2005 Honda CIVIC problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
314 owner complaints analyzed
10 distinct recall campaigns
67,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 214 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 112 of 314 complaints (35.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 40 | 12.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 36 | 11.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 20 | 6.4% |
| Steering behavior | 11 | 3.5% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 1.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 1.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 112 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 23 |
| Electrical System | 21 |
| Power Train | 18 |
| Structure:Body | 18 |
| Seat Belts | 16 |
| Engine | 14 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 12 |
Air Bags: 112; Vehicle Speed Control: 23; Electrical System: 21; Power Train: 18; Structure:Body: 18; Seat Belts: 16; Engine: 14; Air Bags:Frontal: 12
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 55 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 31 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 26 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 29 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 41 |
| 150,000 and above | 32 |
Under 25,000: 55; 25,000 to 49,999: 31; 50,000 to 74,999: 26; 75,000 to 99,999: 29; 100,000 to 149,999: 41; 150,000 and above: 32
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (55). 100 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 29 |
| 2006 | 22 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 27 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2010 | 32 |
| 2011 | 22 |
| 2012 | 15 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 27 |
| 2015 | 36 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 16 |
| 2018 | 21 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2005: 29; 2006: 22; 2007: 8; 2008: 27; 2009: 10; 2010: 32; 2011: 22; 2012: 15; 2013: 8; 2014: 27; 2015: 36; 2016: 9; 2017: 16; 2018: 21; 2019: 6; 2020: 6; 2021: 8; 2022: 7; 2023: 3; 2024: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 40 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 36 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 20 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10103826 · 2005-01-05 (January 5, 2005)
VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION . THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS WERE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER.*AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10103826 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10114187 · 2005-03-16 (March 16, 2005)
AUTOMIBILE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON DECEMBER 27, 2004 FOR FAILURE OF BRAKES, ON IMPACT EXCESSIVE FORCE OF DEPLOYED AIRBAG CAUSED HAND INJURY. BRAKE PEDAL FADE WHEN CAR WAS IN IDLE, CLICKING SOUND OF BRAKE LINE WHEN STEPPING ON BRAKE PEDAL. CAR WAS SERVICED FOR A FAULTY GEAR POSITIONING SENSOR AS WELL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10114187 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10129820 · 2005-07-24 (July 24, 2005)
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER STANDARD NEW HONDA CIVIC 2005 HOME FROM THE DEALER ON MAY 9TH. SHE HAD 60 MILES ON THE CAR AND WAS CRUISING IN 4TH SPEED AT 45 MILES AN HOUR ON I5 SOUTH IN THE SEATTLE AREA WHEN THE CAR CAME INSTANTLY TO ALMOST A COMPLETE HALT CAUSING AN INTENSE JERKING OF THE CAR. SHE WAS ABLE TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND COAST TO THE SHOULDER WITH WHAT MINIMUM MOMENTUM SHE HAD LEFT. AS THERE WAS NO IMPACT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH MOST LIKELY INTENSIFIED THE NATURE OF HER INJURY. CURRENTLY HER RADIOLOGY REPORT STATES SHE HAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 60 miles reported. Look up ODI 10129820 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10149079 · 2006-01-30 (January 30, 2006)
OUR NEW 2005 HONDA CIVIC HAD BOTH FRONT WHEELS LOCK WHILE MY WIFE WAS GOING TO WORK, DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY IN FORT WORTH TX. THE CAR WAS TOTALED, CRASHING INTO A GUARD RAIL, BLOWING THE AIR BAGS, SPINNING AROUND, STARTING A FIRE AT THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL AND STARTING MY WIFE'S COAT ON FIRE AS SHE WAS GETTING OUT. WE HAVE AN EYE WITNESS WHO HAS A DEGREE IN ENGINEERING, PHOTOS, A POLICE REPORT AND THE CAR ITSELF. THE CAR STARTED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT BY ITSELF AND MY WIFE WAS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT IT SINCE THE FRONT WHEELS WERE IN A COMPLETE SKID. …
