2004 Honda Civic Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 32about this part
- Share
- 9%of 350 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 91,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 32 complaints about the electrical system of the 2004 Honda Civic, 9% of the 350 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 91,000 miles. 4 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My key would come out of the ignition while not in park, the vehicle sometimes does not fully go into park unless forcefully pulled back into park so sometimes the vehicle wouldn't be in park all night or while in public parking lots. My Honda made key had to go into the ignition facing perfectly one way to start the car then the ignition completely refused the key and wouldn't turn once it accepted it. …”
NHTSA complaint #10981503, filed 2017-04, 60,138 miles“I noticed my airbag or seatbelt light came on so I took it to a Honda facility to have it fixed. They did repair work but a week later the light came back on and will not go off. I've also had my driver side window electric replaced but am still having issues with the window rolling up when it rains. That is the only time I have issues with the driver side window.”
NHTSA complaint #10659273, filed 2014-11, 98,500 miles“My 04 Civic wiring almost set my car completely on fire. The whole electrical harnesses where melted the car without warning started blowing smoke out of the air vents, I pulled over and the car was thick with smoke. The wires under the hood and inside the car all the way to the trunk were all melted. I towed the car to the dealer and they had to replace all the eletrical and sensors in the whole car. It cost over $3100. …”
NHTSA complaint #11052040, filed 2017-12, 85,000 miles“Alternator and battery failed simultaneously - while driving car to garage for repair, engine cut out completely and I was unable to use hazard flashers to signal danger (and could not open electric windows to use hand signals). I don't think this is specific to the Honda Civic but this seems like a real safety hazard. Emergency battery backup for hazard flashers might be a good idea for future designs.”
NHTSA complaint #10382393, filed 2011-02, 200,000 miles“3 months ago I bought a Honda Civic hybrid from a dealership in alexandria,va. The car door wouldn't open nor start on sept 4th and so I had the car towed to the Honda dealership to find out the problem. The Honda dealership diagnosed a 2nd class alarm in the vehicle and a bad battery, so they fixed it on sept 8th the car died again while I was at work so I had to hitch a ride home. So on sept 10th I called the sales manager in va and told him the car was giving me problems. …”
NHTSA complaint #10355754, filed 2010-09, 104,826 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10107355Jul 10, 2015"background american honda is extending the warranty coverage on the ima battery module for some 200308 civic hybrids an additional 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes…
- 10040484Jan 18, 2014Honda: there are new battery software and hardware updates. *rm updated 3/06/12. *pe updated 02/26/2014
- 10024565Aug 20, 2012Honda service campaign: see document search button for owner letter. Warranty extension: opds unit or opds sensor triggers srs. Csc was received. *nj updated 9/12/12.
- 10040487Apr 24, 2012Honda: hybrid vehicle battery exchange information. *rm updated 5/2/12
- 10026884Aug 6, 2008Honda: hybrid batteries can be affected and damaged by excessively high temperatures.
- 10032953May 9, 2008Honda: warranty extension-vehicle warranty mileage. Class action lawsuit alleging that the odometers on certain 2002-2006 honda models were overstating mileage. Federal court…
- 10018472Sep 1, 2005Mil on with dtc p0128.
- 10017632Aug 13, 2005Product update: ecm update to prevent catalyst dtc p0420 and/or vps dtc p1021, mcm update to current specifications.
- 10018021Jul 1, 2005Speedometer shops can transfer odometer mileage. Honda service news.
- 10018018Jul 1, 2005Speedometer needle sticks; won't go back to zero. Honda. Servicenews.
Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 16% |
| 2025 | 6 | 8% |
| 2024 | 8 | 6% |
| 2023 | 17 | 7% |
| 2022 | 38 | 4% |
| 2021 | 18 | 12% |
| 2020 | 37 | 16% |
| 2019 | 37 | 8% |
| 2018 | 61 | 8% |
| 2017 | 103 | 17% |
| 2016 | 119 | 11% |
| 2015 | 28 | 7% |
| 2014 | 39 | 13% |
| 2013 | 39 | 12% |
| 2012 | 60 | 13% |
| 2011 | 16 | 9% |
| 2010 | 23 | 6% |
| 2009 | 36 | 9% |
| 2008 | 51 | 6% |
| 2007 | 67 | 6% |
| 2006 | 100 | 7% |
| 2005 | 26 | 8% |
| 2004 | 32 | 9% |
| 2003 | 51 | 10% |
| 2002 | 49 | 7% |
| 2001 | 59 | 5% |
| 2000 | 38 | 13% |
| 1999 | 118 | 35% |
| 1998 | 88 | 20% |
| 1997 | 30 | 8% |
| 1996 | 17 | 6% |
| 1995 | 12 | 6% |
| 1994 | 2 | 1% |
| 1993 | 25 | 17% |
| 1992 | 28 | 29% |
| 1991 | 22 | 20% |
| 1990 | 18 | 20% |
| 1989 | 11 | 16% |
| 1988 | 7 | 15% |
| 1986 | 4 | 11% |
Other parts of the 2004 Honda Civic
133 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
56 complaintsVehicle speed control
23 complaintsSeat belts
20 complaintsFuel system
18 complaintsOther or unknown
18 complaintsBody and structure
17 complaintsEngine cooling
16 complaintsSuspension
15 complaintsExterior lighting
12 complaintsBrakes
11 complaintsEngine
10 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 Honda Civic
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology