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
1999 model year · Mileage unknown · Aug 4, 1999
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING UPHILL, STOPPED AT A LIGHT. GOT READY TO PULL OFF, AND VEHICLE POPPED OUT OF DRIVE INTO REVERSE.CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #844331

1999 model year · Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 1999
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING IN LOW SPEED VEHICLE POPPED OUT OF GEAR, AND CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THE BRAKES WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #841169

1996 model year · Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 1999
Power Train

NO SIMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #707836

1998 model year · Mileage unknown · Jun 14, 1999
Electrical SystemPower TrainUnknown Or Other

INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS, WITH CENTERAL COMPUTER CONTORL, BATTERY SOMETIMES COMPLETELY DRAINS, SOMETIMES DOES NOT, TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE SOMETIMES , DEALER UNCOOPERATIVE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #707543

1998 model year · Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 1999
Power Train

VEHICLE HAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WITH THE TRANSMISSION. HONDA ADMITS THAT THERE IS NO FIX FOR SAFTEY PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #704652

1998 model year · Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 1999
Power Train

OWNERS INSPECTION OF DISASSEMBLED TRANSMISSIN REVEALS THAT REVERSE SHIFT FORK HAD BEEN RIDING ON REVERSE GEAR, APPARENTLY CAUSING PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT DURING VEHICLE OPERATION IN ANY MODE. METALLIC PARTICLES FROM DISINTEGRATING GEAR DAMAGED STUB AXLE AT OUTER BEARING AREA. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVES DISPUTE THIS. …

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OWNERS INSPECTION OF DISASSEMBLED TRANSMISSIN REVEALS THAT REVERSE SHIFT FORK HAD BEEN RIDING ON REVERSE GEAR, APPARENTLY CAUSING PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT DURING VEHICLE OPERATION IN ANY MODE. METALLIC PARTICLES FROM DISINTEGRATING GEAR DAMAGED STUB AXLE AT OUTER BEARING AREA. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVES DISPUTE THIS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #703545

1998 model year · Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 1999
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO SURGE.

NHTSA ODI #543940

1998 model year · Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Power Train

ELECRICAL TRANSMISSION CONNECTOR FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #609903

1998 model year · Mileage unknown · Jan 26, 1999
Power Train

SINCE THE DAY WE BOUGHT IT, THE TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY JERKED (SOMETIMES VIOLENTLY) WHEN DOWNSHIFTING, ESPECIALLY AROUND 40 MPH. IT ALSO DOWNSHIFTED AT ODD TIMES, LIKE GOING DOWN HILLS. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER ON 12/12 & THEY REPORTED "NO PROBLEM FOUND." ON DEC 27 THE ENGINE MADE LOTS OF NOISE BUT HAD LITTLE SPEED &…

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SINCE THE DAY WE BOUGHT IT, THE TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY JERKED (SOMETIMES VIOLENTLY) WHEN DOWNSHIFTING, ESPECIALLY AROUND 40 MPH. IT ALSO DOWNSHIFTED AT ODD TIMES, LIKE GOING DOWN HILLS. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER ON 12/12 & THEY REPORTED "NO PROBLEM FOUND." ON DEC 27 THE ENGINE MADE LOTS OF NOISE BUT HAD LITTLE SPEED & MY FAMILY HAD TO DRIVE THE HANDICAPPED CAR THE SHORT DISTANCE HOME. THE DEALER SAID THE COMPUTER REPORTED THAT THE TRANSMISSION RATION WAS WRONG. THEY SAID THE MORE THEY WORKED ON IT, THE WORSE IT BECAME. THEY COULDN'T FIX IT EVEN WITH THE HELP OF HONDA EXPERTS, SO THEY INTENDED TO REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. UNFORTUNATELY, THE DEALER WRECKED THE CAR & THEY HAVE HAD THE CAR A MONTH. WE WANT A NEW CAR BECAUSE WE DON'T TRUST THE RELIABILITY OF THE CAR BUT HONDA & THE DEALER AREN'T COOPERATING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #702628

1997 model year · Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 1998
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicCrash

BRAKES FAILED TO STOP CAR AS IT WAS COMING TO A HALT, ROLLING FORWARD AT ABOUT 2MPH. BRAKE PEDAL WAS FLOORED, TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO PARK, AND ENGINE TURNED OFF...STILL KEPT ROLLING FORWARD, AS IF BEING PUSHED. ONLY THING NOT TRIED WAS EMERGENCY BRAKE. ENDED UP HITTING CAR IN FRONT ON BOTH INCIDENTS. ROAD WAS DRY THE FIRS…

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BRAKES FAILED TO STOP CAR AS IT WAS COMING TO A HALT, ROLLING FORWARD AT ABOUT 2MPH. BRAKE PEDAL WAS FLOORED, TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO PARK, AND ENGINE TURNED OFF...STILL KEPT ROLLING FORWARD, AS IF BEING PUSHED. ONLY THING NOT TRIED WAS EMERGENCY BRAKE. ENDED UP HITTING CAR IN FRONT ON BOTH INCIDENTS. ROAD WAS DRY THE FIRST TIME, WET THE SECOND. CRUISE CONTROL NOT ON IN EITHER INCIDENT. HONDA MECHANIC COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS.

NHTSA ODI #701386

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.