Complete Transmission failure: The transmission went out quick, I noticed one day that my 2001 Honda Civic ex was starting to take a little time to catch and get in gear; I decided right then and there that I’m going to the mechanic. I went home parked the civic in the driveway; the next day I started the car and was on my way to the mechanic. I got no more than a mile and half down the rode and needed a tow truck. The mechanic advised me that the transmission at 109,000 miles is done, I will need a new one, and it will be about $3000 dollars. I couldn’t believe it, not a “HONDA”; they go at least another 100,000 to 150,000 miles without needing some type of major work… and it usual not transmission work.

This was my fourth Honda, and I was in love with these cars, Honda’s make the best and most reliable cars on the rode. But, per what I have now read on line, and from what mechanics at 4 different transmission shops have told me (I shopped around for a good deal), the Honda’s right after the year 2000 have been prone to transmission failures. I was stunned and now I’m pissed! One of the mechanics I went to laughed and said to me, “If you want me to replace the trannie no problem, you’ll be my 4th civic trannie replacement this month.” And let me tell you this, it was the beginning of the month!

I cant believe I am saying this because I used to be such an advocate for Honda vehicles and their reliability, but after this year (2011) I might sell that Honda and buy a Hyundai or even a Ford car. Again I can’t believe I am saying this, but Hyundai’s and Ford’s reviews and reliability ratings on their newer vehicles have been excellent. I guess the new Honda is now the old Hyundai or GM. I’m 35 years old, I will most likely be buying some more cars before I get too old and too gray to drive any more, but until then, you wont see me in a Honda.

Yours Truly,

Pissed off 2001 Honda Civic owner

This is my dougther´s car. We have had the vehicle for almost 4 years with dealer services, excelent care. Everything was running just fine, no major problems, just oil changes, brakes, etc. and suddenly during rush hour in one of the most heavy traffic freeways the car just stop running with my daughter driving. No previous symptoms nor minor failures, no alerts nor flashes in the dashboard. It happens to be the transmission, it blow out. Had to repair. $1500. What fiasco for a Honda with 60K of use.

Paid $7,000+ for this car less than a year ago and now the transmission is shot. Was locking up while driving and had to shut car off and hope it would go upon restarting. Finally pulled tranny to find out the insides were shot and it needs replaced. Have not been able to locate a reasonably-priced used or rebuilt transmission to replace it. It's a shame I have a car that isn't even paid for yet and I can't drive or even get fixed. Last Honda I'll be purchasing unless they step-up to the plate to at least help get it fixed.

Just bought this car in 11/2010, and after all the maintenece including brand new tires, brakes, cv boot, timing belt, struts, you name it, my tranny failed OUT OF NOWHERE!!!!!! When I bought the car, I was somewhat aware of this issue (bought the car for $4100, had 69k miles), and I thought to myself, if I do extra maintenece on the transmission, it might be OKAY. Well, here it is, same ole story as the rest of us, it just stopped one day without any warnings. ( 6 days after AAMCO did oil change..... WOW!)

Lucky, I was just on the streets, not freeway, but the amount of panic I had = priceless $$. I am not the original owner, so I don't think I can talk to honda for "goodwill". Amount of money I will be spending to fix it (quoted $1200 from non-dealer, 2yr warranty), I am still in dillemma to fix it or not, since the car has more things to fix from now on.

If there is ever a class-action suit, I AM IN!

On May 6, 2011, my car began to have a hard time shifting into 3rd gear. ( have an automatic so this was very unusual. ( Three weeks ago Crown Honda dealership had replaced my timing belt as a required maintenance along with replacing other belts, camshaft seals, crankshaft seal 4 tires, water pump and a oil change and filter. This cost me $1300.00) Now, my car makes a racing noise each time I take off from a red light. Finally after this happening about three red lights the car races again but hardly moves. I hardly made it off the road because I was in heavy traffic. Called a tow and had it towed to crown Honda dealership. They said in all probability it is the transmission but will work on it tomorrow (a Saturday). Called and I got the run a round but they told me the same thing that it probably is the transmission and could cost anywhere from $3000. to $5000. Told them not to take it apart and had it towed to another place to have it fixed. The new service station said that it would cost around 2600. because the transmission was burned out and the torque converter also has to be replaced. It is now being fixed as we speak. DID THIS HAPPEN BECAUSE THE HONDA SERVICE TOOK APART MY CAR TO REPLACE THE TIMING BELT 3 WEEKS AGO....OR.... IS THIS A SAFETY ISSUE AS I AM HEARING WITH THE 2001 HONDA CIVIC AND WHAT CAN I DO TO BE COMPENSATED????? Should I get a new car or keep it. Everyone told me that Honda will last to at least 200,000 miles easily, but look what happened!!

