WHEN STARTING MY CAR, I COULD NOT GET THE AUTO SHIFT SELECTOR TO GO INTO DRIVE. I HAD TO USE THE KEY TO UNLOCK THE SHIFT LOCK... IT IS IN THE HONDA SHOP AT THIS TIME. *JB
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.
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 reportsNOTICED SUDDEN TUGGING ON DAY OF INCIDENT WHEN CAR HIT 20 MPH, WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, AND AFTER GETTING OFF OF HIGHWAY, CAR SUDDENLY STALLED AT A RED LIGHT. I TURNED VEHICLE OFF FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES TO SEE IF IT WOULD MOVE, BUT NO SUCH LUCK. THE ENGINE WAS WORKING FINE, BUT THE TIRES GAVE OUT COMPLETELY @ 73K MILES. I …
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NOTICED SUDDEN TUGGING ON DAY OF INCIDENT WHEN CAR HIT 20 MPH, WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, AND AFTER GETTING OFF OF HIGHWAY, CAR SUDDENLY STALLED AT A RED LIGHT. I TURNED VEHICLE OFF FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES TO SEE IF IT WOULD MOVE, BUT NO SUCH LUCK. THE ENGINE WAS WORKING FINE, BUT THE TIRES GAVE OUT COMPLETELY @ 73K MILES. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC, AND HE STATED IT WAS P0730 AS LISTED IN HONDA CIVIC 01 TSB. MECHANIC SAID I NEEDED TO REPLACE TRANNY. SINCE IT IS COSTLY I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, HAD THE CAR DIAGNOSED AND NOW THEY ASK FOR $2100 FOR A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. I HAVE NOW CONTACTED HONDA ZONE AND AMERICAN HONDA FOR GOODWILL ASSISTANCE SINCE THESE VEHICLES ARE KNOWN TO HAVE BAD TRANSMISSIONS, RECEIVED A CASE NUMBER AND HOPEFULLY MATTERS WILL BE SOLVED, SINCE VEHICLE IS OUT OF THE 36K MILE WARRANTY PERIOD. DO NOTE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW FROM LOT AND ALL MAINTENANCE RECORDS ARE UP TO DATE. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OR INDICATIONS OF SUCH MALFUNCTION, AND I WAS PUT IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE A SAFETY RECALL. *JB
I HAVE A 2001 HONDA CIVIC. STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, MY DAUGHTER PROCEEDED WHEN TRAFFIC CLEARED. STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD INTO THE INTERSECTION, THEN SUDDENLY LOST POWER TO THE WHEELS. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING FINE, BUT WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS PUSHED DOWN, THE ENGINE REVVED BUT NO POWER WAS TRANSFE…
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I HAVE A 2001 HONDA CIVIC. STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, MY DAUGHTER PROCEEDED WHEN TRAFFIC CLEARED. STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD INTO THE INTERSECTION, THEN SUDDENLY LOST POWER TO THE WHEELS. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING FINE, BUT WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS PUSHED DOWN, THE ENGINE REVVED BUT NO POWER WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE WHEELS. THE CAR ROLLED VERY SLOWLY INTO THE INTERSECTION AND HAD TO BE PUSHED OFF THE ROADWAY. MY DAUGHTER WAS LUCKY THE ON COMING TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND THE ONCOMING CARS WERE ABLE TO AVOID HER. THE CAUSE:A SHOT TRANNY. SINCE THIS HAPPENED, I HAVE READ SO MANY SIMILAR INCIDENTS WITH HONDA CARS. IT SEEMS THIS PROBLEM RUNS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE LINE OF HONDA AUTOMOBILES. THIS CAR HAS ONLY 81,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS HAD SCHEDULED MAINTENANCES PERFORMED REGULARLY. I HEARD HONDA HAS EXTENDED ITS WARRANTIES TO 100,000 FOR CERTAIN VEHICLES THAT THEY MAKE WITH THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM, BUT THEY DO NOT INCLUDE THE CIVIC. MAYBE IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS, AND THE INFAMOUS HONDA "RELIABILITY" THEY SHOULD INCLUDE THE CIVIC. PEOPLE PAY MORE FOR HONDAS, I THINK I'LL GO TOYOTA NEXT TIME. *JB
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…
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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. THE CAR HAD 2113 MILES ON IT AND EVEN THE POLICE COMMENTED THAT IN HER TWELVE YEARS ON THE FORCE SHE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING SO STRANGE AS THIS. THERE ARE TWO SOLID BLACK LINES THAT SHOW WHERE THE SKID STARTED IN THE CENTER OF THE LANE ENDING AT THE GUARDRAIL. BOTH TIRES ARE TORN UP AND MELTED IN ONE SPOT. THE ROADS WERE DRY, NO TRAFFIC, NOTHING IN THE ROAD. THE TRANSMISSION JUST LOCKED UP SOLID, CAUSING A NEAR FATAL ACCIDENT. I CONTACTED THE HONDA CORPORATION @ 800-999-1009 AND THE DEALER BANKSTON HONDA OF LEWISVILLE TX @ 866-507-6355. HONDA SAID IT WAS AN INSURANCE PROBLEM, BANKSTON REFERRED ME BACK TO HONDA. FINALLY HONDA SAID THEY WOULD COME OUT AND TAKE PICTURES "ONLY" CAR WOULD NOT BE MOVED. THE DAY THEY WERE TO COME OUT AND TAKE PICTURE THEY SAID "DUE TO SAFETY REASONS THE CAR NEEDED TO BE TAKEN TO BANKSTON HONDA TO TAKE PICTURES, BREAKING OUR AGREEMENT. WE HID THE CAR AND ARE SEEKING LEGAL MEANS AS OUR INSURANCE IS HAVING TO PAYOUT DUE TO A DEFECT. I HAVE A CASE AT HONDA #[XXX]. THE POLICE REPORT IS FILED IN FORT WORTH TX, LOC.05148069 AND OUR WITNESS SAID SHE WOULD GLADLY TESTIFY WHAT HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE VIN# IS [XXX]. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
