2004 Honda Civic Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 16about this part
- Share
- 5%of 350 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 40,346miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 16 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2004 Honda Civic, 5% of the 350 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 40,346 miles. 2 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Input shaft bearing failure ...thought it was originally the clutch, release bearing and fork paid and replaced and problem still persisted...this is a common problem with this model and year and is a constant progression of noise and inhibits acceleration and smooth driving ...I feel as if the car is ready to completely fail and I've driven manual transmissions all my life so user error is not the cause... …”
NHTSA complaint #10452893, filed 2012-03, 150,000 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10363970, filed 2010-11, 94,000 miles“2004 Honda Civic lx sedan 60,300 miles, used certified vehicle bought from howard cooper dealership in ann arbor mi. Engine did overheat at idle, 1/2 quart of coolant spilled on the floor of my garage. Coolant levels were topped after event, at radiator and bottle with 1/'2 qt of coolant. Vehicle was inspected at dealership, cylinder head gasket damaged, perhaps head damaged as well. Dealership was unable to tell me what was the cause of this event. Sufficient coolant was present at failure. Cause of overheat unknown. Was it the thermostat, the water pump, the cooling fan..? …”
NHTSA complaint #10299902, filed 2010-01, 60,300 miles“I recently bought a 2004 Honda Civic lx in california. The night I drove home and pulled over, I heard a noise coming from the front of the car. I opened the hood and realized the noise has been coming from the belts. I took my car back to the dealer where I bought the car and they turned me away and said the parts are probably too new and they need some time to 'break in'. The mileage on my car just over 1000 miles and I am very concerned of that noise if it will cause any major consequences. Please advise.”
NHTSA complaint #10079111, filed 2004-07, 15 miles“I drive a 2004 manual Honda Civic. I was driving down the freeway with cruise control set at about 70 MPH. Suddenly, I felt my car speed up substantially and when I look at the speedometer I was traveling over 85 MPH. I immediately canceled cruise control but my car continued to gain speed. I hit my brakes which caused my car to shudder violently. When my foot wasn't on the brakes, my car continued to quickly gain speed. I attempted to move the car into neutral and coast to a stop, but when I put the clutch in my RPM's rose to about 8,000 and didn't go down even when the car was in neutral. …”
NHTSA complaint #10292018, filed 2009-11, 92,500 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10021327Oct 11, 2011Honda: ecm update to prevent momentary engine stall during gear shifts. *kb updated 11/1/11.
- 10039526Jul 21, 2011Honda: the engine stalls very briefly when shifting gears and then it restarts. Little change in driveablity occurs. 2004-2005 civic hybrid.
- 10021129Oct 16, 2006Stalls with electrical load after body shop repair. Dtc p1588 and/or p1589 stored. P1163 and/or surge, jerks, bucks between 20-60 mph. Tire pressure monitoring system dtc 32, 34…
- 10018251Nov 16, 2005P0497, low purge flow or internal vacuum leak.
- 10016305May 16, 2005Engine-alternator/no or low output.
- 10016295May 16, 2005Engine-cranks won't start, immobilizer light flashes.
- 10015300Feb 16, 2005Dealer request visit for any adverse engine condition with the alternator (no or low output) that is the root cause.
- 10015294Feb 16, 2005Timesert 14mm drain plug thread repair kit.
- 10015293Feb 16, 2005Timesert 11mm head bolt thread repair kit.
- 10014754Jan 16, 2005Alternator condtion.
Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1 | 1% |
| 2019 | 1 | 0% |
| 2017 | 5 | 1% |
| 2016 | 4 | 0% |
| 2015 | 1 | 0% |
| 2014 | 3 | 1% |
| 2013 | 1 | 0% |
| 2012 | 4 | 1% |
| 2011 | 4 | 2% |
| 2010 | 10 | 3% |
| 2009 | 12 | 3% |
| 2008 | 55 | 6% |
| 2007 | 74 | 6% |
| 2006 | 151 | 11% |
| 2005 | 19 | 6% |
| 2004 | 16 | 5% |
| 2003 | 37 | 7% |
| 2002 | 31 | 4% |
| 2001 | 64 | 6% |
| 2000 | 47 | 16% |
| 1999 | 30 | 9% |
| 1998 | 53 | 12% |
| 1997 | 25 | 7% |
| 1996 | 27 | 9% |
| 1995 | 7 | 4% |
| 1994 | 9 | 7% |
| 1993 | 13 | 9% |
| 1992 | 6 | 6% |
| 1991 | 5 | 5% |
| 1990 | 6 | 7% |
| 1989 | 8 | 12% |
| 1988 | 4 | 9% |
| 1987 | 1 | 3% |
| 1986 | 3 | 9% |
| 1985 | 2 | 13% |
| 1984 | 1 | 20% |
Other parts of the 2004 Honda Civic
133 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
56 complaintsElectrical system
32 complaintsVehicle speed control
23 complaintsSeat belts
20 complaintsFuel system
18 complaintsOther or unknown
18 complaintsBody and structure
17 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 28, 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