2004 Honda Civic Reviews, Ratings, Prices

Paint/Trim

Paint (fading, chalking, cracking, or peeling), loose interior and exterior trim or moldings, rust.

What Owners Say

Loose exterior trim or moldings

“Front bumper too low an caught on parking stop pulled off. Side trim out of alignment stopping door from closing”

Stuart F., CO (2004 Honda Civic Hybrid 1.3-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

Paint (fading, chalking, cracking, or peeling)

“The car sits in the sun and the paint on the hood and the side facing south got very weathered looking and the rest of the car was fine. I had a touch up paint job and it looks good. The black trip paint around the windows is looking weathered but i”

Theresa W., NM (2004 Honda Civic Hybrid 1.3-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

“large area on the hood, trunk and roof peeled and was repainted, not under warranty, by an independent shop”

Charles H., WV (2004 Honda Civic Unsure 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Paint is fading really bad on the top of the vehicle”

Jay O., UT (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Hood, roof and trunk had to be repainted due to extreme fading”

Anonymous, FL (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Blue paint faded to white”

Michael C., NM (2004 Honda Civic DX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Paint began fading on the roof around 3 years ago and on the trunk area about a year ago. Other areas are beginning to fade, as well. Car is in great shape, but it looks awful”

SUSn H., FL (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“The car looks horrible. The clear coat did noting to protect the paint from fading, and the clear coat has oxidized and peeled from the center on all surfaces. The paint job on this car should have been included in the recall that was released for”

Denise F., WA (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Paint Peeling away on top of roof”

Anonymous, CA (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Paints have been gradually peeling off on the roof area for the last five years or so”

Anonymous, KY (2004 Honda Civic Unsure 1.3-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

“car paint fades bad.. had a repaint”

Anonymous, FL (2004 Honda Civic LX Unsure)

“Blue metallic paint first began peeling about 4-5 years after it was new. Honda paid half the cost of a new paint job for 3/4 of the car. Now some of that paint is coming off, as well as on the parts that were not repainted”

George J., CA (2004 Honda Civic DX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Clear coat is disintegrating and peeling off along door edges, truck lid and roof”

Anonymous, CA (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Clear coat started eroding several years ago. It has gotten progressively worse. There was a recall from Honda for failing paint, but it did not extend to the 2004 model year. For a car in otherwise very good condition, the failure of the paint (and the expense to repaint) has rendered the condition "poor."”

Van T., TX (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Rust

“rust becoming mor common over wheel wells, door frames”

Robert I., MA (2004 Honda Civic Hybrid 1.3-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

“Area of rust above door. Really not repariable”

Donald W., NY (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Used car had rusted exterior due to accident by previous owner”

Anonymous, CA (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Rust from the inside out on the passenger rear panel just above the bumper cover. When new the trunk leaked and had to be resealed. I attribute the issues to poor body prep at the factory”

Bill W., DE (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Both rear wheel well edges have required repair due to rust”

Eric S., NY (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Covered under extended rust warranty - rear quarter wheel wells had rust, also around brake lights”

Tom G., ON (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Rust from the inside of the hood is about to get trough the metal. Some rust around the rear wells”

Marc B., QC (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Body Integrity

Squeaks, rattles, wind noises, loose or cracked seals and/or weather-stripping, air and water leaks.

What Owners Say

Air or water leaks

“water (rain) around seal on passenger side door”

Dick K., MA (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Water leak in truck”

Anonymous, WA (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.3-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

“Seal of trunk seems to have failed and allows water to seep into trunk”

Eric S., NY (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“water infiltration in trunk coming from under”

Ron S., QC (2004 Honda Civic DX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Seals and/or weather-stripping

“Seal around one door was repaired”

Anonymous, AL (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Squeaks or rattles

“Something, somewhere in the upper right dashboard rattles at highway speeds, a mid-to-high-frequency hard-plastic clatter. End of the world? No. Incredibly irritating and hard to find? Yes”

Anonymous, SC (2004 Honda Civic Hybrid 1.3-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

“Brakes squealing but no problem found”

Anonymous, TX (2004 Honda Civic DX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Car is starting to get vibration noises that I can't pinpoint the problem with. Also getting noises from engine (pinging) and rear shocks that probably mean I need some service on those things”