HELLO FELLOW JUNK OWNERS.....WARNING......2001 CIVIC EX AUTO TRANSMISSION IS JUNK....I REPLACED MY HONDA AUTO TRANSMISSION THAT FAILED APPROX 70,000 MILES WITH A USED 2001 CIVIC EX TRANSMISSION FROM A 3,000 MILE TOTALED CAR THAT WAS TOTALED DUE TO HAIL DAMAGE ...130,000 MILES ON CAR NOW AND TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 60,000 MILES-APPROX SAME MILEAGE AS FIRST TRANSMISSION FAILURE--- IN CASE THE IDEA THAT IT COULD BE THAT THIS SECOND FAILURE AT 130,000 MILES WAS DEFINITELY NOT DUE TO THIS BEING A USED TRANSMISSION BEING THE ONLY DAMAGE TO DONOR CAR WAS FROM HAIL .... I SPENT $1400 USED TRANNY AS I FIGURED THE FIRST FAILURE WAS JUST BAD LUCK AND THAT I AM A MECHANIC AND HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM TIL THE SECOND FAILURE..

.3 HONDA DEALERS SERVICE DEPTS I CALLED SAY THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM....BS...I WILL NEVER EVER BUY ANOTHER HONDA AND WILL TELL EVERY HUMAN I COME IN CONTACT WITH THAT THEY DO NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS WHEN THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM !!!!!!!!...

I'M GOING TO COMPLETELY DISMANTLE AND SEE IF I CAN FIND CAUSE OF FAILURE WITH MY BUDDY WHO IS TOP NOTCH TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST AND I MAY REPORT BACK AFTER I FIND OUT....ALSO THIS CAR WAS ONLY DRIVEN BY MY WIFE WHO DRIVES IT VERY GENTLY AND OVER 60% OF THE MILEAGE WAS HIGHWAY ONLY TRIPS

It seems unusual for a 2001 Honda Civic with 72k miles to have significant transmission issues as to need a total replacement. The car only averaged 600 miles a month. After researching the internet, it appears that there have been a significant number of complaints from other owners of 2001 Honda Civic owners regarding their transmissions. Two class action suits against Honda resulted in recalls and replacements of several Honda models surrounding the year 2001. I feel since there have been a significant number of complaints regarding the "same" transmission issue, Honda should uphold their integrity and replace and/or correct the 2001 Civic transmission issues at their cost, especially on vehicles with less than 100k miles.

Being out of work for a while, I have decided to pursue a new career - transmission shop owner/rebuilder - specializing in 2001 Honda civics. There certainly is plenty of business out there and I won't have to wait for rebate money from Honda, cause there ain't none!!! Since this model in 9 to 10 years old, they all will begin to fail soon, regardless of the mileage.There must be thousands of unlucky owners out there deciding to junk or rebuild or unload their "pride and joy". Look, I know it's just a machine and machines break. But if so many of us have the same thing happening to our rides at about the same age/mileage, it's a pretty good time for a recall. Is there a pile of new Defective transmissions in some huge parts warehouse just waiting to get shipped. Well, I sure don't want one - it's like fixing a window with a piece of cracked glass!! A sucker punch always hurts more. Shame on the Mighty Honda Motor Co. for making this crap and not standing behind it when if falls.

I bought this car one year old with 12,000 miles on it. A month ago the transmission began to slip...with only 59,000 miles on it!! I brought it to my local shop and they said it had failed. They had the transmission re-built; total cost $2760. I did some research when it was in being repaired and found out this is a HUGE problem for this year model/make. I did call Honda customer service, and they recorded the complaint, but that is all they will do. They said if I had taken it to a Honda dealership to have the problem looked at, they may have offered some financial help if I had it repaired there. I'm sure any money they would have given me would have been offset by their jacked up service rates. No more Hondas, period.

