Four problems related to adaptive equipment have been reported for the 2008 Honda Civic. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2008 Honda Civic based on all problems reported for the 2008 Civic.
I have a 2008 Honda Civic sedan. Since the car was new the air conditioner never worked properly. The symptom that I noticed was a lack of water dripping from the bottom of the car (from the evaporator coil). I asked Honda about it when I took it in for a routine visit and they said it was fine and the air temperature from teh vent was in spec. The car was cooling so I never worried about it much. At 75k miles the a/c compressor just stopped working. The a/c system had a full charge but the compressor wouldnt compress the gas to allow the refrigerant to flash cool. I had a take it to local car repair place to have the a/c compressor, expansion valve, and drier replaced. Now after spending $$$$, the a/c works great and water drips from car when the a/c is on. The a/c system from the factory seems to be an issue and numerous people have complained about it. There should be service bulletin or recall for this issue.
The air conditioner is no longer blowing any cold air. Went to the dealership and was told that the air compressor needs to be replaced, along with the coils, and a/c clutch engagement for the air compressor. Vehicle is only 5 years old and there is no extended warranty to cover the cost of replacing the air compressor. Discussed with several mechanics in my area and have seen forum discussions posted that have similar issues and have listed it as a "known issue" but Honda has not formally acknowledged. Previously I have owned a 1997 Honda Civic with all original parts and it did not have such an issue. I have also submitted a direct complaint to Honda regarding my defective air compressor.
I have also owned a 2006 Civic ex which had the same problem and the did make a recall for the sun visor. I have been looking online and haven't been able to fine such a recall in the model I owned now (2008 Civic si sedan) but I have fond many people complaining about the same thing. Which is very unsafe the visor can come down all of the sudden causing an accident.
Two years ago we went to the Honda dealership in cocoa florida because our air conditioner was cutting out and then coming back on, and then cutting out. We purchased a $5 relay switch and problem stopped. A year later it started again, we got another relay switch and problem stopped again, now a year later it happened again, we got a new relay and it did not correct issue. Today I came online and find out it is a known issue however there does not appear to be a recall. Why not? the past year has been awful with this car. We had to get a rental car for a week because Honda painted most of the car because there was a recall. We still have places that should have been repainted but Honda refused. Then we were traveling on the expressway and the car started overheating, we found out it was another known issue, the block cracked and again we had to get a rental car because my husband and I both work and our Civic is our only transportation. We bought it because we had been told Honda Civics are awesome reliable etc. Now, the air issue. I have had enough.