2004 HONDA CIVIC — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 380 complaints · 15 recalls
Most-reported system: AIR BAGS (124 complaints · 32.6%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 51
  • Fires 6
  • Injuries 39
  • Deaths 1
Compare with 2003 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

Component Problem Distribution AIR BAGS appears in 124 of 380 owner complaints (32.6%) in this vehicle snapshot. AIR BAGS: 124 complaints, 32.6% of reports AIR BAGS 124 · 32.6% · 31 crash reports POWER TRAIN: 64 complaints, 16.8% of reports POWER TRAIN 64 · 16.8% · 2 crash reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 30 complaints, 7.9% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 30 · 7.9% · 3 fire reports ENGINE: 24 complaints, 6.3% of reports ENGINE 24 · 6.3% · 1 fire reports FUEL SYSTEM: 21 complaints, 5.5% of reports FUEL SYSTEM 21 · 5.5% · 1 crash reports STRUCTURE: 17 complaints, 4.5% of reports STRUCTURE 17 · 4.5% · 2 crash reports SEAT BELTS: 13 complaints, 3.4% of reports SEAT BELTS 13 · 3.4% VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: 12 complaints, 3.2% of reports VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 12 · 3.2% · 7 crash reports EXTERIOR LIGHTING: 11 complaints, 2.9% of reports EXTERIOR LIGHTING 11 · 2.9% UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 140 complaints, 36.8% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 140 · 36.8% · 23 crash reports 4 fire reports 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
AIR BAGS 124 32.6% 31 crashes · 0 fires
POWER TRAIN 64 16.8% 2 crashes · 0 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 30 7.9% 0 crashes · 3 fires
ENGINE 24 6.3% 0 crashes · 1 fires
FUEL SYSTEM 21 5.5% 1 crashes · 0 fires
STRUCTURE 17 4.5% 2 crashes · 0 fires
SEAT BELTS 13 3.4% 0 crashes · 0 fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 12 3.2% 7 crashes · 0 fires
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 11 2.9% 0 crashes · 0 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 140 36.8% 23 crashes · 4 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

