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2010 Honda Civic Engine Problems

17 owner-reported engine complaints from NHTSA data

17
Complaints
1
Crashes
2
Fires
Jan 2012Nov 2017
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (17)

mediumENGINE
Filed: Aug 2020

GOT A AC PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE.FOUND OUT THAT THIS ENGINE IS MISSING A HEATER CONTROL VALVE.PRIOR YEARS HAVE ONE ,BUT YEARS 2006- 2011 FORGOT TO PUT ONE IN.I LIVE IN PHOENIX WHERE TEMP.IS HIGH, SO AC IS USED MORE.THIS IS IMPORTANT TO THE CLIMATE CONTROL OF THE VECHICLE.

NHTSA #: 11349175
mediumENGINE
Filed: Jan 2020

MY 2010 MODEL YEAR HONDA CIVIC WITH THE 1.8L R18A1 4-CYL ENGINE WILL NOT MAINTAIN ITS NORMAL ENGINE OPERATING TEMPERATURE DURING THE COLD WINTER MONTHS. THE ENGINE TAKES A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO WARM UP, WHETHER IT IS IDLING IN THE DRIVEWAY OR BEING DRIVEN IN THE CITY/HIGHWAY. THIS PROBLEM IS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WHEN USING THE HEAT TO WARM UP THE CAR. IF I TRY TO USE THE DEFROST SETTING, THE CAR WILL NOT REACH ITS NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE AND THE AIR BEING BLOW OUT IS LUKEWARM. EVEN IF I WAIT UNTIL THE CAR IS FULLY WARMED UP, IF I ATTEMPT TO USE THE DEFROST, THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE WILL DROP. IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE ENGINE'S TEMPERATURE, I MUST KEEP THE DEFROST SET BETWEEN THE HOT AND COLD INDICATORS ON THE CLIMATE CONTROL KNOB. THIS POSES AS A PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE AIR BEING BLOWN OUT DOES NOT EFFECTIVELY DEFROST MY WINDOWS. I ALSO DO NOT WANT TO DAMAGE MY ENGINE AND HAVE IT RUN TOO COLD. ANY OUTSIDE TEMPERATE BELOW 30 F IS WHEN THE ENGINE SEEMS TO STRUGGLE WITH KEEPING A NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATE.

NHTSA #: 11300222
mediumENGINE
Filed: Nov 2017

THE CAR VIBRATES UPON TURING IT ON AND ENGINE SOUNDS VERY NOISY. I TOOK IT TO HONDA SERVICE CENTER ON ROUTE 22 IN HILLSIDE AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE MOTOR MOUNT WHICH WAS REPLACED AT A COST TO ME OF $600.00 . THEY CLAIMED THERE WAS NO WARRANTY FOR ENGINE TROUBLE AVAILABLE.

NHTSA #: 11044537
mediumENGINE
Filed: Oct 2017

WHEN STARTED AND PUT IN REVERSE THE CAR SHAKES AND MAKES NOISE. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS BAD MOTOR MOUNTS. 75,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THIS IS THE SAME COMPLAINT MADE BY MANY OWNERS. I'VE READ ON LINE THAT THIS PROBLEM IS WIDE SPREAD WITH OTHERS LOOKING FOR A RECALL.

NHTSA #: 11039330
mediumENGINE
Filed: Feb 2017

MY CAR HAS 65000 MILES AND EVERYTIME WHILE REVERSING THERE IS A KNOCKING SOUND AND HEAVY VIBRATIONS. ALSO WHEN TURNING RIGHT IT HAS SOME VIBRATIONS AND KNOCKING SOUNDS. I FOUND OUT THAT IT IS THE PASSENGER SIDE ENGINE MOUNT THAT HAS FAILED. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A NORMAL TREND FOR 8TH GEN HONDA CIVIC'S. I DON'T KNOW WHY HONDA DOESN'T DO A RECALL TO FIX THIS ISSUE, THEY ARE DOING ONE FOR THEIR AIRBAGS ALREADY, WHY NOT ADD THIS TOO. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AND A MAJOR ACCIDENT JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN.

NHTSA #: 10956673
mediumENGINE
Filed: Jun 2016

MY CIVIC HAS DEVELOPED EXCESSIVE BEARING NOISE IN THE TRANSMISSION AND IT IS GETTING LOUDER, ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER.

