Honda Civic
Honda's first diesel (2.2L i-CTDi), solid base with 140 hp, but typical diesel weak points. DPF clogging on short trips, exhaust manifold cracks and IMRC valve carbon build-up are known weak points.
Honda's Best Diesel
Honda's first in-house diesel: aluminium block, sounds metallic and sporty rather than tractor-like. Power band from 1,500 rpm, slick six-speed gearbox. Surprisingly lively for a diesel.
Engine Weaknesses 4
The diesel particulate filter needs sufficiently high exhaust temperatures to self-regenerate — temperatures not reached in pure urban use. From around 100,000 km, clogging with limp mode and warning lights becomes more common.
Symptoms: Warning light, engine limp mode, power loss, frequent dealer regeneration cycles
Cracks form in the exhaust manifold under hard use, typically between 150,000 and 200,000 km. Honda acknowledged this manufacturing defect and extended the warranty to 7 years.
Symptoms: Ticking or hissing from the engine bay on cold start, exhaust smell
Soot deposits block the intake manifold runner control (IMRC) valve. Vehicles built before 2008 received a free replacement. Symptoms include power loss and hesitation on acceleration. Fault code P2004 is typical.
Symptoms: Hesitation on acceleration, power loss, fault code P2004
The MAP sensor sits near the EGR valve and gets heavily contaminated by soot deposits. This triggers fault codes P1069 or P0069 and causes performance issues. Cleaning is often sufficient.
Symptoms: Fault code P1069 or P0069, power fluctuations, increased fuel consumption
Vehicle Weaknesses 7
The electric power steering (EPS) can fail suddenly — the steering wheel becomes heavy without warning. Affects the 8th generation (2006–2011); Honda carried out a recall.
Several recalls were carried out across the entire 8th generation for faulty airbags. There was also a recall for 2008–2010 models due to possible detachment of the water pump pulley.
The rear torsion beam can crack at high mileages — particularly at the hub carrier arm. Critical safety issue: crack only detectable by tapping with a hammer (hollow sound instead of a ring). Mainly affects the FN2 Type R used in a sporting manner.
The rear brake calipers seize on city drivers. Regular cleaning and lubrication is necessary; if neglected, pads can wear unevenly.
The Omron AC relay fails prematurely and disables the air conditioning. A straightforward fix is a replacement relay from Mitsuba; often the recommended first step.
Faulty engine mounts occur more frequently on the Civic FN and can lead to a MOT failure. Manifests as vibrations and rattling noises at idle.
The clutch tends to judder when the engine is warm, especially on diesel models. Premature clutch wear occurs with heavy city use. A clutch replacement is the only permanent fix.
Reports & Tests
4474 owner complaints filed with NHTSA (2006–2011). Most reported: Airbags (753), Engine (604), Suspension (598).