FOR THE PAST MONTH OR SO, THE TRANSMISSION MADE A HIGH PITCHED NOISE WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE VEHICLE IS WARMED UP THE NOISE WOULD GO AWAY. NOISE BECAME LOUDER WITH TIME. INITIALLY NOTICED TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WHEN VEHICLE WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN DRIVE WHEN SHIFTED FROM PARK. WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THERE …
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FOR THE PAST MONTH OR SO, THE TRANSMISSION MADE A HIGH PITCHED NOISE WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE VEHICLE IS WARMED UP THE NOISE WOULD GO AWAY. NOISE BECAME LOUDER WITH TIME. INITIALLY NOTICED TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WHEN VEHICLE WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN DRIVE WHEN SHIFTED FROM PARK. WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THERE WAS A DELAY IN ACCELERATION. TOOK VEHICLE TO A REPUTABLE HONDA SPECIALIST WHO STATED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED!!! THE ESTIMATE FOR REPLACEMENT WITH A RE-MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION IS $2,500... OUCH!THE VEHICLE IS MAINTAINED ON REGULAR BASIS AND ONLY HAS 63,000 MILES ON IT. SO MUCH FOR THE INFAMOUS HONDA RELIABILITY AND DURABILITY. AND TO THINK THAT THE WIFE AND I WERE CONSIDERING BUYING A HONDA MINIVAN!*JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED IN THE DRIVE GEAR AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO CHANGE GEARS BY TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTING IT. WHEN THE SHIFTER WAS PUT INTO PARK THE INDICATOR WAS STILL IN DRIVE. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISS…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED IN THE DRIVE GEAR AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO CHANGE GEARS BY TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTING IT. WHEN THE SHIFTER WAS PUT INTO PARK THE INDICATOR WAS STILL IN DRIVE. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL. WHEN IT STALLED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN CONTACTED. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 02-083 WAS ISSUED FOR THE PROBLEM BUT …
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DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL. WHEN IT STALLED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN CONTACTED. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 02-083 WAS ISSUED FOR THE PROBLEM BUT THE DEALER REQUESTED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE BEFORE THEY WOULD USE THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO FIX THE PROBLEM . *AK UPDATED 1/11/2006. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MOSTLY AT LOW ALTITUDES IN THE SUMMER WITH THE A/C ON. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WHEN IN NEUTRAL IN DANGEROUS AND HE THINKS THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED. *NM
I HAVE A HONDA CIVIC DX 1998, WITH 60000 MILES NOW PRESENTING WITH A FAILED TRANSMISSION. SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THAT VERY SAME COMPLAINT RESULTED IN NO PROBLEMS DETECTED WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM BEGAN TWO DAYS AFTER THE MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY EXPIRED. *JB
OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAS REPEATEDLY DISENGAGED, POPPING OUT OF GEAR DURING OPERATION. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPEATEDLY SERVICED, BUT PROBLEMS CONTINUALLY RECUR. RECURRING SYMPTOMS: POPPING OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL,STICKING WHEN TRYING TO PUT IT INTO GEAR, SQUEAKING DURING SHIFT, AND SQUEAKING C…
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OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAS REPEATEDLY DISENGAGED, POPPING OUT OF GEAR DURING OPERATION. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPEATEDLY SERVICED, BUT PROBLEMS CONTINUALLY RECUR. RECURRING SYMPTOMS: POPPING OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL,STICKING WHEN TRYING TO PUT IT INTO GEAR, SQUEAKING DURING SHIFT, AND SQUEAKING CLUTCH PEDAL. *JB
ON THE EXPRESSWAY THE CAR WOULD NOT GO OUT OF 1ST GEAR THEN WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS AT ALL, IT WAS LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD. IT HAD TO BE TOWED AND THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. IT WAS A HONDA CIVIC EX 2003 FROM RICK ROUSCHE HONDA. *JB
Related Official recalls
315V574000 · 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
0No component-matched exact-year investigations in this snapshot.