NHTSA #: 10872757
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Oct 2014

SUBMISSION FROM CONSTITUENT RE TO FILE AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT AGAINST HONDA MOTOR CORPORATION, ALSO INCLUDING RUSTY WALLACE HONDA IN KNOXVILLE AND COOKEVILLE HONDA SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AS OFFICIAL WARRANTY SERVICERS (FULL DOC NOT IMAGED). *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE DEALER STATED THE CONSUMER HIT SOMETHING, WHICH CAUSED WATER TO LEAK, AND THE ENGINE TO BLOW. THE CONSUMER REFUTED THE DEALERS CONCLUSION. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER. AN INSPECTION REVEALED, THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN, BECAUSE A BRACKET PUNCTURED THE RADIATOR. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND AFTER MARKET PARTS WERE USED, WHICH VOIDED THE WARRANTY, THE CONSUMER HAD. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD A CLEAN CARFAX REPORT. *JB

NHTSA #: 10649139
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,STRUCTURE
Filed: Aug 2014

SECOND TIME SEEING THIS ON A HONDA CIVIC. THE MOTOR MOUNTS GO BAD FAIRLY QUICKLY AND THIS TIME WENT BAD ON ME UNDER 36000 MILES. IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH HONDA CIVIC OWNERS. THE CAR STARTS RELENTLESSLY VIBRATING. *TR

NHTSA #: 10629570
mediumENGINE
FireFiled: Jun 2014

ABOUT A YEAR AGO - THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF ENGINE WHILE DRIVING. WE STOPPED AND HONDA SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE AND CHANGED THE ENGINE (UNDER WARRANTY STILL). SINCE THEN, WE HAVE MULTIPLE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT SIGNS WHILE DRIVING IN HIGHWAY OR MIDDLE OF CROWDED CITY, AS WELL AS THE DRIVE LIGHT JUST STARTS RANDOMLY BLINKING FORCING US TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND RE-START THE CAR. THROUGHOUT THIS TIME, THEY ARE NOW CHANGING THE ENGINE FOR THE 3RD TIME AND THERE IS CONSTANT LEAK AND WARNING SIGNS STILL. THEY HAVE OBVIOUSLY NOT FIGURED OUT THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY KNOW OUR WARRANTY IS RUNNING OUT IN OCTOBER - SO THEY JUST CHANGE ENGINE OR REPAIR A LEAK (WITHOUT ACTUALLY FIGURING OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS) AND THEY ARE WAITING FOR WARRANTY TO RUN OUT. IT IS ALL BEEN AN ENGINE PROBLEM AND THE DEALER AND NOW HONDA JUST DO NOT SEEM TO CARE - WE ARE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. WE THINK THIS IS A VIOLATION OF THE MAGNUSON-MOSS WARRANTY ACT AS THEY HAVE OBVIOUSLY NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM (IE ENGINE) THAT IS UNDER WARRANTY AND JUST REPLACE IT WITH SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR US TO BE DRIVING THIS CAR AS HONDA AND US BOTH KNOW THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED AND DRIVING IN HIGHWAY OR A ROAD COULD MEAN AN ACCIDENT ANYTIME. HOWEVER, HONDA DOES NOT SEEM TO CARE - THEY SAY WELL WE WILL KEEP ON REPLACING ENGINE UNTIL WARRANTY RUNS OUT. WE WOULD LIKE TO GET A NEW CAR OR A CAR WITH EQUAL MILEAGE (AS OF FEBRUARY 2013), AS WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PROPERLY USE THE CAR AND FEEL IN DANGER EVERY TIME WE DRIVE THE CAR GIVEN ALL THE WARNINGS. *TR

NHTSA #: 10595642
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Jul 2012

WHILE MY WIFE WAS WAITING IN LINE AT A FAST FOOD DRIVE THRU LANE, STEAM WAS NOTICED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY PARKED. A QUICK INSPECTION SHOWED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO BE EXTREMELY CLEAN. A SMALL AMOUNT OF MOISTURE WAS NOTICED ON THE INSIDE OF THE HOOD AND NEXT TO THE AC COMPRESSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE AGENCY AND LEFT OVERNIGHT. WHEN I CALLED THE NEXT MORNING, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE COMPRESSOR WAS FAILING AND THAT THEY RECOMMENDED TO HAVE THE COMPRESSOR REPLACED FOR $995. AFTER STATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LESS THEN TWO YEARS OLD AND INQUIRING IF THERE WAS A RECALL OR OTHER CIVICS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS, I WAS TOLD THAT A 2006 MODEL WAS BROUGHT IN WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM AND THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. I CALLED SOME LOCAL PARTS STORES AND WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPRESSOR WAS NOT STOCKED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE SPECIAL ORDERED BECAUSE THE MODEL YEAR WAS STILL NEW. THE FINAL REPAIR WAS REPLACEMENT OF THE AC COMPRESSOR AND AC RELAY FOR A DISCOUNTED PRICE OF $824.60 OUCH! *TR

NHTSA #: 10465752
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN
Filed: Jan 2012

CAR STALLS AND ALSO SPUTTERS, FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL. THIS WILL OCCUR WHEN VEHICLE IS SLOWING DOWN (EX: TRAFFIC) AND THE RPMS WILL DROP CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL OR ALMOST STALL. IF VEHICLE DOESN'T STALL RPMS WILL SHOOT BACK UP. IN ADDITION, SHIFTER WILL GET STUCK WHEN GOING FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE, DRIVE INTO MARK, AND VISE VERSA. *TR

NHTSA #: 10442876
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Aug 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE ON AN INCLINE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE REGARDING THE FAILURE OR THE REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 827 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,000.

