10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
83,681 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2001 Honda Civic:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #29

Jun 102004

Civic

  • 60,000 miles
While driving 20 mph transmission failed. Consumer had the vehicle towed. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.

- Tewksbury, MA, USA

problem #28

Jul 122004

Civic

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,000 miles
While driving 50 mph, the transmission failed without warning. As a result the vehicle would not accelerate. Please provide additional information.

- Riverside, CA, USA

problem #27

Apr 262004

(reported on)

Civic

  • 27,500 miles
This vehicle has had three transmissions installed. The vehicle shakes when braking, and when it is at a complete stop.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #26

Feb 152004

Civic 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 53,297 miles
While driving, the transmission failed, which caused the driver to pull off the highway. The driver had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The vehicle stopped in the middle of the street when the problem first occurred. The problem also recurred and have been fixed on two occasions, however the problem remained the same.

- Orange, CA, USA

problem #25

Nov 302001

Civic 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 24,000 miles
While the vehicle was in reverse the vehicle suddenly accelerated forward and jumped the parking barrier. The vehicle then went down an embankment and only stopped after hitting a wooden piling. The dealer replaced the transmission because it was slipping. After the transmission was replaced the consumer noticed that the vehicle would drift backwards while on an incline. The dealer indicated that the transmission was operating as designed.

- Arnold, MD, USA

problem #24

Aug 182003

Civic

  • 60,000 miles
When driving at low speeds without warning transmission would slip gears.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #23

Oct 201999

Civic 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 3,000 miles
The vehicle rolls backwards when on a slight incline when in drive. It is an automatic not a standard shift!

- Burlison, TN, USA

problem #22

Mar 202003

Civic

  • miles
While on a hill the vehicle rolled backwards although the automatic transmission was engaged in drive. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but they were unable to duplicate the problem.

- Burlison, TN, USA

problem #21

Dec 072002

Civic

  • miles
The vehicle shut down and will not restart. Please fill in additional information. Dealer is aware of the problem.

- Colton, CA, USA

problem #20

Nov 262002

Civic 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 13,000 miles
I have the same complaint as #010302, 8014926 & 746038. My car is making a loud buzzing, vibration around the gear shift area when it gets wet underneath. Beaverton Honda swears it is water boiling off of the catalytic converter, but that wouldn't explain why the noise is louder as you accelerate. I have a young child in the car with me and this noise is distracting you cannot hear anything inside the car when it happens. I have nearly had a wreck when this happens because you are afraid to step on the gas at all.

- Cornelius, OR, USA

problem #19

Jul 102001

Civic 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
I have a 2001 Honda Civic hx with the cvt transmission. At 14,533 miles the transmission started to slip while on the freeway. It would loose power and the revolutions would go way up, the check engine light came on and the "D" light on the shift indicator started to flash. When I took it in to the dealer they did a "3 time flush of the transmission per bulletin" and sent me on my way. Well at approximately 15,000 miles it started to malfunction again, same signs and symptons as the first time. The dealers solution was to replace the transmission. This process took about a month during wich time I was provided a rental car. There is more, on 01/17/03 the car is now at 40,000 miles and experiencing the same problems with the transmission. The car was taken to the dealer on 01/18/03 and I am waiting for their diagnosis. Thankfully I was able to exit the freeway safely all 3 times without having caused any accidents.

- Fontana, CA, USA

problem #18

Sep 302002

Civic

  • miles
The transmission failure is not specific to the date that I have reported. However, I noticed the problem start at 15000 miles. This was the first time. The dealer informed there was no problem with the transmission. I returned twice with same probllem. The dealership performed "some procedures" to correct the problem. The vehicle was running fine after that. The problem returned around 33000 miles. The problem was again the same: Whining noice on acceration, trasmission lagging, not moving immediately when shifted to drive and accerator depressed. Also the transmission would started to act up going on gradual inclines, I.e. as if it was slipping back and forth. I returned to dealership where they performed another similar procedure as before. Problem seemed to have gone away. The problem came back again at around 40 K. now my warranty had expired. Hoehn Honda in carlsbad is the same dealer I have been taking this vehicle in for service since day one. The service department advised me they would request a new transmission and that they would ask for approval from Honda to have it covered under waranty. It was approved and new transmission installed. The vehicle ran fine for three to four months and now the problem reccured. I have discussed this situation with customer service at Honda usa. Now I am on my third transmission in my 2001 Civic.! Honda usa has advised me there is no problem with this type of transmission (continuous variable transmission), and that there have been no recalls at all. The third transmission was installed by cush Honda in san diego since the car stalled close to that dealership. Today I have approximately 58000 miles on my 2001 Civic and the transmission problem has returned. I have not yet called the dealer. This is my commuter car and I drive this vehicle approx 600 miles a week. I request your help. The dealerships have been helpful with trying to solve my car problems, I believe there is a defect with the cv transmission.thank you.

- Oceanside, CA, USA

problem #17

Nov 302002

Civic 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 24,000 miles
When consumer shifted the gears, the engine surged and vehicle suddenly accelerated, resulting in a collision, consumer applied brakes hard, but car would not stop. Related recall 01V329000, consumer's V.I.N. not included. Ts upon impact the air bags did not deploy. It is also noted that the technican experienced the same condition when entering the vehicle to be serviced. It was determined that the transmission was faulty. Consumer sustained minor injuries and there was front end damage....

- Arnold, MD, USA

problem #16

Nov 132002

(reported on)

Civic

  • miles
The variable transmission (cvt) equipped in my 2001 Honda Civic hx produces a rumbling sound at low rpms (approx. 1500 RPM). This problem has been noticed by other 2001+ Civic hx cvt owners. The problem has been discussed on an internet site for Civic hx cars (groups.yahoo.com/group/hondacivichxcvt). a couple people reported the problem to Honda and some took their car in to get the cvt problem "fixed". the procedure to fix the problem consists of flushing the cvt 3-6 times. The problem is usually resolved after flushing but in some cases the problem returns later. I have encouraged my fellow hx owners to report this problem as every one of us (2001 and 2002 hx cvt owners) have reported this problem.

- Medford, MA, USA

problem #15

Sep 232002

(reported on)

Civic

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Automatic transmission shifts suddenly or will down shift with erratic performance. Automatic transmission will shift slowly. Dealership was not able to duplicate the failure and returned vehicle.

- Marblehead, OH, USA

problem #14

Oct 232001

Civic

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
When vehicle is at a stop with an incline, the vehicle will roll back, consumer has to hold both brake and accelerator to avoid sliding back. Also, tires will then make spinning noise/screeching.

- Jamaica Plain, MA, USA

problem #13

May 072002

(reported on)

Civic

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
When putting vehicle in gear, vehicle will disengage out of gear when accelerating. Goes from second to neutral. Dealer contacted. Please add VIN.

- Levittown, NY, USA

problem #12

Jul 192001

Civic

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Car pops out of 2nd gear when down shifting from either 3rd/4th gear for no reason at all. I have taken the car back several times to two different Honda dealers & they can't fixed the problem if they can't duplicate it. I've written to the Honda dealer Consumer Affairs in California. They have provided me with a rental car at their expense on two occasions, but the car hasn't been fixed yet. Again, I have another appointment to have the car looked at. I've been to the dealer for this problem 6 times, 3 of which are within the last month & a half. Car is still popping out of 2nd gear. I've had two other private mechanics drive the car, & guess what it popped out of 2nd gear for them. Honda doesn't want to fix the problem period!

- Stratford, NJ, USA

problem #11

Dec 012001

Civic

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Within the 2nd month of owning this car I took the car in for servicing and asked them to look a reverse because it was poping out of gear. I was told "Honda are notorious for reverse to be popping out of gear and to just put the stick in 1 and then move hard to the reverse gear. This problem was never even documented. A few months later a few ticks after 36000 miles and maybe even before the transmission was popping out of second. I thought and was told by miller Honda that it would be covered. Later it was dicovered that it wouldn't be covered. I am trying to fight this. If I wouldn't have had the problem with reverse and it wasn't a few tick marks past the 36000 miles and all my miles are highway miles (600 miles a week) and the fact that I do not drive the car hard. I just think its a manufacturing or part defect and it is not anything I did.

- Front Royal, VA, USA

problem #10

Oct 232001

Civic

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
When vehicle is at a stop with an incline, the vehicle will roll back, consumer has to hold both brake and accelerator to avoid sliding back. Also, tires will then make spinning noise/screeching.

- Jamaica Plain, MA, USA

Read the next 9 complaints »