COMPONENT SPOTLIGHT

Honda Civic transmission problems

845 distinct owner reports with a transmission-specific component in this snapshot.

General power-train reports are not automatically counted as transmission problems. Related recalls and investigations must also name this component; they are not linked by narrative keyword alone.

28 crash reports6 fire reports11 injury reports

Reports by model year

Recall and investigation columns show each year’s full history. A report naming several years can appear in more than one row.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

624 reports with mileage · 221 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What owners actually said

845 reports
2001 model year · 147,253 miles · Jul 29, 2010
Power Train

I HAVE A 2001 HONDA CIVIC AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE TRANSMISSION BLEW IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION AND MY CAR STALLED. THE CAR HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND HAS APPROX. 147K MILES ON IT. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THE CAR REQUIRES A NEW TRANSMISSION OUT OF MY POCKET. IT IS IN MY OPINION THAT MY TRANSMISSION SHOULD HAVE LAS…

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I HAVE A 2001 HONDA CIVIC AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE TRANSMISSION BLEW IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION AND MY CAR STALLED. THE CAR HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND HAS APPROX. 147K MILES ON IT. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THE CAR REQUIRES A NEW TRANSMISSION OUT OF MY POCKET. IT IS IN MY OPINION THAT MY TRANSMISSION SHOULD HAVE LAST A LOT LONGER THAN 9 YEARS AND 147K MILES. I OWN THREE OTHER VEHICLES, TWO OF WHICH ARE ABOUT 5 YEARS OLDER AND BOTH WITH OVER 300K MILES ON THEM EACH AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM. HONDA DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE AND WON'T RECALL IT. IT'S CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE IS ONES CAR STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I WAS LUCKY TO NOT BE HIT. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND 453 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM; I AM A VERY CONSERVATIVE DRIVER AND TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLES. THERE IS NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT A HONDA WOULDN'T LAST LONGER THAN MINE HAS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10346154

2001 model year · 127,683 miles · Jul 29, 2010
Power Train

TRANSMISSION CODE P0740 TOLD TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. DRIVEN CAR NORMALLY AND HAS 128,000 MILES, BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR QUITE A WHILE, AND THE TRANSMISSION IS THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART AND SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO BE MADE. MANY MECHANICS HAVE CLAIMED THIS IS A TYPICAL PROBLEM FOR…

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TRANSMISSION CODE P0740 TOLD TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. DRIVEN CAR NORMALLY AND HAS 128,000 MILES, BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR QUITE A WHILE, AND THE TRANSMISSION IS THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART AND SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO BE MADE. MANY MECHANICS HAVE CLAIMED THIS IS A TYPICAL PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL. THERE ARE STORIES ABOUT TRANSMISSIONS GOING OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10346030

2008 model year · 10,000 miles · Jul 29, 2010
Power Train

MY HONDA CIVIC 2008 GETS STUCK ON GEAR. I STOP AND THEN IT WILL SWITCH GEARS BUT IT WILL NOT REV PAST 2RPM WHICH CAN MAKE ME CRASH. HONDA HAS NOT MADE A RECALL FOR THIS BUT THEY SHOULD AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ON 8THCIVIC FORUMS AND OTHER PLACES. SO BASICALLY THE CAR BUCKS FORWARD AND THE TRANSMISSION JERKS HA…

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MY HONDA CIVIC 2008 GETS STUCK ON GEAR. I STOP AND THEN IT WILL SWITCH GEARS BUT IT WILL NOT REV PAST 2RPM WHICH CAN MAKE ME CRASH. HONDA HAS NOT MADE A RECALL FOR THIS BUT THEY SHOULD AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ON 8THCIVIC FORUMS AND OTHER PLACES. SO BASICALLY THE CAR BUCKS FORWARD AND THE TRANSMISSION JERKS HARD AND SO IT WILL GO BACK TO NORMAL YOU HAVE TO TURN THE CAR ON OR OFF. IMAGINE IM ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT HAPPENS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10346025

2002 model year · 147,000 miles · Jul 28, 2010
Power Train

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK DURING RUSH HOUR IN JULY AND ABOUT 10 MINUTES INTO MY DRIVE MY CAR STARTED DOING THESE LITTLE JERKING MOVEMENTS ABOUT EVERY COUPLE MINUTES OR SO' THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE SO I FIGURED I'D GO HOME AND TAKE IT SOMEWHERE TO BE LOOKED AT THE NEXT DAY' ABOUT 30 MINUTES INTO MY DRIVE, I WAS GOING UP …

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I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK DURING RUSH HOUR IN JULY AND ABOUT 10 MINUTES INTO MY DRIVE MY CAR STARTED DOING THESE LITTLE JERKING MOVEMENTS ABOUT EVERY COUPLE MINUTES OR SO' THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE SO I FIGURED I'D GO HOME AND TAKE IT SOMEWHERE TO BE LOOKED AT THE NEXT DAY' ABOUT 30 MINUTES INTO MY DRIVE, I WAS GOING UP A HILL ON A 2 LANE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING' I HAD MY FOOT ALL THE WAY DOWN THE GAS AND MY CAR STAYED AT 15 MPH, BUT THE RPM'S SHOT UP' CARS START HONKING AT ME AND SWERVING AROUND ME AND I REALIZED IMMEDIATELY THAT I NEEDED TO PULL OVER BEFORE MY CAR GAVE OUT COMPLETELY AND STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS DOWN THE HILL' I ENDED UP HAVING MY CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE WHERE THEY TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED' I JUST HAD MY CAR INSPECTED IN THE SPRING AT THE SAME GARAGE AND IT PASSED WITH NO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AT ALL' I HAVEN'T HAD THE TRANSMISSION FIXED YET BUT AS I WAS LOOKING INTO I STARTED READING ABOUT HOW 2002 HONDA CIVIC TRANSMISSIONS WERE ONE OF THEIR WORST YEARS FOR TRANSMISSIONS AND ON OCCASION WILL BREAK WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING' *TR

NHTSA ODI #10345899

2002 model year · 138,000 miles · Jul 27, 2010
Power Train

ON THE WAY TO WORK, MY 2002 HONDA CIVIC SUDDENLY STOPPED SHIFTING GEARS, THEN STOPPED RUNNING ALTOGETHER WITHOUT ANY WARNING. IT STOPPED SHIFTING WHILE I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AND I HAD TO PULL ONTO THE SHOULDER TO KEEP FROM GETTING HIT BY OTHER CARS PASSING ME AS MY CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I HAD NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS OR EN…

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ON THE WAY TO WORK, MY 2002 HONDA CIVIC SUDDENLY STOPPED SHIFTING GEARS, THEN STOPPED RUNNING ALTOGETHER WITHOUT ANY WARNING. IT STOPPED SHIFTING WHILE I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AND I HAD TO PULL ONTO THE SHOULDER TO KEEP FROM GETTING HIT BY OTHER CARS PASSING ME AS MY CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I HAD NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS OR ENGINE DAMAGE TO THE CAR PRIOR TO THIS POINT AND IT WAS VERY SUDDEN. WHEN I TOWED IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP THEY TOLD ME I WOULD NEED A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION AND WOULD COST ME $4200!!! I AM LOOKING AROUND TO GET A 2ND OPINION AND PRICE AS THAT SEEMS AWFULLY HIGH FOR A TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10345567

2007 model year · 26,200 miles · Jul 27, 2010
Electrical SystemPower Train

2007 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID LOST ELECTRIC MOTOR ASSIST POWER IN MAY 2010 WHEN I WAS DRIVING UP A HILL IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE TRAFFIC. TOOK IT TO HONDA DEALER, WHO CONFIRMED LOW POWER ASSIST AND (WITHOUT CONFERRING WITH ME) REPROGRAMMED THE POWER ASSIST SOFTWARE AND PRONOUNCED IT FIXED. ONE OR TWO DAYS AFTER THIS SERVICE CALL, I AGAIN…

