9.8

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$4,540
Average Mileage:
122,400 miles
Total Complaints:
8 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (4 reports)
  2. replaced transmission (3 reports)
  3. detergent cleaning and fluid replacement (1 reports)
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problem #8

Dec 012016

Civic Hybrid LS

  • Automatic transmission
  • 190,000 miles

Transmission started going at 125,000 miles drove it another 3 years long commute back and forth to work. Expensive to replace rebuilt. Did not know about complaints/problems or recall. Honda dealership did replace the hybrid battery less than 100,000 miles $3000 they paid for even though not under warranty. "Didn't last as long as expected" and "others had battery problems" When I reported noisy transmission "lets look at new cars" No thank you not buying Honda again. After "fixed" now transmission will not engage cold weather.!?!

- Donna H., Signal Mountain, TN, US

problem #7

Sep 232010

Civic Hybrid GX Natural Gas

  • CVT transmission
  • 154,600 miles

This car has a defective transmission. Unknown to me, it came that way from the dealer. A couple Honda Dealerships acknowledged the problem. It first started slipping around 40,000 miles. I had the transmission fluid changed ahead of schedule and the problem went away. This was when they told me of the class action law suit and the recommended fixes. The transmission initially failed at 54,300 miles. Stevens Creek Honda cleaned the transmission with a special detergent and replaced the fluid. They said if the problem came up again before 109,000 miles they would have to ‘burnish’ the transmission.

What I didn’t realize is that the detergent cleaning was a ‘band-aid’ fix so that the dealership could avoid the more costly fixes they were obligated to perform under the terms of the lawsuit. The car performed normally again. I would have the fluid replaced more than normal during service visits. The transmission failed again at 154,600 miles. Now they don’t want to cover the cost because it is no longer under warranty, or covered by the terms of the class action lawsuit. This is essentially fraud. They did a cheap ineffective cleaning in order to avoid an expensive repair they were supposed to do.

I will never buy a Honda again……

Update from Sep 12, 2014:

Also, when the transmission fails, I have almost gotten in a serious accident on the freeway. This is a very dangerous problem.

I will never buy a Honda again……

- Lucas C., Sunnyvale, CA, US

problem #6

Sep 102014

Civic Hybrid HY 4.3L

  • CVT transmission
  • 180,000 miles

I would like to know who to contact as it seems other owners have had this same problem and some of them mentioned a recall. I am truly disappointed in Honda. I love my car and it's how I get to work. I am extremely upset to learn from the mechanic that most of the cars made from 2001-2005 had extensive transmission problems and Honda knew. Can someone let me know what I can do?

- clwentz, Prattsburgh, NY, US

problem #5

Apr 152009

Civic Hybrid GX Natural Gas

  • CVT transmission
  • 40,079 miles

This car has a defective transmission. Unknown to me, it came that way from the dealer. A couple Honda Dealerships acknowledged the problem. It first started slipping around 40,000 miles. I had the transmission fluid changed ahead of schedule and the problem went away. This was when they told me of the class action law suit and the recommended fixes. The transmission initially failed at 54,300 miles. Stevens Creek Honda cleaned the transmission with a special detergent and replaced the fluid. They said if the problem came up again before 109,000 miles they would have to ‘burnish’ the transmission. What I didn’t realize is that the detergent cleaning was a ‘band-aid’ fix so that the dealership could avoid the more costly fixes they were obligated to perform under the terms of the lawsuit. The car performed normally again. I would have the fluid replaced more that normal during service visits. The transmission failed again at 154,600 miles. Now they don’t want to cover the cost because it is now longer under warranty, or covered by the terms of the class action lawsuit. This is essentially fraud. They did a cheap ineffective cleaning in order to avoid and expensive repair they were supposed to do.

