Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Honda Civic owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
2004 HONDA Civic Cracked Block TSB [redacted] Honda settled in a class-action lawsuit that covers 2008 - 2009 Civic engine block failures with unlimited miles for an extended 10-year warranty period. Covered Civics will receive an engine repair or replacement at no cost. The covered Civic engine castings were built using thinner aluminum and the cracked block will leak coolant causing the engine to overheat. Civics Covered 2006 - 2008 - ALL VINs beginning with 2HG & 1HG 2009 - Check eligibility with VIN Civic VINs beginning with 2HG & 1HG - Check eligibility * Excludes SI and Hybrid. My 2004 Civic has an identical engine crack with a 1HG VIN, and only 130k miles. The location of the crack is identical to the TSB and is not a result of the vehicle's maintenance and driver habits. …
I was stopped at a light with my r foot on the break. Suddenly the car went into an uncontrolled acceleration. I could hear the engine revving. In a few seconds, it hit the car directly in front of me and stopped upon impact but if that car hadn't been there I would have been propelled into a busy intersection with crossways traffic. It was like a nightmare. This was at a very busy city street intersection at a busy time of day (3 pm), on the access rd to a major interstate hwy in a large metro area. The other driver and valet guys from a hotel across the street witnessed I was extremely shaken up but alert and in my right mind, etc.
My wife was driving my Honda Civic lx, 2004 . We have been using this car since last 6 year without any problem. On nov. 1st we were driving this car to go to work; car was running perfect smooth with no indication of any problem. During evening hours when she was driving back to home after work. Car started fine as usual but she drove about 5 miles and as soon as she reached on the walt whitman bridge (nj) smoke started to come out from the engine compartment, she pulled over car in the shoulder lane and got out of the car. She called the police for help, as soon as police officer arrived on the scene, car busted in the flames. Police called the fire department for help and soon whole car engulfed in flames and started to burn with high flames. By the time fire truck showed up whole car was destroyed by the fire. …
Manual transmission Honda Civic lx 2004 reaches rattling/grinding noise when reached 2000 RPM or so. The noise is loud and downshifting becomes very rough. The car slows down when not pressing accelerator. Even when in neutral the car sounds with a rattle. Only when the clutch is pressed does the sound minimize. Car feels vulnerable when driven like this. It's mainly due to the noise, and feeling of the car. The input shaft bearing is the problem. Many reports were blogged and diagnosed. The car still runs. Unfortunately it's not clear for how long.
At 74,515 miles the transmission is out of my 2004 Civic,..the car is in excellent condition even the original floor mats are in place and look great because of my care of the car,...I want Honda to pay for the cost of a new transmission for choosing to install a cheep one and knowing it wouldn't last. I was driving home from work and was just about ran over by traffic when my car began to slow and make noise putting me in a very stressful situation.
SRS light on for years. Told it was nothing to worry about. Then Honda says it is a serious safety issue, I have to pay hundreds of dollars for repair. Transmission went out cost over $2500 so far, car still isn't working. Well known problem but Honda is greedy and won't pay to fix their unsafe vehicles. Car overheats when using the heater. Driver seat feels like it is going to move while driving. I will never buy a Honda ever again.
Info copy to NHTSA owner of 2004 Honda Civic engine compartment caught fire vehicle destroyed. The consumer noticed a smell coming through the air vents of the vehicle. Seconds later smoke started coming through the vents as well as rising from under the hood. Flames came from under the hood and the entire front end was engulfed in flames. The vehicle was only 3 months old at the time of the incident.
This is the second 04 Honda Civic I've owned. The first one was a hybrid and the transmission blew while driving on the highway. The Civic I own now only has 85K and was previously owned by an old lady since it was new. But low and behold the transmission blew while driving again. How many people need to get injured or killed in order for this to be recalled?????
I recently had a problem with my Honda pilot. We took it to auto zone and had them hook it up to their diagnostics machine. The code "p1399" resulted. However, we were told that we had to contact Honda to find out what the code meant because it was a generic code that Honda puts out. I contacted the dealer and asked what the code meant, and I was told that I had to bring my vehicle down to them to put it on their machine: for $95.00. Honda has created their codes so that auto zone and other reasonably priced places can not assist Honda owners. We are forced to pay this outrageous amount because only Honda can tell us what is wrong with our vehicles. I did many hours of research on the internet and have found that this "p1399" code is quite common, as well as this kind of problem with the vehicle. …
1. No prior warning, other than a slight lurch while accelerating while merging onto the freeway earlier the same day. 2.&3. Transmission failure/ p0370 incorrect gear ratio resulting in a pulling lurching sensation while attempting to accelerate. Was unable to accelerate past 10mph without avoiding the lurching, had to pull off the road and be towed to the nearest residential area then get it towed in the morning to a mechanic within 3-4 miles of where I was parked. The check engine light was indeed on and was turned off once the error code was retrieved by the triple a mechanic, who recorded it as a p0370 incorrect gear ratio issue. As it is a transmission problem, Honda's policy is to replace the transmission entirely. At this point, I had the vehicle towed to the nearest Honda dealership, because it was a far more serious problem than I had anticipated. …
Engine complaints in other Civic years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2004 Honda Civic?
NHTSA has 26 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2004 Honda Civic, 7% of the model year's 350 complaints. The component named most often is engine (6 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Honda Civic engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2004 Honda Civic, though it has 10 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2004 Honda Civic engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 84,000 miles, and 22% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 3 fires and 0 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.