mkaresh

Because existing sources of auto reliability information left much to be desired, in late 2005 I started conducting my own reliability research at TrueDelta.com. TrueDelta reports absolute stats like "trips to the shop" that make the differences between cars much clearer. Results are updated four times a year, so any significant changes in a model's reliability become apparent quickly.

So far 633 Honda Civic owners have signed up to participate. A great start, but more are needed.

Participants simply report repairs the month after they occur on a one-page survey. When there are no repairs, they simply report an approximate odometer reading four times a year, at the end of each quarter.

To encourage participation, panel members receive full access to the results for free.

For the details, and to sign up to help out:

Vehicle reliability research

mkaresh

Updated results recently posted. Honda Civic reliability, in terms of successful repair trips per 100 vehicles per year:

1999: 32, much better than average, seems too low to be accurate, very small sample size

2000: 20, same notes as 1999

2001: 70, better than average, small sample

2002: 80, about average, maybe a bit better, small sample

2003: 73, same notes as 2002

2004, 2005: insufficient data

2006: 48: about average, maybe a bit better

2007: 40, better than average

2008: 28, better than average

Additional participants would be helpful for all model years.

For the full set of results, and to sign up to help:

TrueDelta Vehicle Reliability Survey results

mkaresh

This month's survey is the last before the February results. Even with 690 owners signed up, sample sizes have been marginal for some years of the Civic, so additional participants would be very helpful.

Car reliability research

Connie

iTrader: (3)

My civic never need to go to the shop except for tire rotations and oil changes... so I would say it was pretty reliable

mkaresh

Updated results recently posted. Repair rates for the Civic generally remain "better than average." The main exception: the 2007 is average, but close to "better than average," with a repair rate of 43 repair trips per 100 cars per year.

A big thanks to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in May, August, and November. With more participants, we could provide more precise results and include more model years--so hopefully more owners will continue to sign up.

We now have a separate results page for each model that includes the results for competitors. The one for the Civic:

Honda Civic reliability comparisons

mkaresh

In about a month we'll start previewing the next set of results to participants. 743 so far for the Civic. More always helpful.

Car reliability research

mkaresh

And now 785. Thanks, guys. The more participants we have, the better the information we can provide to everyone.

Car reliability research

mkaresh

And now 820. A great start, but more is always better with sample sizes. Updated results soon.

Car reliability research

mkaresh

We have updated results for the Civic to include owner experiences through March 2009. In terms of successful repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2008: 30

2007: 34

2006: 31

2005: 30*

2004: 40*

2003: 50*

2002: 40

2001: 103*

2000: 67*

1999: 91*

Year with small sample sizes marked with an asterisk. In all cases except 2001 the result in better than average. This suggests that with a larger sample size, the 2001 would probably also be better than average.

A big thanks to this forum and everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in August and November. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years from 1995 on.

Honda Civic reliability comparisons

mkaresh

Now 899. 900th today?

Updated results next month. The more owners participate, the better the information we can provide.

Car reliability research

mkaresh

Now 929. Updated results in a few weeks. Additional participants always helpful.

Car reliability research

mkaresh

We have updated results for the Civic to include owner experiences through June 2009. In terms of successful repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2009: 19*

2008: 33

2007: 45

2006: 21

2005: 24*

2004: 38*

2003: 31*

2002: 22

2001: 82 -- average odometer now over 100k

2000: 86*

1999: 86*

Years with small sample sizes marked with an asterisk. In all cases the result in better than average.

Everyone who has been helping, thanks, I certainly appreciate it. We'll have further updates in November and February. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years from 1995 on.

Honda Civic reliability comparisons

mkaresh

994 Honda Civics now signed up. 1000 soon?

Car reliability research

mkaresh

Over 1,000 now. Thanks, guys.

Updated results soon.

We're going to start providing new stats for the odds of requiring no repairs and the odds of getting a lemon. These require larger sample sizes, so additional participants would be helpful.

For the details, and to sign up if you haven't already:

Car reliability research

TheMDC

This is good info. Especially for someone new to civics. Thanks

2010CivicDave

Just joined up, great info, I look forward to participating since my civic EX is a 2010 model year. I only hope that I have nothing significant to report LOL!

mkaresh

We have updated results for the Civic to include owner experiences through September 30, 2009. In terms of successful repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2009: 18*

2008: 32

2007: 44

2006: 28

2005: 18*

2004: 33*

2003: 22*

2002: 41

2001: 79 -- average odometer now over 100k

2000: 82

1999: 59*

1998: 113*

Years with small sample sizes marked with an asterisk. In all cases the result in better than average.