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2007 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID LOST ELECTRIC MOTOR ASSIST POWER IN MAY 2010 WHEN I WAS DRIVING UP A HILL IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE TRAFFIC. TOOK IT TO HONDA DEALER, WHO CONFIRMED LOW POWER ASSIST AND (WITHOUT CONFERRING WITH ME) REPROGRAMMED THE POWER ASSIST SOFTWARE AND PRONOUNCED IT FIXED. ONE OR TWO DAYS AFTER THIS SERVICE CALL, I AGAIN NOTICED WEAK ELECTRIC MOTOR ASSIST ON ANOTHER HILL IN DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC. TOOK THE CAR TO HONDA AGAIN, AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THEY COULD REPLICATE THE ANEMIC POWER CONDITION, BUT SAID THAT HONDA USA SAYS THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS INTENDED WITH THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE UPDATE, AND THAT THERE IS NO MORE TO BE DONE. I SAID THAT I HAD LOST CONFIDENCE IN THE AUTOMOBILE, SINCE I CONSIDER IT A DRIVING HAZARD NOT TO BE ABLE TO ACCELERATE ADEQUATELY IN SOME DRIVING CONDITIONS. I SAID THAT I WANTED HONDA TO BUY BACK THE CAR, BUT THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT HONDA WOULDN'T DO THAT. I HAVE PURCHASED ANOTHER CAR, BUT STILL OWN THE HONDA CIVIC HYBRID; I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT, SINCE I DON'T FEEL GOOD OFFERING IT TO ANYONE OTHER THAN HONDA FOR SALE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10345575

2001 model year · 100,000 miles · Jul 19, 2010
Air BagsElectrical SystemPower Train

MY HORN STOPPED WORKING AND MY SRS LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. THE DEALER ORIGINALLY TOLD ME IT HAD TO DO WITH THE WIRING... COSTING ME $300 WHICH I COULD NOT AFFORD TO REPAIR. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR THE AIR BAG RECALL AND NOW THEY ARE SAYING THE SRS LIGHT IS ON BECAUSE OF A DEFECT IN THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ($200)-…

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MY HORN STOPPED WORKING AND MY SRS LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. THE DEALER ORIGINALLY TOLD ME IT HAD TO DO WITH THE WIRING... COSTING ME $300 WHICH I COULD NOT AFFORD TO REPAIR. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR THE AIR BAG RECALL AND NOW THEY ARE SAYING THE SRS LIGHT IS ON BECAUSE OF A DEFECT IN THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ($200)- BUT WHY WOULD THAT MAKE MY HORN STOP WORKING? THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS AND THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AS THIS IS INCREDIBLY UNSAFE AND OBVIOUSLY WIDESPREAD!!! HONDA ALSO NEEDS TO RECALL THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I HAD FOUGHT THEM AND THEY PAID FOR HALF OF THE REPAIR COSTS WHEN MY TRANSMISSION DANGEROUSLY AND QUICKLY WENT OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC DURING RUSH HOUR ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO. THESE ARE MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES!! UNFORTUNATELY I CANNOT AFFORD THE REPAIRS BUT I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH THE SRS LIGHT ON. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE OF THE SUPPOSED RELIABILITY AND CHEAP MAINTENANCE. IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT HONDA IS NOT TAKING CAR OF THE SRS LIGHT PROBLEM AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEM!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10344009

2003 model year · 122,899 miles · Jul 18, 2010
Power Train

2003 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID PURCHASED AT 66,000 MILES AT 90,359 MILES SLIGHT SHUTTER/JUDDER WHEN MOVING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. HONDA DIAGNOSED (04/08)CVT FOR JUDDER. ADDED ONE START CLUTCH BURNISHING PROCEDURE/ADD TWO START CLUTCH BURNISHING AS A RECALL SERVICE. NOW SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. NOW AT 120,000 MILES EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM …

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2003 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID PURCHASED AT 66,000 MILES AT 90,359 MILES SLIGHT SHUTTER/JUDDER WHEN MOVING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. HONDA DIAGNOSED (04/08)CVT FOR JUDDER. ADDED ONE START CLUTCH BURNISHING PROCEDURE/ADD TWO START CLUTCH BURNISHING AS A RECALL SERVICE. NOW SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. NOW AT 120,000 MILES EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM VEHICLE SLIPS, SHUDDERS ON TAKE OFF FROM FULL STOP. REPAIR WILL BE $1200 TO REPLACE START CLUTCH. WHEN STARTING FROM A DEAD STOP I HOPE THE VEHICLE WILL MOVE. I HAVE TO REALLY PRESS DOWN ON THE GAS PETAL TO GET THE VEHICLE GOING AND I DO THINK THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD WITH MY VEHICLE. HAD THE EGR VALVE CHANGED AT $400 REPAIR(0708). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10343833