I will never buy a Honda again……

Update from Sep 12, 2014: This car has a defective transmission. Unknown to me, it came that way from the dealer. A couple Honda Dealerships acknowledged the problem. It first started slipping around 40,000 miles. I had the transmission fluid changed ahead of schedule and the problem went away. This was when they told me of the class action law suit and the recommended fixes. The transmission initially failed at 54,300 miles. Stevens Creek Honda cleaned the transmission with a special detergent and replaced the fluid. They said if the problem came up again before 109,000 miles they would have to ‘burnish’ the transmission. What I didn’t realize is that the detergent cleaning was a ‘band-aid’ fix so that the dealership could avoid the more costly fixes they were obligated to perform under the terms of the lawsuit. The car performed normally again. I would have the fluid replaced more that normal during service visits. The transmission failed again at 124,700 miles. Now they don’t want to cover the cost because it is now longer under warranty, or covered by the terms of the class action lawsuit. This is essentially fraud. They did a cheap ineffective cleaning in order to avoid and expensive repair they were supposed to do.

Also, when the transmission fails, I have almost gotten in a serious accident on the freeway. This is a very dangerous problem.

I will never buy a Honda again……

- Lucas C., Sunnyvale, CA, US

problem #4

May 152014

Civic Hybrid CVT 1.8L 4 cyl

  • CVT transmission
  • 116,750 miles

Wonder how long the extended warranty might be? Hope I might be still covered.

Update from May 16, 2014: extended warranty only to 75000 miles, needs new cvt for about $ 5000 do not know what to do next.

- Larry S., Bay Point, CA, US

problem #3

Mar 142014

Civic Hybrid

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,000 miles

We bought this car in 2005 because we had heard how wonderful Honda is and how long they last. Two years ago our transmission went out and we took it in to the dealer and they said it was under a recall. They replaced it and now it has died again after a little over two years. There must be some real problems for this to happen again! The dealer told us that you only get one replacement and now it will cost $4,000!

I can't believe that our car is going to the junkyard already!! I'm very disappointed with Honda! We are now wondering if they used a new transmission as a replacement or was it a used one? I would not recommend one of these cars to anyone. We were told that it has something to do with it being a hybrid. That is why we bought it and it turned out to be a bad hybrid!

Update from Mar 18, 2014: We bought this Honda in 2005 and the transmission went out on it. We found out that there was a recall for this, it has something to do with it being a hybrid. They replaced it in 2012.

- Kim W., Boulder, CO, US

problem #2

Mar 132014

Civic Hybrid

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,000 miles

We bought this car in 2005 because we had heard how wonderful Honda is and how long they last. Two years ago our transmission went out and we took it in to the dealer and they said it was under a recall. They replaced it and now it has died again after a little over two years. There must be some real problems for this to happen again! The dealer told us that you only get one replacement and now it will cost $4,000! I can't believe that our car is going to the junkyard already!! I'm very disappointed with Honda! We are now wondering if they used a new transmission as a replacement or was it a used one? I would not recommend one of these cars to anyone. We were told that it has something to do with it being a hybrid. That is why we bought it and it turned out to be a bad hybrid! With a price of $4,000, we can't afford to fix it! No more Hondas in our family!

- Kim W., Boulder, CO, US

problem #1

May 122011

Civic Hybrid

  • CVT transmission
  • 57,500 miles

Son was driving car sitting at a red light. When the light turned green, the car would not move. The engine was still running but the transmission would not engage. We let the car sit over night but the problem remained. The engine would start just fine but the car would not move. We towed the car to a dealership who has initially diagnosed the issue as either a fly wheel problem or possibly the entire transmission has gone bad. The cost of a new transmission is $3200.00 and a new fly wheel will cost over $1200.00. After researching numerous websites, it appears to me that the problem is either the torque converter or the start clutch. Whatever the issue, for this to happen at 57,500 miles is totally ridiculous. I will contact Honda Customer Service and complain like hell.

Update from May 20, 2011: The issue turned out to be a bad transmission. The mechanic found metal all through the flywheel assembly and transmission. The total repair cost was $4100. Good-bye savings! Honda will certainly hear from me today. After reading all the other Honda transmission problems, I don't understand why a recall has not been generated.

- Curtis S., Peyton, CO, US