Jason H., UT (2004 Honda Civic DX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Car grinds when turning in cold weather”

Anonymous, AZ (2004 Honda Civic Hybrid 1.3-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

“The belt makes a squeaky noise occasionally when I drive the car. I have not determine which belt makes that noise”

Anonymous, SK (2004 Honda Civic DX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“As expected with older car rattles and mystery sounds have been growing since 2008”

Anonymous, OR (2004 Honda Civic Hybrid 1.3-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

“Very annoying”

Sharon G., CA (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Since the car was 3 yrs old I get alot of road noise. Squeeks started this year with the poor road conditions due to snow plows and salt”

SUSn B., NJ (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Constant squeaking above 55 mph, dealerships have been unable to find a cause or solution”

Jonathan M., MD (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Belt on heating and air conditioning system squeaking when I turn on either heat or air”

Anonymous, AL (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Wind noise

“Whistling noise from top of windshield fixed by removing an apparently unneeded strip of insulation”

Anonymous, CA (2004 Honda Civic Hybrid 1.3-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

Electric System

Alternator, starter, hybrid battery and related systems, regular battery, battery cables, engine harness, coil, ignition switch, electronic ignition, distributor or rotor failure, spark plugs and wires failure.

What Owners Say

Clock

“Doesn't work as well now. I set it and it gradually gets slower and slower. I have to reset about once a month”

Anonymous, CA (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Gauges

“Speedometer stopped working, or worked intermittently. Replaced with a used instrument cluster”

Anonymous, TX (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“gauge panel was replaced at no cost. The car was still under warranty”

Anonymous, IA (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Unreliable odometer. Just ceased working for a couple days -- pegged at 70 when the car wasn't moving faster than 5mph, that kind of thing. Started in hot weather. Resumed working after a few days and has been fine since then. But... ???”

Anonymous, CA (2004 Honda Civic DX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“fuel gauge becomes stuck either on full or empty”

Anonymous, NJ (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Headlights

“Annoying haze on the headlights”

Anonymous, OH (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Getting cloudy”

Anonymous, CA (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Very cloudy. Even when cleared, only last 6 monnths and cloudy again”

Anonymous, CA (2004 Honda Civic)

“High beams and daylight running lights do not function”

Anonymous, ON (2004 Honda Civic Unsure 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Exterior lights (other than headlights)

“Short to tail lights mounted on the trunk lid”

Anonymous, NH (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“A short in one of the tail lights shorted out the entire fuse box which had to be replaced at a cost of ~$700”

Anonymous, AZ (2004 Honda Civic Hybrid 1.3-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

Interior lights

“open driver door switch needed to be replaced; affected not only interior lights, but also warning bell when headlights left on, etc”

Robert O., CA (2004 Honda Civic EX Unsure)

Warning lights

“SRS warning light trigerred by a faulty driver side belt buckle sensor. 500$ repair and not a real safety issue according to the dealer”

Marc B., QC (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Wiper motor or washer

“Windshield washer pump stopped working and needs to be replaced”

Anonymous, ON (2004 Honda Civic Unsure 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Engine Major

Engine rebuild or replacement, cylinder head, head gasket, turbo or supercharger, timing chain or timing belt.

What Owners Say

Cylinder head

“Cylinder #3 losing pressure; noticed within the last four to five months; problem first presented when engine started overheating; radiator, hoses, and thermostat were replaced; sensors tested okay, but still leaked coolant; mechanic shop tested and found cylinder #3 losing pressure/compression; diagnosed as need engine rebuild, cylinder head and gasket, and loss of gas mileage; car only had about 144,000 miles on diagnosis of this problem; car was not driven roughly or in a high-dust area (i.e”

Anonymous, CA (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“valve job required at 80000 miles...Dealer said it was common with v-tech engine”

Jon P., CT (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Engine rebuild or replacement

“Was disappointed that I needed to have this work done”

Anonymous, MN (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Head gasket

“The vehicle started intermittently overheating, which I discovered was caused by a low coolant level. Since no leaks were found, it was determined that coolant was leaking into the oil. Some research in online forums showed this was a common fault”

Todd H., MN (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“The car overheated on a regular basis. At first I was told the radiator had a leak and so that was replaced. The problem persisted until I finally took it to a service station that determined it was the head gasket. Once fixed the overheating stopped”

David R., NY (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Car overheated, replaced thermostat. Still ran hot at times. Finally overheated badly enough, had to be towed in. Head gasket replaced. and radiator. Car still gets 8-10 mpg less than it did...no explanation from dealer. Burns or leaks oil in varying”

Anonymous, MD (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Blew Head Gasket, but the car is 11-12 years old. Car has been VERY reliable for me for the last 11-12 years, & I continue to drive it every day”

Christopher R., TN (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Interior of cabin would not warm, replaced many parts in process identifying that head gasket replacement was required. System did not consistently fail pressure test so was difficult to identify”

Stephen B., MN (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Cracked head gasket lead to a $1600 repair which was noticed because we saw that the engine was overheating”

Anonymous, BC (2004 Honda Civic Unsure Unsure)

“Head gasket went around 200,000km. $1,500 repair bill on that”

Anonymous, SK (2004 Honda Civic Unsure 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Replacing head gasket. Engine looses power even after repairs performed. There should be an engine recall from Honda”

C D., CA (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“had a blown head gasket. I noticed the engining heating up before there was major engine damage”

Anonymous, IN (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Timing belt or chain

“Timing belt failed and engine was ruined. Not worth fixing”

Anonymous, NJ (2004 Honda Civic DX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Engine Minor

Accessory belts and pulleys, engine computer, engine mounts, engine knock or ping, oil leaks.

What Owners Say

Accessory belts or pulleys

“Belts were frayed and needed replaced. Belts last replaced 7 years ago”

Anonymous, IN (2004 Honda Civic DX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Crank pulley had loosened and key hole had elongated as a result of movement. Mechanic had to rebuild keyhole using JB weld (value of car not enough to warranty new parts)”

Naomi T., BC (2004 Honda Civic DX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Engine computer

“Engine light won't go out and the computer chip to replace it is $500”

Anonymous, LA (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“I had the timing belt replaced, and they didn't tighten all of the bolts on the alternator, which caused the alternator to lose ground, which completely fried the computer. NOT A MINOR PROBLEM! Had to go to 3 different shops, and finally the dealer fixed it for $1,100.00”

Jackson H., OR (2004 Honda Civic DX Unsure)

Engine mounts

“While taking care of an air bag recall. The dealer noticed that 2 of the engine mounts were cracked or broken. We took the vehicle to our regular mechanic, and the 4 engine mounts were replaced for less than the dealer wanted to charge to replace only 2 of them”

C D., CA (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Oil leaks

“Engine had a leak”

Michael L., IL (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“valve cover seals failed”

Anonymous, FL (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“The seals are worn and oil leaks as a result. The mechanic told us that it is a common problem with worn out seals in Honda's. The worn out seals will leak oil into the engine and damage the engine. It is a big job to take out the engine just to r”

Anonymous, SK (2004 Honda Civic DX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Had oil leaks near where the timing belt was. It was a less than $10 part that cost me $1700 because was hard to get to. Ended up replacing timing belt for 2nd time just so wouldn't have to pay for the labor again”

Anonymous, TN (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.3-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

“Slight engine seal leaks”

Anonymous, GA (2004 Honda Civic DX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“At 120,000 miles, we noticed lots of oil on the garage floor. The dealer diagnosed as major leaks in the main gaskets and heads”

Anonymous, FL (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Oil leak around the distributor Engine oil carter is seeping oil (no major leak yet)”

Marc B., QC (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“oil pan was leaking but even after it was replaced, oil continues to leak from a seal near the front of the engine”

Anonymous, FL (2004 Honda Civic LX Unsure)

Exhaust

Muffler, pipes, catalytic converter, exhaust manifold, leaks.

What Owners Say

Catalytic converter

“Same as pipes”

Anonymous, NJ (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“The manifold and catalytic converter is one unit”

Anonymous, PA (2004 Honda Civic DX Unsure)

“I had it replaced about 1 year ago. It was malfunctioning again however the dealer stated he would try to get it covered under a warranty and did just that”

Martha R., IL (2004 Honda Civic Unsure 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Supporting pipes were about to break”

Doris C., NY (2004 Honda Civic EX Unsure)

Exhaust leaks

“That could be very dangerous!”

