Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 35 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Honda Civic Hybrid, and it carries 6 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 9 | 26% |
| Air bags | 5 | 14% |
| Power train | 3 | 9% |
| Power train | 2 | 6% |
| Power train | 2 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 3% |
| Structure | 1 | 3% |
| Air bags | 1 | 3% |
| Seat belts | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR, THE CVT TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO "LAG" OR DELY TO ENGAGE AND ACCELERATE. RECENTLY WHEN AT A LEFT TURN AT AN INTERSECTION, I APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR AND CAR JUDDERED, WAS VIBRATING THE WHOLE CAR, A
NHTSA complaint: Power train
THE DASHBOARD AIRBAG "WARNING LIGHT" SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN TRAFFIC MOVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY DURING A WARM SUMMER AFTERNOON RAIN STORM.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE FRONT MIDDLE PART BY HIS SON. THE FRONT DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V3
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
HELLO, WE HAVE THIS HONDA CIVIC 2004 HYBRID WITH CVT TRANSMISSION. THE CAR HAS AROUND 68K. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS TYPE OF ISSUES BUT HONDA SAYS THERE THEY ARE NOT LONGER ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT. THE REPAIR NOW COST
NHTSA complaint: Power train
I WAS MERGING ONTO THE INTERSTATE FROM THE RAMP AND THE PASSENGER SIDE, SEAT SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. HONDA SHOWS NO CURRENT RECALLS FOR MY CAR. A RECALL FOR THE MAIN AIRBAGS HAD ALREADY BEEN MADE. FORTUNATELY
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
BEARING FAILURE IN CVT TRANSMISSION, LEADING TO SEVERE VIBRATION AND IF NOT REPAIRED TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE COST FOR REPAIRING REPLACEMENT TO CUSTOMER $1700 . IN MY VEHICLE IS BEARING HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES IN 130,0
NHTSA complaint: Power train
IN 2004 I PURCHASED A 2004 CIVIC HYBRID. IN 2011 THE IMF BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NOW 4 YEARS LATER THE BATTERY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE CAR IS LIKE NEW BECAUSE I TOOK SUCH GOOD CARE OF IT. IT HAS UNDER 70,0
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
OUT OF THE BLUE MY HONDA REAR BUMPER STARTED PAINT CRACKING. MY CAR IS IN PRESTINE CONDITION AND I'M REALLY PISSED THAT THE CLEAR COAT WOULD DO THIS! !!
NHTSA complaint: Structure
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2004 Honda Civic Hybrid. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV
Risk: An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or dea
Fix: 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 servic
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, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles. The
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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 (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, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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 1-888-234-213
American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic, 2003-2004 Civic CNG and Element, 2002-2005 CR-V, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2005 Accord, Pilot, Civic Hybrid, and Acura MDX, 2005 Acura RL and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in ge
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengers frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious inj
Fix: 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
| Reliability | 49 | below average |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 68 | good |
| Maintenance | 90 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 83 | excellent |
| Performance | 37 | below average |
| Efficiency | 63 | average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 35 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 9 of them (26%). There are 6 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 49/100 (below average) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density, adjusted for how many were sold so a popular model is not penalised for having more owners.
AVOIR scores its longevity 68/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2004 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 66/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.