A Look at the Honda Civic Cracked Block Recalls

Mar 8, 2021

So you just found the used Honda Civic your son needs for his next adventure in life, but do you really know if it’s as good a deal as you think it is? Before you sign the check, there may be some things you need to know.

2015 Honda Civic - Photo by Honda

The cost for having an engine block repaired is no less than $3500 but can be much more depending on the hours of labor required to make the repair. Often, though a rebuilt engine adds somewhere between $3,000 and $5,000, may be the better option if your plan on selling your car.

Have there been any Honda Civic recalls?

While there has been no cracked block recalls on Honda Civics, Honda has settled a class-action suit that may mean the complete replacement of engines in Honda Civic models manufactured from 2006 to 2009.

2009 Honda Civic - Photo by Honda

Which Honda Civics are Covered?

2006 – 2008 – All VINs beginning with 1HG or 2HG – Check eligibility with a VIN status inquiry here.
2009 – ALL VINs beginning with 1HG, 19X, and 2HG – Check eligibility with VIN status inquiry here.

Be aware, the NHTSA site may or may not show your vehicle model having an engine block recall, so be sure and do a VIN status inquiry.

2009 Honda Civic Si Coupe - Photo by Honda

What if My Honda Civic Doesn’t Have One of Those VINs?

Don’t give up. Honda is offering all owners of 2006-2008 and certain early 2009 Civics that have developed an engine coolant leak, a new engine. This free service pertains to all Civics, except for the Hybrid and the Civic Si, and effectively extends your original warranty to ten (10) years, whatever the mileage.

How Do You Handle a Honda Civic Recall?

Because there is no single recall for a cracked block and Honda has settled a class-action suit that covers virtually all engine block failures for an extended 10-year warranty period here are something owners of Honda Civic should be aware of.

It only takes a single-engine overheating experience to crack an engine block.

As always, you should make it a habit to monitor the dashboard coolant temperature gauge. Should it ever behave abnormally, even if not overheating, get your car to the shop ASAP.

Check your coolant level regularly and before any trip away from home. If you suspect a coolant leak, find the nearest authorized Honda dealer. Whatever you do, never try to cool off an overheated engine by pouring cold water on it.

Just let it cool off by itself and call a Honda service department. The bad news is, you may need a new engine. The good news is Honda will pay the cost.

Before you buy what car you’ve been looking at, be sure and check its Vehicle History!

Photos: Honda

Frequently Asked Questions

May 10, 2022

Can a cracked block be repaired?

A cracked engine block can typically be repaired but it will take some substantial skill to repair it. Most modern engine blocks are made out of aluminum and you will need to find someone that is skilled at welding aluminum to fix it.

Some people attempt to repair cracked engine blocks using JB Weld, which is a type of adhesive. This is generally frowned upon because it will not hold up to the heat cycling of the engine very well and will always be a weak spot.

Although most engine block cracks can be fixed it is usually just a better idea to buy a new engine if this happens to you. Cracks in the engine block are always going to be a structurally weak spot and you will pay a lot of money to remove the engine and weld it. The price may be pretty comparable to getting a used engine to replace the broken one.

What is a cracked block on a car?

A cracked block on a car is when the engine block cracks. The engine block is the lower part of your engine and it is where the cylinders are located with the pistons and connecting rods. The most common way that an engine block will crack is when you use the incorrect coolant for your climate.

If you live in an area that gets very cold it is a good idea to use a coolant that is rated for at least 10 degrees lower than the coolest temperature that you get each year. If your coolant freezes it will expand within your engine and that is the most likely way that your engine block will crack.

Another common way that an engine block gets cracked is by excessive stress and heat. If you run your car without coolant, or with low oil, it will generate more heat. When this happens any weak spots in the casting of the block may expand and cause a crack to develop in the block.

How do I know if my head gasket is blown?

Head gasket failures are something most people want to avoid because they a failure that could cause your entire engine to seize up and die. The first thing that you may notice when you have a head gasket failure is that your engine starts to overheat. It is a good idea to keep an eye on your temperature gauge on the dash and turn off your vehicle if you notice it climbing out of the normal operating range.

Another thing that you may notice when you have a head gasket failure is smoke from the tailpipe. This usually happens because the oil and coolant are burning off in the engine and making their way out of your exhaust.

The final thing to check if you suspect a blown head gasket is to look under the oil cap. If you notice that your oil is milky in color that is a sign that the coolant and oil has mixed and the head gasket has failed at some spot.