Anonymous, MA (2004 Honda Civic Unsure 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“My husband and his clothes smell strongly like exhaust fumes after driving the car. Something is leaking into the car. Electrical problem - the whole right side of the car does not work, door locks/windows”

Shannon B., IL (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Exhaust manifold

“Manifold cracked”

Anonymous, WA (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“A crack/hole developed in the exhaust manifold and had to be repaired. The cart still functioned fine, just annoying sound during acceleration”

Jay O., UT (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“leak”

Anonymous, QC (2004 Honda Civic DX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Muffler

“Muffler became detached from the exhaust system while just driving around. Replaced it with a new one with a lifetime warranty for about $300 total”

Anonymous, MA (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Replaced it”

Anonymous, IL (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Pipes

“Rusting causing sudden extremely loud noise”

Anonymous, NJ (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“well, unfortunately the car is old so rusting has set in”

Nancy N., NY (2004 Honda Civic LX Unsure)

Suspension

Shocks or struts, ball joints, tie rods, wheel bearings, alignment, steering linkage (includes rack and pinion), power steering (pumps and hoses, leaks), wheel balance, springs or torsion bars, bushings, electronic or air suspension.

What Owners Say

Alignment

“Uneven tire wear due to rear axles being out of alignment”

Anonymous, TX (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Bushings

“rear suspension bushing needed to be replaced”

Larry L., OH (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.3-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

“Trusted mechanic found that bushings in lower control arms were broken. Replacement and alignment made car run like new”

Tom F., AZ (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“75% worn after 12 years”

Anonymous, IL (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Power steering leaks

“Power steering fluid leaking. Not sure why”

Anonymous, CA (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“After having filled reservoir I had to refill it after about 5 months”

Anonymous, OR (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Power steering pumps and hoses

“Power steering cuts out especially at lower temperatures and when turning sharply. I have not had it fixed, and live with the problem”

Anonymous, ON (2004 Honda Civic Unsure 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Power steering pump needed replacement; part cost was over $500 for Honda part; new pump worked fine, but steering is still a bit resistant; no more leaks; still hear very faint noise on turns”

Anonymous, CA (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Shocks or struts

“normal wear”

Larry L., OH (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.3-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

“Just due to be changed due to normal wear and tear and mileage. Installed Monroe Quik Struts which I am sorry I went with. Terrible in cold weather . They Kline , thump and bottom out only when it's cold. The colder it gets the worst it gets. Should have when with original equipment.. Very low kilometres on replacement Monroes”

Anonymous, ON (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Tie rods

“replaced for 2nd time”

Frank M., ON (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Tire wear is uneven

“alignment problems”

Anonymous, TX (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Wheel bearings

“The bearings went bad in the passenger side front wheel as evidenced by the noise they made as I increased my speed”

Todd H., MN (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Body Hardware

Power or manual windows, locks and latches, tailgate, hatch or trunk, doors or sliding doors, mirrors, seat controls, safety belts, sunroof, convertible top.

What Owners Say

Doors or sliding doors

“interior panels separated apart”

Martin F., NY (2004 Honda Civic HX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“One door handle sticks and then the lock stays shut and can't open if for weeks at a time”

Donald W., NY (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Locks and latches

“drivers side door lock cylinder had to be rebuilt for the second time in 4 years. First time was covered under warrants and this time I had to pay out of pocket. Mechanic tells me this is a common problem with these civics”

David J., CO (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Drivers side and rear trunk lock have failed”

Charles H., UT (2004 Honda Civic DX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Drivers door lock quit working with key. $800.00 to replace. Not done because of cost”

Roland K., AB (2004 Honda Civic Unsure 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Left rear door auto lock is not functional, and needs replacing. Over the last 5 years, auto lock replaced in both rear right and passenger side doors”

Anonymous, CA (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Mirrors

“the driver side mirror has fallen off. unsure why”

Anonymous, OH (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Seat belts

“Air bag light on, drivers seatbelt required replacing”

Tom G., ON (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Tailgate, hatch or trunk

“Trunk would not latch consistently. I solved the problem by adjusting the latch plate. Seems like anything with a key has problems on this car”

David J., CO (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Windows

“Passenger front window doesn't go down all the way. Dealer said it would be $400 to fix it. So we didn't. This is a great car and I don't care that much about the window!”