NHTSA #: 10419516
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,EQUIPMENT
Filed: Sep 2010

THE CONDENSER UNIT IN MY 2010 HONDA CIVIC EX HAS EXPIRED. I TOOK IT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE A LITTLE OVER A WEEK AGO, AND EVER SINCE THEN, THE A/C HASN'T WORKED. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER THIS MORNING AND THE SERVICE GUYS INSISTED THAT THE CONDENSER WAS PUNTURED BY ROAD DEBRIS. THE MANUFACTER WARRANTY WON'T COVER THE COST TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE, NOR WILL MY EASY CARE INSURANCE COVER IT. I PURCHASED THIS CAR 7 1/2 MONTHS AGO BRAND NEW. *TR

NHTSA #: 10355303
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Aug 2010

DURING MY DAUGHTER'S 5-HR DRIVE TO COLLEGE IN HER 2010 HONDA CIVIC (~ 3500 MILES ON IT), THE CAR'S A/C ABRUPTLY QUIT WORKING. AFTER CHECKING OVER THE INTERNAL CONTROLS TO MAKE SURE SHE DIDN'T HAVE A WRONG SETTING, SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A HONDA DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION AND FOUND THAT THE CONDENSER HAD A HOLE IN IT APPARENTLY FROM A FOREIGN OBJECT (ROCK). UPON FURTHER INTERNET RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED THIS SITUATION WAS NOT A RARE OCCURRENCE. THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS LISTED ON THE INTERNET OF THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I CONTACTED BOTH AMERICAN HONDA AS WELL AS THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND WAS TOLD THAT HONDA WOULD NOT COVER THIS UNDER WARRANTY. THE ISSUE IS DESIGN OR MATERIAL WORKMANSHIP RELATED, NOT AN "ACT OF GOD" OR UNLUCKY CIRCUMSTANCE. THE CONDENSER IS NOT WELL PROTECTED AS IN OTHER COMPETITIVE VEHICLES, SO IT IS MORE PRONE TO THIS ISSUE. OTHER PEOPLE DISCUSSING THIS ISSUE ON AN INTERNET "FORUM" ARE FINDING CREATIVE WAYS TO PROTECT THE CONDENSER WITH A WIRE "NETTING" BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT JUST BY REPLACING THE CONDENSER DOES NOT FIX THE ROOT CAUSE. SINCE THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, HONDA IS MOST LIKELY NOT GOING TO ADDRESS THIS IN A RESPONSIBLE MANNER. AT THIS POINT, I'LL HAVE TO ASK MY INSURANCE TO GET INVOLVED AND PAY THE DEDUCTIBLE AND POTENTIALLY HAVE MY INSURANCE RATES INCREASE IF THIS RE-OCCURS. WE WILL HAVE A "LOCAL" HONDA DEALERSHIP REPLACE THE CONDENSER AND ASSOCIATED PARTS. MY OBJECTIVE HERE IS TO LET MORE PEOPLE KNOW THAT HONDA HAS AN ISSUE WITH THIS DESIGN/CONDENSER MATERIAL IN THE HOPES THAT THEY WILL ADDRESS IT. *TR

NHTSA #: 10346917
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: May 2010

MY 2008 CIVIC EX L CONDENSER WAS DAMAGED BY A ROAD SIDE DEBRIS/STONE. I TOOK IT TO MY HONDA DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY THE TO REPAIR WOULD BE $725.00 OR I COULD TAKE IT TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY SEE IF THEY WILL COVER THE COST. HOWEVER, I CALLED HONDA CANADA SINCE THEY ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME ISSUE [ DESIGN FLAW ]. HONDA CANADA GAVE ME SAME SONG AND DANCE THE DEALER GAVE ME AND ADMITTING IT IS A DESIGN FLAW. THIS IS OUR 7TH HONDA PRODUCT BUT I WILL NOT GO BACK TO HONDA ANY MORE. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED WITH ANSWERS I GOT FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND HONDA CANADA. *TR

NHTSA #: 10330822
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
FireFiled: Apr 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND REMOVED THE OIL CAP. SMOKE BEGAN TO COME OUT OF THE OIL COMPARTMENT AND THE DIP STICK WAS MELTED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MOTOR BLOCK WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 88,000.

NHTSA #: 10327053
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CrashFiled: Mar 2010

MY NEW HONDA CIVIC (2010) HAS HAD TWO EPISODES OF RANDOM, UNPREDICTABLE ENGINE REVVING, THE ENGINE REVS AS IF I WERE GOING 60 MILES AN HOUR AND THEN SUDDENLY SOMEHOW WENT INTO FIRST GEAR. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED THE CAR DID ACCELERATE AND I HIT A SNOW BANK AS I WAS PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS GOING AROUND 35 MILES PER HOUR, THE ENGINE REVVED, BUT THE CAR DIDN'T ACCELERATE. I AM TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALER TOMORROW. IT IS VERY SCARY. *TR

NHTSA #: 10316943

Other 2010 Honda Civic Issues