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
1998 model year · Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 2004
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REP…

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WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED 6 TIMES. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #10088053

2002 model year · Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10091846

2001 model year · 44,000 miles · Sep 1, 2004
Power Train

I DRIVE A 2001 HONDA CIVIC LX WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION. ONE DAY I WAS STANDING AT A LIGHT WAITING TO TAKE A LEFT TURN. AS THE LIGHT CHANGED AND THE TRAFFIC STARTED TO MOVE, I SPED UP AND SHIFTED TO 2ND GEAR.*AK AS I ENTERED THE INTERSECTION, SUDDENLY THE GEAR SLIPPED AND SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. AND THE CAR DID NOT MOVE UNDER…

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I DRIVE A 2001 HONDA CIVIC LX WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION. ONE DAY I WAS STANDING AT A LIGHT WAITING TO TAKE A LEFT TURN. AS THE LIGHT CHANGED AND THE TRAFFIC STARTED TO MOVE, I SPED UP AND SHIFTED TO 2ND GEAR.*AK AS I ENTERED THE INTERSECTION, SUDDENLY THE GEAR SLIPPED AND SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. AND THE CAR DID NOT MOVE UNDER ACCELERATION. I QUICKLY SHIFTED BACK INTO FIRST AND SPED AWAY. I HAVE SINCE FOUND THAT THIS IS A FREQUENTLY OCCURING PROBLEM. I AM VERY CAREFUL WHEN I AM AT AN INTERSECTION OR TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC ON A HIGHWAY FROM AN ENTRY RAMP. I FOUND THAT THIS IS BECAUSE OF A MALFUCTION IN THE TRANSMISSION AND THE BUSHES TO THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION CABLE. HONDA HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. BUT I THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS HAZARD BECAUSE THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN YOU ARE AT LOW SPEEDS IN SECOND GEAR AND TRYING TO ACCELERATE. CAUSES PROBLEMS AT INTERSECTIONS, YIELD SIGNS AND EXIT RAMPS. HIGHWAY ON RAMPS IS A PLACE TO CONSISTENTLY DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AS YOU TRY TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. I CHECKED WITH OTHER OWNERS OF MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. AN ACQUAINTANCE WHO BOUGHT THE CAR IN THE SAME QUARTER ALSO REPORTS THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR MORE INFO ABOUT SERVICE BULLETIN

NHTSA ODI #10088965

2004 model year · 20 miles · Aug 23, 2004
Power Train

PURCHASED NEW 2004 HONDA CIVIC EX 2DR COUPE - SURGES FORWARD AND JOLTS YOU AT LOW SPEED (WHILE SLOWING DOWN). HAPPENS MOSTLY WHEN DESCENDING DOWN HILLS. VERY EXTREME IF UNDER THE LOAD OF THE AC. THE JOLT IS VERY DISTRACTING AND SCARY. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS IT IS NORMAL AND PART OF THE GRADE LOGIC.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10088419

2001 model year · 68,888 miles · Aug 3, 2004
Power Train

THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS. THE BEGINNING OF JUNE I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. I CONTACTED THE DEALER (HONDA INTERNATIONAL) WEST ROXBURY,MA AND I WAS TOLD THAT MY TRANSMISSION WAS ONLY COVERED UNDER THE BASIC 3YR WARRANTY. I AM NO LONG…

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THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS. THE BEGINNING OF JUNE I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. I CONTACTED THE DEALER (HONDA INTERNATIONAL) WEST ROXBURY,MA AND I WAS TOLD THAT MY TRANSMISSION WAS ONLY COVERED UNDER THE BASIC 3YR WARRANTY. I AM NO LONGER COVERED UNDER THE 3 YR. WARRANTY BECAUSE I AM OVER THE MILEAGE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE SO FAR TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I TOOK MY CAR TO TWO MECHANICS AND I WAS TOLD THAT MY TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE COVERED LONGER THAN 3 YRS AND MY TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE GOOD UP UNTIL AT LEAST 150,000. BEFORE NEEDING SERVICE IF REQUIRED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10086070

2004 model year · 12,000 miles · Jul 24, 2004
Power Train

ON MY HONDA CIVIC EX MODEL WITH THE MANUAL DRIVETRAIN, THE DRIVETRAIN WILL MAKE A GRINDING NOISE, WHILE SHIFTING INTO 3RD GEAR AT 4000 RPM'S OR HIGHER. I BROUGHT MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS FIXED, NOW 8,000 MILES LATER, I'M HAVING A REACURRING PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10082591

2001 model year · 8,000 miles · Jul 23, 2004
Power Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLOOR SHIFT HANDLE DISCONNECTED WHILE SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL FROM A PARKED POSITION. VEHICLE AT THE DEALER WAITING ON THE REPLACEMENT PART. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10083559

2001 model year · 60,000 miles · Jul 19, 2004
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH TRANSMISSION FAILED. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10083203

2001 model year · 55,000 miles · Jul 15, 2004
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10082057

2001 model year · 28,000 miles · Jul 15, 2004
Power Train

VEHICLE HAS UNSAFE STARTS WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS COLD. WHEN CHANGING GEARS FROM PARK TO DRIVE VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD. AN UPDATED CLUTCH ASSEMBLY IS BEING INSTALLED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE FOR THE WORK. CONSUMER IS MEETING WITH THE HONDA REPRESENTATIVE ON APRIL 30, 2004. *AK AFTER THE MEE…

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VEHICLE HAS UNSAFE STARTS WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS COLD. WHEN CHANGING GEARS FROM PARK TO DRIVE VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD. AN UPDATED CLUTCH ASSEMBLY IS BEING INSTALLED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE FOR THE WORK. CONSUMER IS MEETING WITH THE HONDA REPRESENTATIVE ON APRIL 30, 2004. *AK AFTER THE MEETING WITH THE REPRESENTATIVE THE DECISION WAS MADE TO TRADE THE VEHICLE IN BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RELIABLE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10071253

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.