We've also introduced two new statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds," to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop.

The percentage with no repairs is about 86 for the 2006, 71 for the 2007, and 75 for the 2008, while the percentage of lemons is less than one for all three years. These stats require more data, so we don't yet have them for other model years.

Nada-odds and Lemon-odds car reliability stats

Thank you, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in February and May. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years from 1995 on.

Honda Civic reliability comparisons

mkaresh

1061 Civic owners now signed up. An excellent start, but more are needed to provide precise results for all model years.

Not yet signed up? Details here:

Car reliability research

Updated results next month.

mkaresh

We have updated results for the Civic to include owner experiences through December 31, 2009. In terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2009: 30

2008: 31

2007: 45

2006: 49

2005: 8*

2004: 22*

2003: 29*

2002.5-
2003 Si: 52*

2002: 34

2001: 76 -- average odometer now over 100k

2000: 67

1999: 43*

1998: 46*

Years with small sample sizes marked with an asterisk. In all cases the result in better than average.

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds," to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop.

The percentage with no repairs is about 75 for the 2006, 63 for the 2007, and 73 for the 2008, while the percentage of lemons is less than one for all three years. These stats require more data, so we don't yet have them for other model years.

Nada-odds and Lemon-odds car reliability stats

Thank you, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in May and August. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years from 1995 on.

Honda Civic reliability comparisons

mkaresh

Just enhanced the related repair history survey so that it can (optionally) be used as a personal car maintenance record.

As always, more participants would be helpful. Updated Car Reliability Survey results in May, with a preview for participants in mid-April.

Car reliability research

DANNY213

I have not needed to take my 95 civic EX to the engine repair shop since I have bought it (November 2008). Except for replacing a worn out clutch but thats all.

mkaresh

Now 1203 Civic ownes signed up. A great start, but more remain needed to fully cover all years from 1995 on.

jhon herry

To answer this question I used yahoo autos to get the cost of ownership for five years. I used a Honda Civic that was close in price to a Miata (with a retractable hard top)

mkaresh

We have updated results for the Civic to include owner experiences through March 31, 2010. In terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2009: 32

2008: 28

2007: 40

2006: 53

2005: 14

2004: 10*

2003: 44*

2002.5-
2003 Si: 65*

2002: 37

2001: 69 -- average odometer now over 100k

2000: 57

1999: 24

1998: 45*

Years with small sample sizes marked with an asterisk. The 2006 is about average, all other years are better than average.

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds," to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop.

The percentage with no repairs is about 63 for the 2006, 69 for the 2007, and 74 for the 2008, while the percentage of lemons is less than one for all three years. These stats require more data, so we don't yet have them for other model years.

Nada-odds and Lemon-odds car reliability stats

Thank you, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in August and November. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years from 1995 on.

Honda Civic reliability comparisons

mkaresh

Now 1287 signed up. Updated results next month.

We are short on responses for some model years, and additional participants are always helpful.

Car reliability research

SweetP

Hello All.

I have just join the forum and have no idea what I'm doing.

But I'm trying to get ideas on what I can do to my 2007 honda civic EX, to give my the best fuel economy. I'm not to concerned about hp. I do a lot of highway driving and just looking to save a little at the pump.

Any ideas would be great.

thanks

grendel

welcome to civicforums

Search Google for "save gas drive tips" or something... you'll get lots of resources to use.

mkaresh

We have updated results for the Civic to include owner experiences through June 30, 2010.

Other sources of car reliability information won't cover the more recent months until the summer or even fall of next year.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year, better than average unless otherwise noted:

2010: no repairs reported yet, 19 participants

2009: 29

2008: 23

2007: 33

2006: 55, about average

2005: 12

2004: 33

2003: 45*

2002.5-
2003 Si: 79*, about average

2002: 42

2001: 67 -- average odometer now over 100k

2000: 38

1999: 52

1998: 60

Years with small sample sizes marked with an asterisk. The 2006 is about average, all other years are better than average.

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds," to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop.

The percentage with no repairs is about 63 for the 2006, 68 for the 2007, 81 for the 2008, 81, for the 2009. These stats require more data, so we don't yet have them for other model years.

Nada-odds and Lemon-odds car reliability stats

Thank you, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in November and February.

With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years from 1995 on.

Honda Civic reliability comparisons

fst64_v8pwr

very helpful infor thanks!

mkaresh

Updated results next month.

As always, the more owners participate, the better the information we can provide to everyone.

Car reliability research