My in-laws originally bought this car in 2001 brand new. Since the name Honda means reliability, they did not think anything of it when they passed it on to my daughter when she started driving. At the time, it only had 40,000 miles on it. She began driving it around November of 2010. Well, last night, she went to a friend's house and was backing out from her friend's driveway when the check engine light came on. She could not shift gears at all! She was stuck in the middle of the street. Some guys came to help her push the car out to the side. Then she called us frantic. Of course, what can we do? My husband went to check it out himself. Sure enough, it was a transmission failure! He could not shift to reverse nor drive. The AAA guy said "it's your tranny." We had to have it towed back to our house since my repair shop is closed till Monday.

I have to call AAA again to have it towed again. What a headache and it's only the beginning. I'm not sure if it's worth fixing since I've been reading about other complaints.

How can tranny be bad when it's only got 40K on it? I have seriously lost any confidence I had about driving Honda.

I bought my 2001 Honda Civic used in 2004. Like most I thought Honda was supposed to be a reliable car make, oh how I was wrong! If you can think of the issue, my car has had it. Just recently, my 2001 Honda Civic died in the middle of a busy road, sadly after I had just picked it up from my local auto repair shop for some timing belt and tensioner repairs. I had been experiencing for the last 8 MONTHS...what I thought might have been my transmission failing. I was told repeatedly; by multiple auto shops that this was not the issue with my car. You can imagine how beyond upset I was (thinking my car was all fixed and having it completely die after leaving the car repair. My local shop is a really reputable shop and they have definitely gone above and beyond with the repairs and time they have taken on my car (They were equally as upset when I phoned to say my car was dead in the middle of a street). A service rep and tech drove out to my car looked at it, after pushing it to the side of the road, and told me to their surprise my transmission was dead! Also, they told me that a few years ago, Honda mailed out a recall notice to all ORIGINAL OWNERS, regarding transmission failure and that included in the recall, Honda was giving the transmission ONLY an extended 8 year or 105, 000 mile warranty. Well I’m obviously not the original owner and my car is well over the 8 year and 105, 000 mile mark. What do I do? I’ve already put about $6,000 into my car’s repairs in the last 8 months…I can’t afford major repairs anymore!

Yesterday, my wife was driving my parents to a doctor's appointment and our 2001 Honda Civic transmission failed. We had it towed to our local mechanic. I am still waiting for a quote. I phoned American Honda and spoke to a very nice person about my situation. I explained about the amount of complaints that I have seen for this Civic model year and she said there was nothing she could do. I asked her if I should bring it to a Honda Dealership and she thought the only way I would get any type of discount at a Dealership is if I have been taking my car there for the life of the vehicle.

I bought the car used and was very happy, up until this point. Based on all the 2001 Honda owners feedback from this website and other sites, it looks like Honda has a significant quality issue that they are not willing to back/support. This is my first Honda and it will be my last based on this experience.

Update from May 18, 2011: I had the transmission fixed/ebuilt

20 year old college student here who purchased this car a year and a half ago for school. When I purchased it i thought it was a good deal and always felt Honda was reliable after my other siblings had Hondas as well. Turns out that same day i bought my car I researched what problems I can come to expect in the future should something go wrong, and boy what do I see mostly, Tranny problems. I told myself oh no maybe I should get my money back, as my parents soon told me to assure me theres thousands of cars and im sure not all of them can go wrong. I said they were right, it may not happen to me. Boy was i stupid wrong. The morning it happened on my way to school I already frieken knew. This problem was always in the back of my mind and it finally happened. Its like waiting for my death. Cost $1800 to rebuild the whole tranny. I sure hope this does not happen to many other people who have this car, and am certainly going to look at Toyota, nissan, for future purchases.

Bought this car from a dealership for our son in summer of 2009. From the start they car was in service shop more then my son drove it in the first month. We thought it was the transmission slipping we where told it wasn't. Eighteen months later the car just stopped in the middle of a busy road. Had it towed we were told it was the transmission. Called the dealer they told us they would replace the transmission with used transmission for their cost $1429.00. Called Honda they did not want ot hear it about it.

Very frustrating our son is off to college in the fall bought Honda cause its supposed to be very reliable thats a joke. M sister in law owns a 2002 Honda Odyssey and the same thing happened to her van last year under 80 thousand miles, she did enough bitching Honda paid for most she was only out $500.00. We chose to go with a $1800.00 they rebuild the transmission and gave us two years warranty on parts and labor. Are we happy not very. Honda stinks.