Owner Reviews

Write a Review

Richard on September 28, 2021

2006 Honda Civic 137,276 miles

I bought this vehicle last year (2020). It had 124k miles on it at the time and i handed over 2750$ for it. So far the car has been a dream except for a power steering leak it had. I actually ignored the power steering leak at first and kept refilling it after it leaked all over the earth. I did replace the o- rings on the power steering hoses thinking that might work but it still leaked ( it was the internal seals in the pump). That means pump replacement or teardown and rebuild. Long story short i was driving her one day and i heard a knocking noise everytime i pushed the gas pedal down. I thought that maybe it was the vehicle next to me because i know R18's are bulletproof (besides the engine block crack. A tragedy). And i treat my engine right with honda genuine fluids and oil changes before 3k miles. Suddenly i realized it was ME! My babies power steering pump had literally come unscrewed and fell off while i was driving. Crazy right. And what was really bad was that the bolts securing the pump in place had snapped inside the block. It cost me dearly at the shop. We've all been there right? Pulling out snapped bolts from an engine block is beyond my expertise. But replacing a power steering pump is simple to me. Something i should have done. So after all those gallons of power steering fluid that the pump leaked, and all the heat and vibration from the engine, and all those thousands of miles, one of the pumps screws had actually been able to come loose and come off by itself. Oil and heat can loosen a bolt. So never ignore oil leaks of any kind okay. Other than that the cars just another bulletproof Honda 4 cylinder that purrs while sipping on gas.

Edward Jones on September 7, 2023

2006 Honda Civic - Cracked Engine Block!

My Civic is a 2006 with only 112,000 miles on it and its in GREAT condition, except for the recently discovered cracked engine block! It began leaking coolant so I took it to the shop to learn about this crack. Honda Dealership quoted me $8500 to replace the engine and despite calling Honda Motor Corporation for help, they refused to fix it or do anything to help me. As a result of the class action lawsuit over these vehicles, Honda admitted that they made a defective block. This was Hondas fault, not mine, nor anyone else who this has happened to. Honda should honor their mistake and fix any of these engines that fail. So terrible that they treat their customers like this. I was a loyal Honda customer for more than 3 decades. In fact, my family owns 3 Hondas. After this experience, I will never buy another Honda and I will make sure and share this story with all of my family, friends, and neighbors.

James Shaner on August 12, 2023

Cracked engine block on 2008 civic with 57k miles.

We inherited my mother in-laws 08 Civic that had low mileage as she drove it only to grocery store and we then basically stored it. I told her to buy this car over a Toyota as I thought it would last longer. We took it out last month for a drive after 200 mi since an oil change and coolant top off. A red light and rough running told us to shut it down and tow to dealer. We were told it had a cracked block, no coolant and a fried engine that would need replaced. We were then shown a service bulletin that warned of the defect and the extended warranty that expired 5 years ago. Not a mileage warranty-just time. My mother in law always had the periodic warranty items done by Honda dealer. No recall/service warning from Honda or dealership. Honda says "we cannot help you".

Amanda S on August 7, 2021

2007 Honda Civic Recall Pros & Cons

We came to find out that A LOT of things on my year and model had been factory recalled. This in itself was a hassle and inconvenience. I was constantly having to take it back to the dealer to have something fixed. From the sun visors, to the back tires, to the actual engine block. It seemed like every time I turned around something else was wrong with it. The only good thing about this was that it was RECALLED and came at no cost to me. Just the inconvenience of not having my car (and not being able to get a rental since I was too young at the time). All in all I'd say that my car is definitely something to be proud of. Reliable, fast (or fast enough for me at least), dependable (now that all the recalls were addressed), and purring like a cat.

Dale Gerard Ferguson on February 22, 2022

Dale_ferguson@hotmail.com

I had a 2009 Honda Civic with a cracked engine block. I would smell antifreeze all the time. If anybody had driven the car as much as I had 3 to 5 hours a day. You should look up antifreeze poisoning. I ended up having a bad kidney and heart trouble later after but purchasing this car. These are factors that you need to consider What are the symptoms of antifreeze in humans? These symptoms can include: loss of coordination. Slurred or jumbled speech. Dizziness. Fatigue. Headache. Euphoria. Nausea and vomiting. Seizures.

Dale F on February 22, 2022

Inhaling Antifreeze from cracked engine

Antifreeze isdeadly. If you drove the car a few months every day for about 2 hours. Then go to your doctor asap.Effects of Inhaling Antifreeze Fumes As ethylene glycol vapours are heavier than air, they can collect in poorly ventilated areas, often below ground level. If inhaled excessively, ethylene glycol increases risk of breathing difficulties, heart problems, kidney failure and brain damage. I have AiFib now and a bad Kedney because of HONDA Corporation not contact the owners.