Theresa W., NM (2004 Honda Civic Hybrid 1.3-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

“needed new window motors”

Anonymous, FL (2004 Honda Civic LX Unsure)

“Window came out of track and freeze in down position”

Anonymous, IL (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Transmission Major

Transmission rebuild or replacement, torque converter, clutch replacement.

What Owners Say

Clutch replacement

“clutch repaired per recall after 50000 miles”

Anonymous, NY (2004 Honda Civic Hybrid 1.3-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

“Routine replacement of the oem clutch”

Jerome K., ON (2004 Honda Civic Unsure 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“The clutch was not working well...we had it replaced”

Frank M., VA (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.3-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

Transmission rebuild or replacement

“The transmission would "grind" when starting from a complete stop”

Anonymous, CA (2004 Honda Civic Hybrid 1.3-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

“Transmission was making unusual noise. Found that tranny mount was broken and clutch was replaced. Car runs like new”

Tom F., AZ (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“The hybrid batteries stopped holding a charge. The dealer told us we could continue driving it as a non-hybrid. It ruined the transmission”

Anonymous, KS (2004 Honda Civic Hybrid 1.3-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

“The CVT is crazy expensive, even as reman units. From 45k onward, the slippage and noise was a constant annoying companion. The IMA battery was not a possible selection on survey, though it had to be replaced in the last year, too”

Anonymous, IN (2004 Honda Civic Hybrid 1.3-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

“Needed to replace piece of first gear”

Anonymous, CA (2004 Honda Civic Hybrid 1.3-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

“Though auto trans replacement, I think it was the brakes. When car stopped, hub took car to auto trans shop & they replaced. Still didn't feel right. 3 days later brakes locked & wouldnt go. After brakes fixed car ran perfectly”

Anonymous, CA (2004 Honda Civic)

“The transmission is currently out the fifth gear synchro is broke and will not shift into this gear. I have not removed this to check because both the engine and tranny has to come out together. Syncro's is $400 for the good ones, but a rebuilt tranny is $750 with a warranty”

Lee F., TN (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“The bearings for the fourth and fifth gear have gone out a second time. The dealer did not do the work and the repair lasted beyond the warranty. The gears are just fine; it shifts smoothly; but it whines. It needs rebuilding again but it may not be worth it due to its mileage”

Thomas L., TN (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Fuel System

Check engine light, sensors (includes O2 or oxygen sensor), emission control devices (includes EGR), engine computer, engine computer, fuel cap, fuel gauge/sender, fuel injection system, fuel pump, fuel leaks, stalling or hesitation.

What Owners Say

Emission control devices (includes EGR)

“I took it to an independent mechanic who told me that it was an emissions problem -- perhaps I needed a new gas tank. On another visit, they were able to locate the problem: several emissions parts were worn out and needed to be replaced”

Anonymous, IL (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Gas tank sensor”

Marc B., QC (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Other sensors, not sure of names, and also catalytic converter and manifold that are combined in this model (Canadian Si). Paid about $450 for partial repair in order to get a conditional emissions system pass (for 2 years)”

Anonymous, ON (2004 Honda Civic Unsure 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Cost over $1000 to replace the fuel tank vent valve, because replacing it required removing the fuel tank etc”

George J., CA (2004 Honda Civic DX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Sensors (includes O2 or oxygen sensor)

“On-board sensor for catylitic converter stopped working”

Anonymous, OR (2004 Honda Civic Unsure 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“I think the dealer messed up something when performing a recall. call went to dealer with no issue and came out with a check engine light and a sensor problem”

Anonymous, PA (2004 Honda Civic Hybrid 1.3-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

“Check Engine light was on and had to replace oxygen sensors according to Firestone - $700”

Anonymous, CO (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“use moor gas”

Joseph F., ON (2004 Honda Civic DX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“dash light”

Frank M., ON (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Check engine light came on; brought it to a mechanic who said it was the O2 sensor. It was a somewhat expensive to fix at about $500”

Anonymous, MA (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Engine light came on. Diagnosed as sensors needed replacing. Replaced both O2 and Fuel tank pressure sensor costing $1000”

Anonymous, ON (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Climate System

Blower (fan) motor, A/C compressor, condenser, evaporator, heater system, automatic climate control, refrigerant leakage, electrical failure.

What Owners Say

A/C compressor

“The A/C does not blow cold when the engine is idling/car is stopped but running. It is probably a basic fix but may take car out of commission for at least 2 days”

Anonymous, MD (2004 Honda Civic DX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“the air conditioning in this honda is worthless. Never really cooled and now just blows out hot air. It would cost over $2000.00 to repair and the car is not worth that much”

Anonymous, CA (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“the a/c has stopped working. several parts needing replacement. costly”

Anonymous, CA (2004 Honda Civic Unsure 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Evaporator

“Evap sensor was rusted, check engine light came on. Change sensor”

St-Amand R., QC (2004 Honda Civic DX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Heater system

“Repeated issues with the car overheating due to the heating system”

Anonymous, OH (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Heater stopped working. Leaked Fluids. Engine replaced. Problem returned in a couple weeks. Engine replaced again. Problem reappeared. Head gasket replaced”

Sara H., MD (2004 Honda Civic Unsure 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Refrigerant leaks

“Slight leak occurred after last year. Required extensive testing to detect where leak was”

Anonymous, VA (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“one pipe was leaking”

St-Amand R., QC (2004 Honda Civic DX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Recurrent problem with refrigerant, replaced this two years ago and again this spring. Dealer could not determine source of leak.Not good in hot weather at cooling car or driver”

Anonymous, WV (2004 Honda Civic DX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Was not as cold as it should be. Top up refridgerant and could not find any leaks. This is the first time had to do anything with aircoditioner. Very happy with air conditioner”

Anonymous, ON (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Blower (fan) motor

“this part has stopped working and will need replacement along with other parts. costly”

Anonymous, CA (2004 Honda Civic Unsure 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Engine Cooling

Radiator, cooling fan, antifreeze leaks, water pump, thermostat, overheating.

What Owners Say

Cooling fan

“This car has a separate fan for the A/C condenser which stopped functioning. It's only an issue if you leave the system on when idling”

Todd H., MN (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Air condition doesn't work not worth repairing Waiting for new TOYOTA PRIUS PRIME PREMIUM”

David C., FL (2004 Honda Civic DX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Overheating

“I explained it earlier”

David R., NY (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Radiator

“Radiator developed a leak which left me high and dry 4 miles from home and fan was replaced at the same time that the radiator was replaced”

Anonymous, FL (2004 Honda Civic LX Unsure)

“radiator blew out in fast lane of 91 freeway, total shutdown”

Anonymous, CA (2004 Honda Civic EX Unsure)

Thermostat

“My vehicle was losing coolant. The thermometer housing had a hole and was replaced. I also replaced the thermostat since I was changing the housing. There was nothing wrong with the previous thermostat”

James C., MD (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.3-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

Water pump

“Water pump went bad, leading to overheating and head gasket replacement”

Anonymous, OH (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Water pump broke and coolant was lost. Engine overheated. Had water pump replaced”

Bruce S., MI (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.3-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

Power Equipment

Cruise control, clock, warning lights, body control module, keyless entry, wiper motor or washer, tire pressure monitor, interior or exterior lights, horn, gauges, 12V power plug, remote engine start, alarm or security system

What Owners Say

Alternator

“Alternator alsohad issues which caused significant downstream effects. All is fixed now and working fine since replacement”

Anonymous, MN (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Battery (not hybrid or electric)

“Original battery from 2004 finally had to be replaced. But again, this has been a VERY reliable car for the last 11-12 years, & continue to drive it every day”

Christopher R., TN (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Hybrid/electric battery replacement

“Auto stop failed to engage. Mileage dropped from 47 to 37mpg”

Jared G., CA (2004 Honda Civic Hybrid 1.3-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

“Had to replace the hybird battery. Bought an aftermarket battery from bumblebee batteries and installed in my self for $2100”

Anonymous, AZ (2004 Honda Civic Hybrid 1.3-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

Hybrid/electric system and battery (excluding replacement)

“Battery is failing and need replacement. Mileage is dropping”

Anonymous, ME (2004 Honda Civic Hybrid 1.3-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

Ignition switch

“The key switch often does not engage the starter. Tapping the brake pedal often helps as their is a switch that senses when the brake pedal is pressed and relays that to the ignition system”

Anonymous, FL (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Starter

“Starter failure. needed replacement”

Rose C., TN (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“My vehicle was hesitating when starting. I changed the battery a few months ago. The starter cylinoid/ bendix was not engaging to turn the flywheel in starting my engine. Purchased a starter from Auto Zone, installed it and all was fine. At approximately 180k miles this issue was understandable. Easy fix”

James C., MD (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.3-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

Brakes

Antilock system (ABS), parking brake, master cylinder, calipers, rotors, pulsation or vibration, squeaking, brake failure or wear.

