10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
85,811 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #82

Jul 012009

Civic

  • Automatic transmission
  • 72,000 miles
2002 Honda Civic (automatic) transmission failed in 2009 with 72K miles. The car stopped in the middle of the road all of a sudden and would not go into any gear. There were no indicators prior to this which is why it was very dangerous. Transmission was rebuilt and seemed ok for a few months. The transmission light came on again and for taking in to be repaired. It is now 2010, 99K miles and the transmission light is on yet again and the car sounds rough when its idling or moving. Honda refuses to assist with any of the cost. This will be the 3rd time in less than 2 years.

- Columbus , OH, USA

problem #81

Oct 082010

Civic

  • 130,000 miles
2002 Honda Civic gx began losing power, threw engine code 1890 and the transmission was slipping badly in 3rd gear. Independent repair shop determined the transmission needed to be replaced, but could not locate either a new or rebuilt transmission. The Honda dealer said an extended warranty only covered up to 105,000 miles or 7 years, whichever was less. They have not gotten back to me on any other extended warranties available.

- South Jordan, UT, USA

problem #80

Sep 042010

Civic

  • 83,000 miles
My transmission went out of my 2002 Honda Civic with just 83,000 miles on it. I was pulling out of a gas station onto a busy street. Was held way out into the street and transmission just bound up stopping by car in the middle of traffic. A car had to slam on its brakes to avoid hitting me and honked excessively at me as if it were my fault.

- Norman, PA, USA

problem #79

May 222009

Civic

  • 110,000 miles
Transmission would not shift properly then would jerk into gear. Well the transmission gave out while crossing a busy intersection and I was lucky the car made it across. Needless to say $2600 and a new transmission later, it now works fine (of course). The torque converter failed causing the front pump to fail. Personally I know 3 people with the same problem, gee you would think that Honda would realize the parts they used were crap and recall the cars to replace the torque converters. Never again!!!

- Centreville , VA, USA

problem #78

Aug 132010

Civic

  • 93,700 miles
On a busy interstate, just exited and in a turn when the car would not go any further; only the engine would rev when gas pressed. Had to push the car onto the side of the busy road. We could have been injured even fatally if the car had stopped in the middle of the interstate or intersection of the road. Tried to change the gear to reverse, drive, and D3 with no success. The transmission failed with the entire family in the car! we've owned the car for three years and never had a problem or sign of a problem. We have maintained the car as recommended by manufacture. Now, we have only one car for a working family. We do not know anyone due to just moving into the state. The dealership does not offer a loaner car and does not cover rental car expenses. Come to find out with research, this year and model of car is notorious for this problem and has not been addressed or corrected by Honda. This needs to be a recall; it's only a mater of time before fatalities result from these transmission failures.

- Dayton, OH, USA

problem #77

Aug 012010

Civic

  • 114,000 miles
I was driving down a busy, 6-lane road when my transmission went out on my 2002 Honda Civic. I slowed down as I was getting close to an intersection and when the light turned green and I went to accelerate, the engine revved up but the car didn't move. The cars behind me were anticipating my movement, but then had to hit the brakes and swerve around me so they wouldn't hit me.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #76

Jul 162010

Civic

  • 147,000 miles
I was driving home from work during rush hour in July and about 10 minutes into my drive my car started doing these little jerking movements about every couple minutes or so' this has never happened before so I figured I'd go home and take it somewhere to be looked at the next day' about 30 minutes into my drive, I was going up a hill on a 2 lane road and all of a sudden my car stopped accelerating' I had my foot all the way down the gas and my car stayed at 15 mph, but the RPM's shot up' cars start honking at me and swerving around me and I realized immediately that I needed to pull over before my car gave out completely and started rolling backwards down the hill' I ended up having my car towed to a local garage where they told me the transmission had failed' I just had my car inspected in the spring at the same garage and it passed with no transmission problems at all' I haven't had the transmission fixed yet but as I was looking into I started reading about how 2002 Honda Civic transmissions were one of their worst years for transmissions and on occasion will break with little or no warning'

- Folsom, PA, USA

problem #75

Jul 262002

Civic

  • 138,000 miles
On the way to work, my 2002 Honda Civic suddenly stopped shifting gears, then stopped running altogether without any warning. It stopped shifting while I was on the interstate and I had to pull onto the shoulder to keep from getting hit by other cars passing me as my car would not accelerate. I had never had any problems or engine damage to the car prior to this point and it was very sudden. When I towed it to the repair shop they told me I would need a whole new transmission and would cost me $4200!!! I am looking around to get a 2nd opinion and price as that seems awfully high for a transmission replacement.

- West Columbia, SC, USA

problem #74

Jul 102010

Civic

  • 109,300 miles
Car was slow to shift gears for about a month. Had transmission flushed. 4 days prior car would accelerate when in third or fourth gear while I was driving. Car slowed while driving and engine light came on. Had car diagnosed at aamco and was told that the shift control is going bad causing me to lose 2nd and 3rd gear and since the shift control is in the transmission the transmission must be replaced. 2002 Honda Civic ex with 109,000 miles.

- Augusta, GA, USA

problem #73

Jul 012010

Civic

  • 130,000 miles
2002 Honda Civic transmission failure, transmission went out with no warning, when I bought the car new we had the first transmission go out within months, Honda replaced it for a large discount. Had I know about the issues with these transmissions I would have told them to take the car back. Know at 130,000 lost the second transmission and I was lucky I didn't get hurt or killed by other traffic.