2002 model year · 109,300 miles · Jul 14, 2010
Power Train

CAR WAS SLOW TO SHIFT GEARS FOR ABOUT A MONTH. HAD TRANSMISSION FLUSHED. 4 DAYS PRIOR CAR WOULD ACCELERATE WHEN IN THIRD OR FOURTH GEAR WHILE I WAS DRIVING. CAR SLOWED WHILE DRIVING AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. HAD CAR DIAGNOSED AT AAMCO AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SHIFT CONTROL IS GOING BAD CAUSING ME TO LOSE 2ND AND 3RD GEAR AND SINCE …

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CAR WAS SLOW TO SHIFT GEARS FOR ABOUT A MONTH. HAD TRANSMISSION FLUSHED. 4 DAYS PRIOR CAR WOULD ACCELERATE WHEN IN THIRD OR FOURTH GEAR WHILE I WAS DRIVING. CAR SLOWED WHILE DRIVING AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. HAD CAR DIAGNOSED AT AAMCO AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SHIFT CONTROL IS GOING BAD CAUSING ME TO LOSE 2ND AND 3RD GEAR AND SINCE THE SHIFT CONTROL IS IN THE TRANSMISSION THE TRANSMISSION MUST BE REPLACED. 2002 HONDA CIVIC EX WITH 109,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10343370

2001 model year · 145,400 miles · Jul 14, 2010
Power Train

I OWN A 2001 HONDA CIVIC- I HAVE MAINTAINED MY CAR PROPERLY AND HAVE WENT IN FOR ALL SERVICE MAINTENANCE. MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT - ALL OF A SUDDEN- IT STOPPED ON STREET- I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THEY NOW SAY REPAIR BILL IS 3200.00- IS THERE ANY HELP I CAN GET. SAW INFORMATION ON WEBSITE STATING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS CONCERNI…

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I OWN A 2001 HONDA CIVIC- I HAVE MAINTAINED MY CAR PROPERLY AND HAVE WENT IN FOR ALL SERVICE MAINTENANCE. MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT - ALL OF A SUDDEN- IT STOPPED ON STREET- I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THEY NOW SAY REPAIR BILL IS 3200.00- IS THERE ANY HELP I CAN GET. SAW INFORMATION ON WEBSITE STATING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS CONCERNING HONDA 2003 & 2001 HONDA CIVIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10343346

Related Official recalls

3

15V574000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Sep 15, 2015

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Civic vehicles manufactured January 16, 2014, to November 6, 2014 and 2015 Fit vehicles manufactured March 12, 2014, to May 12, 2015. The software settings that control the transmission operation may result in damage to the transmission drive pulley shaft.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the transmission drive pulley shaft is damaged, it may break, and the vehicle may lose acceleration or the front wheels may lock up while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the transmission, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin October 30, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are JU2 (Civic) and JU3(Fit).

94V063000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Apr 10, 1994

A RETAINING CLIP THAT CONNECTS THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE TO THE SHIFT LEVER ACTUATING ROD CAN HAVE INSUFFICIENT RETENTION PRESSURE AND MAY EVENTUALLY COME OFF AFTER REPEATED SHIFT LEVER OPERATION. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE POSITION OF THE SHIFT LEVER MAY NOT MATCH THE ACTUAL TRANSMISSION GEAR POSITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN UNANTICIPATED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AND ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN IMPROVED RETAINING CLIP.

90V163000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Sep 4, 1990

DUE TO AN IMPROPERLY MACHINED INTERNAL SHAFT IN THE TRANSMISSION, THE PAWL MECHANISIM MAY NOT FULLY ENGAGE WHEN TRANSMISSION IS IN THE PARK POSITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: VEHICLE COULD ROLL WHILE THE TRANSMISSION IS IN THE PARKPOSITION AND A CRASH COULD RESULT.

Remedy: INSTALL AN IMPROVED PARKING PAWL SHAFT.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

Related NHTSA investigations

0

No component-matched exact-year investigations in this snapshot.