Problem & Recall Timeline Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Oct 2003; the first recall shown was reported in Nov 2004. 2003-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2004-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2004-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2004-Q3: 14 owner reports 14 2004-Q4: 8 owner reports 8 2005-Q1: 9 owner reports 9 2005-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2005-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2005-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2006-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2006-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2006-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2006-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2007-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2007-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2007-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2007-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2008-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2008-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2008-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2008-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2009-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2009-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2009-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2009-Q4: 8 owner reports 8 2010-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2010-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2010-Q3: 9 owner reports 9 2010-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2011-Q1: 13 owner reports 13 2011-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2011-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2011-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2012-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2012-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2012-Q3: 9 owner reports 9 2012-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2013-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2013-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2013-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2013-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2014-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2014-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2014-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2014-Q4: 21 owner reports 21 2015-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2015-Q2: 8 owner reports 8 2015-Q3: 20 owner reports 20 2015-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2016-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2016-Q2: 10 owner reports 10 2016-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2016-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2017-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2017-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2017-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2017-Q4: 8 owner reports 8 2018-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2018-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2018-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2018-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2019-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2019-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2019-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2019-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2020-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2021-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Oct 2003 Oct 2023 Recall campaign 04V550000 ◆ Recall campaign 04V550000 Recall campaign 06E023000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E023000 Recall campaign 06E032000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E032000 Recall campaign 06E064000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E064000 Recall campaign 07V512000 ◆ Recall campaign 07V512000 Recall campaign 07E104000 ◆ Recall campaign 07E104000 Recall campaign 09E025000 ◆ Recall campaign 09E025000 Recall campaign 14V353000 ◆ Recall campaign 14V353000 Recall campaign 14V700000 ◆ Recall campaign 14V700000 Recall campaign 15V320000 ◆ Recall campaign 15V320000 Recall campaign 15V370000 ◆ Recall campaign 15V370000 Recall campaign 18V268000 ◆ Recall campaign 18V268000 Recall campaign 19V182000 ◆ Recall campaign 19V182000 Recall campaign 19V499000 ◆ Recall campaign 19V499000 Recall campaign 19V501000 ◆ Recall campaign 19V501000 Investigation PE14016 ● Investigation PE14016 Investigation PE14016 ● Investigation PE14016 Investigation EA15001 ● Investigation EA15001 Investigation EA15001 ● Investigation EA15001 Investigation EA21002 ● Investigation EA21002 Investigation EA21002 ● Investigation EA21002 Investigation DP22005 ● Investigation DP22005
  • Campaign 07V512000 was reported 895 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 07E104000 was reported 1,106 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 15V320000 was reported 4,078 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 15V370000 was reported 4,096 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 18V268000 was reported 5,142 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 19V182000 was reported 5,456 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 19V499000 was reported 5,569 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 19V501000 was reported 5,569 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2003-Q4 Owner reports 1
2004-Q1 Owner reports 2
2004-Q2 Owner reports 5
2004-Q3 Owner reports 14
2004-Q4 Owner reports 8
2005-Q1 Owner reports 9
2005-Q2 Owner reports 6
2005-Q3 Owner reports 8
2005-Q4 Owner reports 2
2006-Q1 Owner reports 4
2006-Q2 Owner reports 5
2006-Q3 Owner reports 3
2006-Q4 Owner reports 5
2007-Q1 Owner reports 6
2007-Q2 Owner reports 2
2007-Q3 Owner reports 7
2007-Q4 Owner reports 2
2008-Q1 Owner reports 2
2008-Q2 Owner reports 6
2008-Q3 Owner reports 6
2008-Q4 Owner reports 2
2009-Q1 Owner reports 6
2009-Q2 Owner reports 3
2009-Q3 Owner reports 7
2009-Q4 Owner reports 8
2010-Q1 Owner reports 4
2010-Q2 Owner reports 7
2010-Q3 Owner reports 9
2010-Q4 Owner reports 4
2011-Q1 Owner reports 13
2011-Q2 Owner reports 5
2011-Q3 Owner reports 8
2011-Q4 Owner reports 6
2012-Q1 Owner reports 6
2012-Q2 Owner reports 4
2012-Q3 Owner reports 9
2012-Q4 Owner reports 3
2013-Q1 Owner reports 2
2013-Q2 Owner reports 3
2013-Q3 Owner reports 8
2013-Q4 Owner reports 4
2014-Q1 Owner reports 2
2014-Q2 Owner reports 7
2014-Q3 Owner reports 6
2014-Q4 Owner reports 21
2015-Q1 Owner reports 7
2015-Q2 Owner reports 8
2015-Q3 Owner reports 20
2015-Q4 Owner reports 5
2016-Q1 Owner reports 2
2016-Q2 Owner reports 10
2016-Q3 Owner reports 4
2016-Q4 Owner reports 3
2017-Q1 Owner reports 2
2017-Q2 Owner reports 5
2017-Q3 Owner reports 3
2017-Q4 Owner reports 8
2018-Q1 Owner reports 5
2018-Q2 Owner reports 4
2018-Q3 Owner reports 5
2018-Q4 Owner reports 4
2019-Q1 Owner reports 3
2019-Q2 Owner reports 6
2019-Q3 Owner reports 2
2019-Q4 Owner reports 1
2020-Q1 Owner reports 3
2020-Q3 Owner reports 1
2020-Q4 Owner reports 2
2021-Q1 Owner reports 1
2021-Q3 Owner reports 1
2021-Q4 Owner reports 1
2022-Q1 Owner reports 1
2022-Q4 Owner reports 1
2023-Q1 Owner reports 1
2023-Q4 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 04V550000
Recall campaign 1 06E023000
Recall campaign 1 06E032000
Recall campaign 1 06E064000
Recall campaign 1 07V512000
Recall campaign 1 07E104000
Recall campaign 1 09E025000
Recall campaign 1 14V353000
Recall campaign 1 14V700000
Recall campaign 1 15V320000
Recall campaign 1 15V370000
Recall campaign 1 18V268000
Recall campaign 1 19V182000
Recall campaign 1 19V499000
Recall campaign 1 19V501000
Defect investigation 1 PE14016
Defect investigation 1 PE14016
Defect investigation 1 EA15001
Defect investigation 1 EA15001
Defect investigation 1 EA21002
Defect investigation 1 EA21002
Defect investigation 1 DP22005
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (15)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

  1. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 04V550000

    Report date
    Component:
    SEAT BELTS
    Consequence:
    AN IMPROPERLY POSITIONED BELT COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT SEAT BELT ANCHORS FOR RESTRICTED MOVEMENT. IF AN ANCHOR DOES NOT ROTATE FREELY, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE WASHER WITH A COUNTERMEASURE WASHER. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 24, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 06E023000

    Report date
    Component:
    EXTERIOR LIGHTING
    Consequence:
    WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 06E032000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
    Remedy:
    TOM MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE PURCHASE OF NONCOMPLIANT LIGHTS. THE RECALL BEGAN APRIL 17, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOM MOTORSPORT AT 626-968-4007.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 06E064000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 07E104000

    Report date
    Component:
    VISIBILITY
    Consequence:
    IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT(S) MAY BE SERIOUSLY INJURED BY SHATTERED GLASS.
    Remedy:
    SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS RETAIL CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE GLASS FREE OF CHARGE. RETAIL CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE TOLL FREE AT 1-888-843-2906. SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS AND REIMBURSE WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS FOR CURRENT INVENTORY AND AT A SPECIFIED RATE FOR REPLACING THEIR CUSTOMER'S GLASS. WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE'S WHOLESALE DIVISION, SERVICE AUTOGLASS TOLL FREE AT 1-888-246-6298. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2008.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 07V512000

    Report date
    Component:
    FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
    Consequence:
    THIS COULD RESULT IN A TANK RUPTURE, EXPLOSION, AND EJECTION OF THE TANK FROM THE VEHICLE.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEAT INSULATOR MATERIAL TO THE REAR SEAT BACK. AN INTERIM OWNER LETTER WAS MAILED TO OWNERS BEGINNING NOVEMBER 26, 2007. WHEN PARTS ARE AVAILABLE, OWNERS WILL BE RENOTIFIED ASKING THEM TO BRING IN THEIR VEHICLE FOR REPAIR. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  7. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 09E025000

    Report date
    Component:
    EXTERIOR LIGHTING
    Consequence:
    DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  8. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 14V353000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger’s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
    Remedy:
    Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflators in all affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during August 2014. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  9. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 14V700000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger’s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
    Remedy:
    Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  10. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 15V320000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
    Remedy:
    Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1-800-382-2238, select option 4. Note: Vehicles that have had their driver frontal air bag replaced previously as part of a recall remedy prior to September 12, 2014 need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well. Vehicles that, on or after September 12, 2014, received a remedy for a prior driver frontal air bag inflator recall already received an inflator of a different design, and therefore are not included in this recall and do not require additional servicing. Note: This recall fully supersedes recalls 08V-593, 09V-259, 10V-041, 11V-260, 14V-351 and 15V-153. Honda's numbers for this recall are JQ9, JR0, JR1, JR2, JR3, JR4, JR5, JR6, JR7, and JR8.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  11. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 15V370000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the passenger seat occupant or other occupants possibly causing serious injury or death.
    Remedy:
    Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are JU4, JU5, JU6, and JU7. Note: Vehicles that have already received a replacement passenger air bag inflator as part of the recall remedy for an earlier campaign such as 14V353 or 14V700 (Honda recall numbers S95, JH6, JH7, JH8, JH9, JJ0, JJ1, JJ2, JJ6, JM5 and JM6) are not included in this recall. However, this recall does supersede 13V132 and 14V349. Note: On December 18, 2015 Honda informed NHTSA of an expansion of this recall to include certain model year 2004 Honda CR-V vehicles in addition to additional model year 2003 CR-V vehicles.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  12. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 18V268000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
    Remedy:
    Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are K1P, and M1O.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  13. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 19V182000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
    Remedy:
    Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is O41. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is U40.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  14. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 19V499000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
    Remedy:
    Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are Q5A and Y58.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  15. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 19V501000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
    Remedy:
    Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are E5D and X5C.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Complaint Narrative Explorer

Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-08-21
Safety incident filters
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EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-21.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources