I owned this Honda Civic EX 2002 about 20 months and the transmission just broke, starting with an annoying buzz sound. After 2 weeks of the sound was noticed, the transmission just no longer work and the car does not move forward or backwards. I had to contact a Honda dealer in Mexico to replace the transmission since I have heard bad comments about Honda Civic transmissions. In fact, I owned a Honda Accord LX 1988 wich had kind of the same problem but at that time I found a used and cheap transmission, wich is not this case. Honda dealer in Mexico is replacing the transmission with 1 year warranty. I hope I can sell this car before the warranty end or before the replaced transmission start failing as well.

I am loosing faith in Honda due to automatic transmissions.

another victim. bought used at 68K, now has 106K. noticed a hard down shift in the car every once in a while soon after purchase, but didn't think too much off it. on the day of the transmission failure, i noticed the car had a hard time going into second gear, but like one of the complaints on here, thought it was because i didn't let the car heat up enough before driving away. drove about 30 miles and the transmission completely failed. no gears. going to take it to a shop tomorrow. don't have a good feeling. still upside down $2000 in the car. sick.

I too have a 2002 Honda Civic LX. Two days before my meltdown, my transmission began I guess what is called slipping or stalling. I took it as maybe I didn't let my car warm up fully, because those two mornings it was very cold and the problem ended minutes later. Well needless to say on the third day, as I was leaving home to go to Firestone for an oil change and to get my transmission checked it began to slip everytime it attempted to go into the next gear. Needless to say I did not make it Firestone. The car stopped accelerating at the light. I was able to put it into a low gear and move it to get out the middle of the roadway. It then went backwards, and that was it. My car had to be towed, the Monday before Thanksgiving, as I was preparing to travel out of state to visit family for the holidays. Very disappointing! I took it to a transmission specialists,via tow truck, and the first thing he says is "I work on a lot of Honda's (ummm Honda, just a side note, ummm that's not a statement you want coming out of a mechanics mouth), therefore, I am very much aware of the problem." I thought to myself "okay good" that is until he told me it will cost at a discounted rate between $1,200 and $2,000. Oh My Goodness. Yes, my car has 119k miles, and yes, I have had it since 2003; but, I thought Honda's were reliable and dependable cars. I was told, correct me if I'm wrong, that Honda's should last a good 16 to 18 years, and go far beyond 130K miles before needing major work. I am not pleased. Then I am told that rebuilding the transmission or having a re manufactured one is only going to last maybe another 1.5 to 2 years. Unacceptable!! Help. Does anyone know of Honda recalling these transmissions? I am aware of the recall on the Accords and Honda Manual transmissions, but are they recalling or assisting with the cost of repairing their poor 2002 Honda Civic LX Automatic Transmissions?

Another victim at 113,000 Mi.- Transmission completely went out, no warning. I bought this car with 40K and never changed the fluid. Luckily, my most excellent neighbor (a former mechanic)said he knew a little trick that might work. I was skeptical but figured it was worth a try. In less than 30 minutes my transmission worked again. Fluid was changed about a week later. Its been about six weeks and so far so good. I dont know if this is a long term fix, I just wanted to add to the complaints about an obvious problem with 01 and 02 Civics here that from what Im seeing, replacement is the most common solution. The procedure that was done cost me a 12 pack. I want to give my neighbor a chance to patent this procedure, that is why I am not being specific about what was done at this time. All I know is he saved me $2500-$3500.

We were on our way to pick our son after work and my wife mentioned the valet said there may be something wrong with our transmission. Sure enough, just then the car wouldn't shift into 3rd, then it wouldn't go at all. We coasted down 14th street in DC and came to a stop outside the Department of Commerce. When we stopped it would engage in reverse, but no forward motion at all.

We had the car towed to a Honda dealership who called the next day to tell us the transmission fluid had metal in it and we'd need a new transmission. Awesome! It would only cost $2500 (his estimate then).

We're shopping repair shops now, hoping to find a lower price, but it looks like we're going to be stuck paying 1/3 what we paid for the car - used - three months ago. From the looks of what everyone else has gone through, especially the 2001 group, it looks like we're stuck.

If there is indeed a class action complaint about Honda trannies, count me in!

My wife's 2002 Honda Civic has only 65,000 miles on it. She honestly drives it like an old lady and then suddenly the transmission starts slipping. She bought this car brand new! It is out of warranty and now we have this additional expense of looking around to have this problem fixed which I am assuming will cost around $2,500 to $3,500 dollars. After reading all of these complaints I am surprised Honda has not done anything about this. Once this transmission is replaced, we are going to trade it in for a Toyota or Nissan!

We had so much pride, confidence and respect for our little Honda Civic. We used to hype it as one of the best cars our money could buy. This was until it left me stranded one half of a mile away from my home due to a transmission failure. That has got to be one of the worst feelings ever, to push the gas pedal down and receive only a revving engine. After it failed the Civic helpfully informed me that the car needed maintenance. We will be forced to purchase a new transmission, as much of a shame as it is to only have gotten less than 60,000 miles out of this one.

2002 Honda Civic LX...79,931 miles (out of warranty). TOTAL transmission failure...like many others on this site. Transmission repaired at local Honda dealer...cost $2,732.02. Honda of America and local dealer refused to help with any costs at all...even under "goodwill." This is clearly a case of manufacturer's defect. This is based on the number of identical problems identified on this and other web sites, to include the NHTSA site where there are 20+ complaints about Honda Civic transmissions. Bought Honda based on reliability record. Bought this car for my son to attend college. Now he has this expense on top of student loans...Thanks Honda.

I would be very interested in joining a group to:

(1) Bring a class action suit against Honda. It CAN be done. Honda has already been forced to settle lawsuits on Accord and Odyssey transmissions (this establishes precedence ). I also participated in a successful class action against VOLVO of North America for the electronic throttle module (ETM) and recovered $1,260.

(2) Bring this issue to the attention of the national media. There is strength in numbers. Honda will respond if this shows up in enough newspapers / news stations around the country.

During rush hour traffic, I had to get my car towed to my mechanic. I never wanted to to be one of those people whose car dies in the middle of a busy intersection. Well, it happened to me. The car was running fine, and suddenly the car died. I have never been late on a oil change or an expected maintenance.

My mechanic told me that it was the torque converter in my transmission that went bad. The bad torque converter caused transmission fluid to flood the inside of the transmission and burnt out the entire part. It cost me $3500 to get the transmission replaced because the damage was severe. My mechanic told me that this is common in late 1990 and early 2000 Honda's. This was the fifth Honda THIS MONTH alone that he had to send out to get the transmission replaced.

If I had known that this is a common problem with Honda's, I would never had bought it. I just finished paying off my car last year, and now I have to pay off $3500 of car expenses. I will never buy a Honda ever again. Honda HAD a reputation of being safe and reliable. Not anymore. When is Honda going to address this issue? Until someone seriously gets injured? This could be another Firestone catastrophe...

I wanted a good car for my daughter, I was thinking of Toyota Celica . But she wanted a Honda Civic. I thought be a Master Automotive Tech for last 25 years it would be a good choice. We got it and I mean every 3000 miles I serviced this car at my own shop.

She got Married and now lives in Conn. with her new family. She called me to tell me that the transmission had left her husband out in rush hour traffic and had the car towed back home. I had just flushed that transmission with Honda fluid at 120,000 , major service when she cam down to visit. And now I here all these complaints about the transmissions.It is a great shame that Honda didn't recall everyone of these cars and fix what they right!!! And it always had Mobil 1 oil from the start doesn't seems right at all. She now got a Toyota Prius and I got the Civic needing a transmission, what next.

Another '02 Civic owner staring at a 3000 dollar repair bill for a rebuild transmission. Started out yesterday morning just fine. Wife noticed some slippage on the way to pick up the kids. Transmission totally failed on the way home -- left-hand lane at a buy intersection. Neither of us are ledfoots. No tickets in the household for over 8 years, never liable in any accident. I've driven two beaters (85' lebaron & '95 626 well past 100k without ever having a transmission problem.

Calling Honda America later today but I'm very pessimistic from what I've seen on the net.

My car broke down & towed it the nearest Honda dealership. Paid for the diagnostics and found out it was auto transmission failure. I was pissed since it was under still under 75K and I have been going in for regular oil change & tune ups, plus I used Mobil 1. I called American Honda(AH) & bitched about the problem. They denied there was any Service Bulletin (TSB-04036 ) about transmission problem. AH was willing to pay for more than half of the repair cost because I had good maintenance records with the Honda Dealership. I was OK with it but still that was a lot of money & major breakdown, and I thought Honda was reliable, now I think twice.