Brian S on April 17, 2021

2008 Honda Civic has comfortable, spacious interior.

My 2008 Honda Civic is the perfect fit for me at an affordable price. It gets decent gas mileage, about 30 mpg. Very good visibility through its spacious front dash. Roomy interior provides comfortable travel for up to 4 passengers. The only downside so far is that the engine block cracked (apparently there was a problem in the process of casting the engine block), but it was replaced by Honda for free. So now the engine has only about 30, 000 miles on it.

Mike on August 19, 2021

2008 Honda Civic. Engine block cracked. Removed the alternator to gain access to the hair line crack.Cleaned and prepped the area with degreaser and acetone. Applied 3 layers of the original JB weld formula. Let the JB weld set up for 48 hours. So far no leaks and no problem. Been driving now for about 8 months. Also drain the coolant before preparing the area and before applying JB weld.

Vic G on April 23, 2021

Do not buy 2007 Honda Civics! They are full of problems.

He amount of problems that it had are many. The started died two times, the engine block cracked (fixed by dealer but was a pain) the paint is peeling which makes the car look horrible and there is rust that has come on the vehicle. Overall I am disappointed. I had many Honda's before, and this is the worst one. I will never buy another Honda again.

Hope E on May 16, 2021

2006 Honda Civic. Money saver for your gas budget. Affordable purchase! Drives excellent.

This was a used car so it has a new engine because I guess the engine was recalled and the previous owner had it fixed when he received the recall notices. Over all I love the car because it drives so efficiently. My number one concern is saving money and this car is the key to saving money on transportation! I love it.

Amber B on April 22, 2021

2008 Honda Civic recalls and overall thoughts.

Bought this car used. It was overheating. The engine had a recall. And so did the control arm and airbag. All these were fixed under recall. No other major issues at about 130,000 miles. Decently smooth running. Gas mileage in this car is great. I would definitely recommend this vehicle.

kenna b on May 15, 2021

2008 Honda Civic has been reliable but after 10 years it is showing signs of wear.

I have enjoyed driving my vehicle for the last 10 years. There have been some problems with it though. There was a recall on the engine a few years ago but they did extend the warranty and replaced the engine at no cost to me . This year I have had more problems.

Diane D on March 26, 2021

Do your research before buying a 2006 Honda Civic. Make sure there aren't any major known issues.

My Civic was one of the unfortunate ones that ended up with a cracked engine block - one year after the extended warranty (extended by Honda because this was a known issue) expired. The car is fine for everyday driving around town. It gets very good gas mileage.

Lester Burk on September 23, 2021

Warranty has expired

Why is there a article dated august 2021 with so many people commenting about how Honda will fix the problem when the warranty ran out years ago🤷‍♂️ Am I missing something or am I just another unhappy Honda owner with a cracked block?

Crystal Welker on August 16, 2021

Recall after recall for my 2008 Honda Civic LX Coupe.

Don’t buy this car! I have a 2008 Honda Civic and now it’s broken down with only 140000 miles on it so now I have to get a new car. The recalls include airbags, paint, engine block and sun visors. American Honda won’t help you out

Jason B on December 20, 2022

Engine Block Replacement

If you have had your block replaced in 21' or 22', how did you go about getting it? Our block is cracked and Honda is telling me ours is out of warranty. We have an 08' Coupe with 98k miles on it. Any help would be appreciated.

Vanessa G on August 6, 2021

The front of the 2007 Honda Civic is very spacious.

There are some recalls for the year such as a part of the engine can be replaced at total cost of Honda, the visors will come out of place and will also be replaced by Honda. Very comfortable car and long lasting.

Jo Das on June 15, 2021

Honda Canada should take responsibility for 2007 Honda Civic defects.

Be warned. Car ran fine until it developed a crack in the engine block. MFG head office refused to take responsibility. I am stuck with a lemon now. Replacing the engine costs $2500-3000.

Dahlia W on July 28, 2021

2006 Honda Civic. 10 years and still going strong.

I am stoked about having a warranty on the engine, when I had a crack in the engine block, they took care of it and renewed my warranty. So that is a huge plus.

Renee B on May 3, 2021

Issues with 2007 civic body.

Keep my regular check ups, and maintenance up. The engine was in recall as well. I will be looking for a new, car soon. It does still get great gas mileage.

Cassandra B on June 8, 2021

My cars good and bad. 2007 Honda Civic

The engine block cracked had to replace the block. The roof fell. I had to thumb tack it. It's good on gas. Its reliable. And I had to change the starter.

Tim G