Owner-reported narrative. 2,113 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149079 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10137032 · 2005-09-19 (September 19, 2005)
FIRE IN SEAT BELT WIRING UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE SEAT, FLOOR AND PASSENGER DOOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIREMAN SAID IT WAS ELECTRICAL AND AMERICAN HONDA IS TAKING NO BLAME. STATED THERE IS NO VOLTAGE IN THE WIRES UNLESS THE AIR BAG IS DEPLOYED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10137032 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10142585 · 2005-11-14 (November 14, 2005)
DT CONTACT STATED THE INDICATOR LIGHTS FOR THE OIL, ENGINE, AND BATTERY CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE HAD HIGH IDLE. THE VEHICLE WENT INTO AUTO STOP IN ALL GEARS. ONE COULD TURN RIGHT OR LEFT AND THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF. SHE CONTACTED THE DEALER, THEY DID SOME TYPE OF WORK TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. SHE CONTACTED THE DEALER AGAIN. THE DEALER STATED VEHICLE DID NOT WORK PROPERLY DUE TO DRIVER'S ERROR. ALSO, SHE STATED THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WILL COME ON AND OFF.…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10142585 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10144480 · 2005-12-05 (December 5, 2005)
(1) NEW VEHICLE - STEERING WAS NOT AS RESPONSIVE AS PREVIOUS VEHICLE (SAME MODEL) (2) DURING A LEFT TURN MOTION OF ENGINE CAUSED SKID INTO RIGHT WALL OF UNDERPASS. (3) LEFT FRONT ENGINE MOUNT WAS REPLACED - I HAVE THE ORIGINAL MOUNT. VEHICLE HAD APPROX 4700 MILES WHEN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 4,529 miles reported. Look up ODI 10144480 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10158368 · 2006-05-26 (May 26, 2006)
CAR STOPPED STEERING WELL; HIGH PITCHED CONTINUOUS WHINE; MECHANIC DIAGNOSED POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE; PUMP NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 56,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10158368 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10174964 · 2006-12-02 (December 2, 2006)
SINCE BUYING MY VEHICLE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL THE CAR WILL STALL. WHEN PUTTING THE CAR BACK INTO GEAR IT WON'T START UP AGAIN UNTIL I PUT THE CAR BACK INTO NEUTRAL TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE CLUTCH AND THEN PUT IT BACK INTO GEAR AGAIN. SINCE THE 3RD DAY OF OWNING THE CAR THIS HAS HAPPENED . THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED THE BATTERY TERMINALS BUT IT CONTINUED. DOES THIS WHETHER IT'S RAINING OR NOT. AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE DEALER THE MECHANIC PUT MY CAR ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AND CALLED THE CODE NUMBERS IN TO THE C…
Owner-reported narrative. 9 miles reported. Look up ODI 10174964 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10224256 · 2008-04-11 (April 11, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND HE HAD TO RECEIVE A JUMPSTART. AS OF APRIL 11, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE REPLACED THE BATTERY AND HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE DEAD BATTERY WAS THE WRONG BATTERY FOR HIS VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 25,727. UPDATED 04/25/08 …
Owner-reported narrative. 25,727 miles reported. Look up ODI 10224256 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10169066 · 2006-09-13 (September 13, 2006)
2005 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID HAD RECALL REPAIR DONE TO THE FUEL INJECTOR. AFTER REPAIRS VEHICLE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWERED IN GAS MILEAGE. *KB THE CONSUMER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM HONDA THAT THROUGH A MISTAKE IN MANUFACTURING, THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER HAD BEEN PROGRAMMED WITH A FUEL INJECTOR FUEL FLOW RATE THAT CAUSED IT TO RUN TOO LEAN. AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE MADE THE CONSUMER NOTICED A 10-15% DROP IN FUEL ECONOMY. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10169066 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10221067 · 2008-03-13 (March 13, 2008)
PLASTIC GAS TANK FRACTURED LEAKING FUEL RESULING IN FIRE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10221067 at NHTSA ↗