MYRModel Year Report

2004 Honda Civic

● Typical for this model
2004 Honda Civic
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
350
Recalls
15

Campaigns on file for 2004

Investigations
3

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Air bags

39% of complaints

Complaints per year

1981: 1 complaint 1981 1982: 1 complaint 1983: 9 complaints 1984: 5 complaints 1985: 15 complaints 1986: 35 complaints 1987: 39 complaints 1987 1988: 48 complaints 1989: 69 complaints 1990: 92 complaints 1991: 111 complaints 1992: 100 complaints 1993: 155 complaints 1993 1994: 161 complaints 1995: 199 complaints 1996: 305 complaints 1997: 373 complaints 1998: 435 complaints 1999: 338 complaints 2000: 287 complaints 2001: 1,079 complaints 2002: 702 complaints 2003: 499 complaints 2004: 350 complaints 2004 350 2005: 315 complaints 2006: 1,402 complaints 2007: 1,204 complaints 2008: 916 complaints 2009: 395 complaints 2010: 397 complaints 2011: 169 complaints 2011 2012: 455 complaints 2013: 318 complaints 2014: 292 complaints 2015: 378 complaints 2016: 1,080 complaints 2017: 598 complaints 2017 2018: 744 complaints 2019: 434 complaints 2020: 225 complaints 2021: 144 complaints 2022: 883 complaints 2023: 255 complaints 2023 2024: 124 complaints 2025: 75 complaints 2026: 30 complaints
1981: 1 complaint 1981 1982: 1 complaint 1983: 9 complaints 1984: 5 complaints 1984 1985: 15 complaints 1986: 35 complaints 1987: 39 complaints 1987 1988: 48 complaints 1989: 69 complaints 1990: 92 complaints 1990 1991: 111 complaints 1992: 100 complaints 1993: 155 complaints 1993 1994: 161 complaints 1995: 199 complaints 1996: 305 complaints 1996 1997: 373 complaints 1998: 435 complaints 1999: 338 complaints 1999 2000: 287 complaints 2001: 1,079 complaints 2002: 702 complaints 2003: 499 complaints 2004: 350 complaints 2004 350 2005: 315 complaints 2006: 1,402 complaints 2007: 1,204 complaints 2008: 916 complaints 2008 2009: 395 complaints 2010: 397 complaints 2011: 169 complaints 2011 2012: 455 complaints 2013: 318 complaints 2014: 292 complaints 2014 2015: 378 complaints 2016: 1,080 complaints 2017: 598 complaints 2017 2018: 744 complaints 2019: 434 complaints 2020: 225 complaints 2020 2021: 144 complaints 2022: 883 complaints 2023: 255 complaints 2023 2024: 124 complaints 2025: 75 complaints 2026: 30 complaints 2026
1981: 1 complaint 1981 1982: 1 complaint 1983: 9 complaints 1983 1984: 5 complaints 1985: 15 complaints 1985 1986: 35 complaints 1987: 39 complaints 1987 1988: 48 complaints 1989: 69 complaints 1989 1990: 92 complaints 1991: 111 complaints 1991 1992: 100 complaints 1993: 155 complaints 1993 1994: 161 complaints 1995: 199 complaints 1995 1996: 305 complaints 1997: 373 complaints 1997 1998: 435 complaints 1999: 338 complaints 1999 2000: 287 complaints 2001: 1,079 complaints 2001 2002: 702 complaints 2003: 499 complaints 2004: 350 complaints 2004 350 2005: 315 complaints 2006: 1,402 complaints 2007: 1,204 complaints 2007 2008: 916 complaints 2009: 395 complaints 2009 2010: 397 complaints 2011: 169 complaints 2011 2012: 455 complaints 2013: 318 complaints 2013 2014: 292 complaints 2015: 378 complaints 2015 2016: 1,080 complaints 2017: 598 complaints 2017 2018: 744 complaints 2019: 434 complaints 2019 2020: 225 complaints 2021: 144 complaints 2021 2022: 883 complaints 2023: 255 complaints 2023 2024: 124 complaints 2025: 75 complaints 2025 2026: 30 complaints

2004: 350 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19800
19811
19821
19839
19845
198515
198635
198739
198848
198969
199092
1991111
1992100
1993155
1994161
1995199
1996305
1997373
1998435
1999338
2000287
20011,079
2002702
2003499
2004350
2005315
20061,402
20071,204
2008916
2009395
2010397
2011169
2012455
2013318
2014292
2015378
20161,080
2017598
2018744
2019434
2020225
2021144
2022883
2023255
2024124
202575
202630

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Air bags

39% · 136 reports

Most commonly citing frontal and sensor/control module.