What Owners Say

Calipers

“Front caliper froze and had to be replaced”

Anonymous, MI (2004 Honda Civic DX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Normal routine brake wear

“Needed pads and rotors”

Anonymous, MD (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Civic purchased used, 6/1/14, Lompoc Honda, "as is." Civic abused by previous owner. Car cosmetically challenged, engine/transmission oils & air fliltration systems not serviced, rear brake drums warped. All systems serviced & repaired by self”

Anonymous, CA (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“brake leakage, worn disks”

Anonymous, CA (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.3-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

Premature brake wear

“The right front brake pads wear out twice as fast as the left side”

Anonymous, MI (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Rotors

“needed to get front brakes replaced. Could be just routine maintenance”

Anonymous, IL (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.3-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

Squeaking

“The brake pads needed to be replaced”

Anonymous, MD (2004 Honda Civic Unsure 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Transmission Minor

Gear selector or linkage, leaks, transmission computer, transmission sensor or solenoid, clutch adjustment, rough shifting, slipping transmission.

What Owners Say

Clutch adjustment

“Made a lot of loud noise”

Anonymous, MA (2004 Honda Civic LX Unsure)

Gear selector or linkage

“Gear shifter's connection to the linkage broke completely apart”

Michael L., IL (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“Rust on the linkage caused it to become increasingly more difficult to change gears, ultimately leading to a 'Check Engine' indicator. However, the mechanic was able to remove the rust rather than having to replace any parts”

Anonymous, WA (2004 Honda Civic Hybrid 1.3-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

Rough shifting

“The car vibrates excessively when excelerating due to the cvt transmission”

Anonymous, VA (2004 Honda Civic Hybrid 1.3-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

Slipping transmission

“CVT judder. Chronic and known problem with this year/model”

Anonymous, VA (2004 Honda Civic Hybrid 1.3-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

“Gear box making noises. Occasionally car drops out of 4th gear usually while driving on the highway”

Anonymous, OH (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“The clutch was the car's original and began to slip once it became very worn”

Jerome K., ON (2004 Honda Civic Unsure 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

In-car Electronics

CD or DVD players, radio, speakers, GPS, communication system (e.g., OnStar), display screen freezes or goes blank, phone pairing (e.g. Bluetooth), voice control commands, steering wheel controls, portable music device interface (e.g., iPod/MP3 player), backup or other camera/sensors.

What Owners Say

CD player

“CD will not eject CD's, therefore CD cannot be played”

William R., PA (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

“CD player no longer works. Wont accept a cd”

Anonymous, TX (2004 Honda Civic LX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Radio

“Radio reception, particularly AM, gradually got worse and worse, until it seemed like there was no antenna. Took it to a car stereo specialist. Found that replacing the rear window, where the antenna is embedded would cost too much, so they installed a new one that attaches to the inside of the windshield at the top. It's crap, not much better than before, varies at different times, different weather, etc, so I have to go back and get them to try something else. Not happy”

Philip C., ON (2004 Honda Civic EX 1.7-L 4 Cyl)

Drive System

Driveshaft or axle, CV joint, differential, transfer case, 4WD/AWD components, driveline vibration, traction control, electronic stability control (ESC), electrical failure.

What Owners Say

Electrical failure

“On only two occasions, completely out of the blue, the engine failed to start immediately on keying the ignition. Afterwards, the hybrid drive system did not function until I pulled and reinstalled a fuse. Initially puzzling, but easily fixed thanks”

Anonymous, SC (2004 Honda Civic Hybrid 1.3-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

“IMA (Hybrid) battery failure, required replacement”

Anonymous, VA (2004 Honda Civic Hybrid 1.3-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

“The hybrid batteries failed at about 165,000 miles”

Anonymous, KS (2004 Honda Civic Hybrid 1.3-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

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