitely recommend.
Honda civic vs Acura csx
Nabil Haque , 03/06/2021
2008 Honda Civic EX-L 4dr Sedan w/Navigation (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
My sister bought a 2008 civic exl at 2010 and it's still running very good it has been 11 years! The navigation system is still pretty good. And the heated seats are very useful at winter (if you get the version that hase one.) I would suggest you to buy a civic as a first car because it's not expensive and it's a great car. One the other hand my cousin bought a 2010 acura csx type s as a first car at 2013 and it lasted only 3 year after burning at a red light. Now he has a 2016 honda civic si and it omly had about 4 problems within 4 years!
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Brake problems?
JD, 07/20/2010
2008 Honda Civic LX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I have 20,000 original miles on this vehicle. I have been back to the dealer once to change pads and have rotors cut, once to "remove oxygen" from my brake fluid and a third time to be told that it was my imagination I was stepping on a pedal that felt like a marshmallow. (I almost hit a car in front of me on the way to the dealer). Ear splitting noise, poor brakes, tires are wearing ,sun visor split in half. Trading in the car for a Chevy this week. My first and last Honda.
16 Months - We're Getting Ready to Dump
abandmon, 02/10/2009
2008 Honda Civic EX-L 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
We've owned many domestic vehicles and decided to step-up to the 'superior' quality of a Honda. What a disappointment! The first year was okay with the vehicle however it's now falling apart. Performs poorly in the cold, if it starts at all. Don't think of driving in winter weather without snow tires. The alarm is toast. The electronics are on the fritz. Seat belts don't retract. Weather stripping is worn through. Loud clunk in the trunk area when making turns. Has a severe shake when approaching highway speeds. Hard to find a comfortable driving position. Overall, the most disappointing vehicle we've ever owned! Will never buy a Honda again.
Just as Advertised
OldRockr1, 07/02/2008
2008 Honda Civic LX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I bought this a few weeks back and so far so great! The fuel economy is great, the ride is tight and at 6'3" plenty of room for a small car. The engine is small but peppy. The feel is tight and responsive although not overly smooth. Only complaint is the sound system which, as written about previously, is lacking. I upgraded the speakers to some Pioneer three ways which broadened the spectrum quite a bit. A larger amp and sub woofer would help but is not a pressing need. Overall this is a great car for my commute and around town needs. Highly recommended.
The little engine that wouldn't....
PSM, 08/07/2019
2008 Honda Civic LX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
5 of 8 people found this review helpful
If you're thinking about buying this car, DON'T!!! I got this car for my daughter's 19th birthday. We've had it for a year. It ran for 3 months out of 12. I've replaced the battery and starter. It worked for 3 days afterwards. The 4th day no power, no crank, no start! I thought i had gotten a great deal because it only had 85,000 miles on it but now i realize the reasoning for the low mileage! Very unreliable...DO NOT...I REPEAT DO NOT PURCHASE THIS LEMON!
It keeps you going!
Jacqueline, 07/09/2018
2008 Honda Civic EX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
My mom bought this car brand new in May of 2008. I have been driving it for the last four years. Maintenance wise, I have had to replace the ball-and-socket joint near the axel in the front wheels. I've had to do some small things to fix it here and there, but that's to be expected with a ten year old car with 180,000 miles on it. Internally, the freaking sun visors have broken on both sides about 3-4 times each? Those are expensive to replace and they still feel like they're going to snap. The plastic external wrapping on the black around the windows has completely torn off within a few years of use. The metallic paint on the plastic parts inside the car has worn off. The rubber around the windshield has completely deteriorated and fallen off. It disappoints me that the good looks of the car are pretty much gone nowadays. Driving it is fine, it gets a bit scary when you're trying to accelerate and you can't speed up in time to match traffic. Braking can be difficult when it comes to everybody stopping faster than you. I've rear-ended somebody that way. You have to leave plenty of space. Especially when you have more than two bodies in the car. Weighs down the car tremendously. The handling of the car is great. Starting up the car gets laggy at times. You can feel just about every rock and pebble that you hit in the road. Not a smooth ride. Definitely looking forward to the new Honda's in the future
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Car Stinks
mark primrose, 10/30/2009
2008 Honda Civic EX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5A)
2 of 4 people found this review helpful
This is my first and last Honda I will ever buy, I have had nothing but problems with the car from day one. Headlights fell out, interior is falling apart, windows have broke, power window motors went out, transmission is going out, had the cheapest tires money could buy on the car when purchased. Heater vent went bad, radio controls are barely working, the car is horrible, bought it for its good mileage and reliability. Haven't encountered either one.
honda LEMON
sar, 02/23/2010
2008 Honda Civic DX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 8 people found this review helpful
My 2008 civic is a lemon. the brakes have failed 2 times. there is excessive high/low amounts of oxygen in the car-found on testing-for which I do not yet know the source. Bottom line, driving it results in headaches, confusion, dizziness, and nausea. it can not be driven. the driver's door lock is broken. the power windows have malfunctioned. The car does not start in cold weather. The car bucks when changing gears. If you breathe on the car, it scratches. NEVER BUY HONDA. Honda Canada is a nightmare. To date, nothing had been done to serve me. 10 months, no car.
Love the 5-speed
Jim Fairman, 12/03/2018
2008 Honda Civic EX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
The 5-speed is a reliable and fun car to drive that fits a 6'4" driver and three passengers comfortably. Love the clean and open interior design! Low cost of ownership is great. Cons: pointless tire pressure sensors fail & expensive to replace, front roof pillars creates large blind spots, 205/55 R16 tires slip a lot starting in snow, with torque steer common. Factory headlight bulbs are weak.
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Still going
Tony, 01/05/2020
2008 Honda Civic LX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Good little car, it has 276000 miles and still runs great. No major repairs except an ac compressor, the rest has been regular maintenance
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Great Little Car
Tony L, 04/20/2018
updated 10/24/2019
2008 Honda Civic EX-L 4dr Sedan w/Navigation (1.8L 4cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I have now owned my 2008 Honda Civic EX-L since February of 2008. In the 180K+ miles, the only issues I have had was an air conditioner relay and both visors broke and were replaced free of charge due to a safety recall. I have done the regular scheduled maintenance and the car has never let me down. I purchased this car to lessen the expense of my 90 mile daily commute to and from work. I have now retired and will likely replace this car with a new Accord that will provide more comfort and quieter ride. The only complaints I have are the lack of Bluetooth and a little more road noise than I would like. It is a sedan and will carry 4 people, however the ride suffers with 4 large adults. Two adults up front and kids in the back set is no problem. I have owned Honda/Acura products since 1985 and have always gotten exceptional service from all of them.
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Holy. Cow. !!!!
Zilla, 03/01/2018
2008 Honda Civic EX 4dr Sedan w/Navigation (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
The Civic is truly like a fine wine. It aged so well and maintains its reliability . Room inside is improved and cabin is quiter. Few things need improving ... . Sunvisor. Using cheap a/c relays, blower motor reliability is bad, and I've had these problems as have many owners. However never had a problem getting to point a. To b. Skimping on these things are not like honda and they need to watch their quality control on all components as this can lead customers to think all quality may be slipping .
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Review
MsT, 07/06/2010
2008 Honda Civic LX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
When driving with the rear windows down the wind vibration noise is so loud it hurts your ears, about once a week my send has lowered itself into the lowest position (the lever is in a bad place and you bump it getting into the car). The roof padding is so thin when it rains you have to turn your sound system WAY up to hear it. The rear window collects water in the center when it rains and making seeing out of your rear view mirror nearly impossible!
Great, fun car.... with problems.
Go_Kings, 03/14/2008
2008 Honda Civic LX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
The Honda Civic LX is a great car. It's fun, flashy, responsive, and great on gas. Love the interior design; the elegant dash, the race inspired steering wheel. The two-tier gauge layout. On top: MPH. Bottom: RPMs and other vitals. They all just come together nicely. The exterior design is great too. Very sporty (I prefer the four door look myself). But wait, there are troubles in paradise. One big problem is the transmission (I agree with the other viewer). It clunks and down shifts gears in an odd way. RECALL! Another problem is the the car's two major blind spots. These are at the driver's 10 and 2 o'clock positions. To make matters worse, the car's horn sounds like a cheap alarm clock.
First [and Last] Civic
LadyM, 06/18/2010
2008 Honda Civic LX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I purchased my Civic new in the summer of 2008 and within three weeks it was leaking power steering fluid. IIRC, the dealership had to replace the power steering rack. A major repair before 1K is not a good omen. Within a few months, the car developed a starting problem. I've been to the dealer 4 times for that particular concern. They replaced the starter motor and the other three times they found nothing wrong. It still will not start sometimes. When idling, the AC starts to blow lukewarm air, even when it's on the coldest setting. Again, dealership couldn't find a problem. The suspension is noisy and the interior plastic scratches very, very easily. I won't buy a Honda again.
Disappointed
wvm1, 08/02/2011
2008 Honda Civic LX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Bought a new Civic LX in 2008. Owned 2.5 years and put 28,000 miles on it. Found the position of the headrests too far forward, not allowing me to put my head in a comfortable driving position. The rear suspension chewed up the rear tires by 18,000 miles. At 20,000 miles the air intake meter abruptly died leaving my family and I stranded.The auto transmission from day one shifted roughly from 1st to 2nd gear. And the final straw was discovering 2006 through 2008 Civic engines have been cracking and losing cooling fluid, as early as 40,000 miles. Loved driving this sporty four door, but was unhappy with its unreliability.
Love at first sight
FD, 08/18/2008
2008 Honda Civic LX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I've only had my Honda LX for 2 weeks. The moment I sat down in it and put my hand on the 5 speed shifter I fell in love. On my first trip I got 37 mpg and since I have gotten 44 and 45 mpg. I drive conservatively about 60 -65 mph. I have always bought Toyota but couldn't find a 5 speed in my color and thought I'd look at the competition. Glad I did. Beautiful car. It came with a slight problem with the am radio reception but I'm getting that repaired at the dealer. Don't drive the civic five speed or you won't be able to turn it loose. I had a Toyota Supra and this car is just as much fun to drive and I find myself looking for an excuse to drive it.
Rear Axle Defect?
circ99, 06/22/2010
2008 Honda Civic EX-L 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Bought 2008 Civic new. Rear tires have a camber alignment issue. Dealers have said designed that was. Burns up tires unless you rotate at every service. Just filed safety complaint with ntsb. Bought car for daughter, who knows nothing about tires. Unsafe. I don't need tires blowing out. Honda USA ignored my request, but I did find a dealer who will fix it for a price $$. Wow. Purchased Honda care warranty. They don't want to touch this issue either. Beware beware if you are going to buy, check out the rear wheels !
Old, reliable
TheresaS, 01/23/2023
2008 Honda Civic EX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Works well like a Honda. Has a sun-roof. Starts well even in cold weather.
Follow up review
L B, 08/26/2008
2008 Honda Civic EX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
The window sticker says to expect 29 MPG. That did not happen in 7 of 11 fill ups. The AC continues to be a thorn in my side. Only cools good on max air recirculating. Switching to outside air makes my temperature probe go up 15 degrees. It's a fun car to drive; it's quiet and peppy; but MPG and AC are big distract ors.
Love this car
alyson, 07/01/2010
2008 Honda Civic EX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Bought this 2008 Honda EX for my daughter used and I have to say that I am very happy with it. It rides nice, great fuel economy and is really fun to drive. It has fantastic pick-up for a 4 cyl. vehicle. The only 2 complaints I have are that the seats could be a bit more comfortable and the factory radio sounds very "tinny" and we will replace that. I'm hoping she gets many good and reliable years of driving out of it!
Love this car
Dave, 01/17/2010
2008 Honda Civic EX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I had the heated seat feature installed without the leather - great idea. I also worked the rear view mirror with glare repellent and direction in the deal as well - great idea too. With tinted windows and the rear wing, I find this car every bit as classy as models 3 times the cost. High end tires have helped tremendously - Honda sells them new with a really bad tire.
Great Civic
andrew dansereau, 11/25/2008
2008 Honda Civic EX-L 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I have near 5000 miles on the EX-L Civic. This is a luxury compact sedan with plenty of room. Everything from the heated seats the dash display, the quality that Honda put into this car does make it a luxury compact. Best mpg so far 42! No need to slam the door closed, it closes with the sound of quality! I am totally amazed every time I get into this car. Can you say Swiss watch.
AC Condenser Problem
JCromer, 10/11/2008
2008 Honda Civic EX-L 4dr Sedan w/Navigation (1.8L 4cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
We have driven our new 2008 civic only 3700 miles. We love the car and great gas mileage and have always thought highly of Honda. This has now changed as do to the design flaw to protect the AC condenser. Small rocks on the road will damage the condenser and it is on covered under warranty.
Not all happily ever after....
Laura, 05/29/2009
2008 Honda Civic LX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I commute 120 miles a day, so gas mileage was of paramount importance. I have always owned Hondas and loved them-except for this one. The passenger/driver sun visors have broken 3 times. The paint is blistering and peeling off the bumpers. The windshield is VERY long, prone to cracking and the sun visor will take up what little cargo space there is. The rear child tethers are so close to the seat, you cannot use them. I was informed today the brakes need replacing every 20-25,000 miles since all the 2008 have a new brake system to eliminate braking noise that results in 1/2 the usual brake life. I'd rather have the noise...and a different car. $300 every 8 months is pricey.
very diappointed
not impressed, 10/03/2008
2008 Honda Civic LX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
It is the most uncomfortable car I have driven. I am at a little over 600 miles and only getting 25 mpg on the hwy! I did months of research and THOUGHT i was making a wise buying decision. I won't buy another.
Just Okay
Rebecca, 07/14/2010
2008 Honda Civic LX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5A)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
Though not exciting to look at or drive, my Honda does the job. Love the gas mileage - that in and of itself is what makes the car a great buy. Comfort really lacks though. Driver seat is not good for long drives.
Reliable, fast, great handling
smoothcivic, 08/10/2011
2008 Honda Civic EX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5A)
1 of 3 people found this review helpful
Purchased used in 2010 with 8,000km. Now has 43,000km. Feels like it hasn't aged a single bit. No problems, extremely fast on highways and local roads, easy to zip between cars and get thru traffic easily. Independent suspension makes cornering easy. Ride is slightly bumpy, compared to full size sedans. Drove 10 hours straight from Toronto to Queens, averaging 90mph all the way, and the car gave no problems. Was a very fun drive winding along the mountains at high speed. Fuel efficiency decreases substantially at higher speeds. Sad to see others writing poor comments, they must have received the bad apples, because otherwise the car follows the tradition for exceptional quality for me.
Paid for two cars in one
Eric, 02/22/2021
2008 Honda Civic LX 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5A)
1 of 4 people found this review helpful
Watch out for any civic 06 to 09 because they may not last . I bought my 08 civic lx with 80000 miles on it. It felt like and looked like a great car. I paid $8000 for this car with a honda brand secret. The engine block has a tendency to crack just under or over 100000 miles. I was one of the unlucky considering it was a known defect by honda who only put a extended warranty that ran out just past 100000 miles. Not even a recall and they knew these models had engine issues which cost me $3500 for a newer engine from a 2010 with 42000 miles at a different mechanic. Even better honda was going to charge me almost $9000 for the same year engine with 175000 miles which is more than car is worth. Total money pit of a car.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value