CRASHFIREINJURYDEATH
Show complaint excerpts

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2017-12-03

Also filed under Electrical system

While driving at 20 MPH and crossing a stop light the consumer was t-boned on the drivers side by another vehicle. The side air bags did not deploy. The consumer suffered back injuries.

NHTSA ODI report, 2004-04-06

My daughter was in our 2004 Honda Civic lx. She had a virtually head on collision with much front end damage. None of the airbags deployed.

NHTSA ODI report, 2004-03-28

Power train

16% · 56 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission and manual transmission.

CRASHINJURY

Electrical system

9% · 32 reports

Most commonly citing ignition and wiring.

FIREINJURY

Vehicle speed control

7% · 23 reports

Most commonly citing accelerator pedal.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

My car accelerated while in parking lot and went inside a building. I was not hurt. My car was damaged and the building and another car I hit sustained a significant damage.

NHTSA ODI report, 2014-04-07

Seat belts

6% · 20 reports

Most commonly citing rear/other.

INJURY

Safety timeline

15 recalls · 3 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    2004-11-24Seat belts04V550000 On certain passenger vehicles, some front seat belt anchors may have been installed with an incorrect washer, which could restrict anchor movement. As a result, the seat belt may be improperly…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. R
    2006-04-17Exterior lighting06E032000 Certain eagle eyes and sonar headlights and corner lights sold as aftermarket for use on 1988-2005 Honda Civic, 1990-2005 Honda accord, and 1990-2001 Acura integra passenger vehicles listed above.…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. R
    2006-05-09Exterior lighting06E023000 Certain anzo combination headlamp assemblies sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles. Some combination lamps are not equipped with amber side reflectors which fail to…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. R
    2007-11-15Fuel system, other07V512000 On certain compressed natural gas (Cng) vehicles, in the event of a severe interior fire in the area of the rear seat, the cng tank may be heated unevenly, preventing the pressure relief device from…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. R
    2008-01-15Visibility07E104000 Certain curved tempered replacement glass manufactured by hangzhou safety glass ltd and supplied to safelite by auto temp inc., identified as DOT-430, and sold for use on certain domestic and…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    2009-07-28Exterior lighting09E025000 Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. I
    2014-06-11Preliminary evaluationClosed 2015-03-02 Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  8. R
    2014-09-12Air bags14V353000 American Honda Motor Company, Inc.'s (Honda) is conducting a limited regional recall for certain model year 2003-2005 Accord, Civic, CR-V, Pilot and Acura MDX, model year 2003-2004 Odyssey and Element, and model year 2005 Acura RL, and 2006 Honda...

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. R
    2015-01-26Air bags14V700000 American Honda Motor Co.

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  10. I
    2015-02-24Engineering analysisOpen Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  11. R
    2015-07-01Air bags15V320000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2007 Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2006 Ridgeline, 2003...

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  12. R
    2015-07-01Air bags15V370000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic vehicles manufactured March 21, 2000, to January 20, 2005, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX vehicles manufactured June 14, 2000, to August 19, 2004, 2003-2005 Honda Civic...

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  13. R
    2018-06-22Air bags18V268000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 Honda Accord and Pilot, 2010 Accord Crosstour, 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 Element, 2007 and 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2012 Insight, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and...

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  14. R
    2019-04-10Air bags19V182000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005...

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  15. R
    2019-08-12Air bags19V499000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey,...

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  16. R
    2019-08-12Air bags19V501000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey,...

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  17. I
    2021-09-17Engineering analysisOpen Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  18. R
    Date not on fileExterior lighting06E064000 Certain tradesonic combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above listed passenger vehicles.

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2004 Honda Civic — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Air bags: 136 reports on file for this year.
  • Power train: 56 reports on file for this year.
  • Electrical system: 32 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 06E064000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 04V550000 · Seat belts
  • Recall 06E032000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E023000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 07V512000 · Fuel system, other
  • Recall 07E104000 · Visibility
  • Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 14V353000 · Air bags
  • Recall 14V700000 · Air bags
  • Recall 15V320000 · Air bags
  • Recall 15V370000 · Air bags
  • Recall 18V268000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19V182000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19V499000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19V501000 · Air bags
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2004 Honda Civic reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2004 Honda Civic is rated "typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Honda Civic?
The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 39% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2004 Honda Civic have?
15 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.