- Oklahoma City, OK, USA

problem #72

Jul 032010

Civic 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Civic. While driving 5 mph making a turn, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was unable to turn the vehicle back on. The vehicle was towed to a Honda dealer who stated that the transmission failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 60,000. Updated 10/05/10 the consumer stated the vehicle would not move forward or in reverse.

- Delray Beach, FL, USA

problem #71

Apr 102010

Civic

  • 48,357 miles
I would like to file a complaint about the 2002 Honda Civic LX model. The car started to speed up/slow down and then stopped. It was the torque converter'2nd gear coming off and 3rd gear not coming in. I did some research and I've read the numerous complaints online about the 2002 Honda Civic and the transmission issues. I also found many technical service bulletins regarding transmission problems. I only copied the few that I think are specific to the issue that I had: # tsb #11012004 -- manual transmission grinds shifting to 3rd gear. Honda servicenews. (NHTSA id #10013656, November 01 2004) # tsb #204 -- 2nd to 5th or 3rd to 5th gear upshift. (NHTSA id #10014230, February 16 2004) # tsb #02012004 -- service manual fix. Manual transmission mainshaft reassembly. Correction to January '04 issue. Honda servicenews. (NHTSA id #10009134, February 01 2004) # tsb #01012004 -- manual transmission mainshaft reassembly. Service manual fix. Honda. Servicenews. (NHTSA id #10009080, January 01 2004) # tsb #10162004 -- grinds at 2-3 upshift. (NHTSA id #10014470, October 16 2004) if Honda knows of the issues why won't they recall and make necessary repairs" turns out this is a very well known problem in Honda Civic 2002 models but Honda is not doing anything about it. A complete new transmission necessary at 48,375 miles! well, we need the car. There is no bus transportation to the city. The work was done on 04/12/2010. The cost to have the transmission rebuilt: Parts and accessories: $1913.54 labor: $951.44 tax: $68.33 for a grand total of: $2933.31. This does not include the $350 to remove the transmission and diagnose the problem. And I'm not the only one to experience this" how is it possible that Honda does not recognize this as an issue.

- Summerville, SC, USA

problem #70

Mar 232010

Civic

  • 117,220 miles
Transmission failure, had to be rebuilt.

- Destrehan, LA, USA

problem #69

Apr 032010

Civic

  • 134,646 miles
Second time! complete failure of automatic transmission. Replaced in 06.25.07 with new Honda trans. Sudden failure in the middle of traffic. Car driving fine and with no warning drive disengages and vehicle can not move out of traffic. Very dangerous!

- Safety Harbor, FL, USA

problem #68

Jun 202007

Civic

  • 97,874 miles
Complete and sudden failure of transmission in the middle of rush hour traffic with no warning. Vehicle loses ability to move and drive disengages.

- Safety Harbor, FL, USA

problem #67

Mar 192010

Civic

  • 130,000 miles
This is about Honda Civic 2002 LX transmission failure. While on the highway, the transmission fail without and any warning, luckily no one hit me. It could have serious and fatal for me. Turn out this is a very known problem in Honda Civic 2002 models but Honda is not doing any thing about, no recalls, no notices. This issue may (maybe already have) have someone killed.this is website where lots of similar complaints are filed..www.carcomplaints.com/Honda/Civic/2002/transmission/transmission_failure-2.shtml. my car was well maintained, I always done oil change or an expected maintenance from Honda dealer ship.

- Newark, DE, USA

problem #66

Mar 172010

Civic

  • 118,800 miles
The transmission failed on my 2002 Honda Civic. I was driving with my wife and 2 kids on ct-15 in fairfield, ct when the car just stopped. Being that it was a 2 lane highway with no shoulder we were nearly hit from behind by other vehicles. The car failed without any advance warning. The dealer says it is a transmission failure requiring replacement at $3200+tax. It appears there have been atleast 100+ instances of transmission failure on 2002 Honda Civic documented at the following web site. www.carcomplaints.com/Honda/Civic/2002/transmission/transmission_failure.shtml.

- Stamford, CT, USA

problem #65

Mar 032010

Civic

  • 79,169 miles
My 2002 Honda Civic has 79K+ miles. Last Saturday 3/6/2010 the transmission suddenly failed while driving on the highway. The vehicle lost all forward power since the transmission was not engaging. Downshifting did not help and acceleration while in gear only caused the engine to rev up. The sudden deceleration of the vehicle forced me to stop at the side of the highway and nearly caused vehicles behind me to crash into me due to the sudden change in speed. Restarting the car and engaging the gears did not do anything. After towing it to the local Honda dealer, they noted that the transmission had failed and required a completely new transmission. These failures at these low mileage are unacceptable and sudden failures are an extreme safety hazard.

- Desoto, TX, USA

problem #64

Jun 212009

Civic

  • 106,000 miles
Was reentering highway 5 North in orange county ca and the car would not pick up power as I attempted to merge into traffic, then the car started losing what little power that it had and I was able to very slowly re-exit the freeway and take side streets attempting to return to the gas station I had left. In the middle of the busy road the car completely lost power in a turn lane.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #63

Jan 222010

Civic

  • 61,906 miles
With no warning the transmission on my 2002 Honda Civic ex with less than 62000 miles failed while I was driving on the kennedy expressway in Chicago. I was able to exit the expressway with the momentum of going 55 miles per hour prior to the failure. The car was towed to a local mechanic who had the transmission rebuilt.

- Chicago, IL, USA

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