9.2
really awful- Typical Repair Cost:
- $2,330
- Average Mileage:
- 110,700 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 281 complaints
Most common solutions:
- replace transmission (139 reports)
- rebuild transmission (64 reports)
- not sure (53 reports)
- replaced transmission, Honda covered cost of parts (9 reports)
- open a case with honda corporate (7 reports)
- scrapped car (4 reports)
This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Honda dealer.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
I change the fluids on my Honda and had it under and engine washed. On my way home from the shop the transmission drive gear began slipping. The car came to a complete stop and I was unable to engage drive or reverse. I had to tow the car home. I contacted a mechanic who came with a sensor machine and advised that the transmission needed replacement or fixing. This came without warning. I am now in the process of sourcing a used transmission.
- Jonathan J., Port Of Spain, 01, Trinidad and Tobago
I have never had ANY problems whatsoever with my car. I changed all the fluids when they say, and do all the maintenance they recommend. I went on a day trip about 50 miles away. On the way home, we filled the car up with gas, and five miles later the problems started. The engine would rev high and not shift. Thankfully my car made it up the hill or I would have coasted two miles backwards. Once to the top of the hill I pulled off and opened the hood. To my surprise there's pink fluid all over the ground under my car. I had a pint of transmission fluid in my trunk, so I attempted to add it in. No such luck- it POURED out of my car all over the ground yet again.
It pissed me off so bad because the reason I bought this Honda was because everyone I know that has one never had problems with it. So flagging down cars in the middle of nowhere with a flashlight in the dark to use a cell phone for a tow truck was awful! Now my car's sitting in the parking lot at my building getting hit by people's doors, instead of me driving it to work. I have no idea how much it'll cost or exactly what's wrong with it transmission wise. All I know is it's broken, I'm sure it's going to be expensive, and I'm out a way to work. Thanks Honda.
- frogielipz, Morgantown, WV, US
I purchased this car used, Aug 12, 2010. It had 154,000 miles on it. Six days later the transmission went out. Luckily, the dealership that I bought it at, towed the car in and is letting me pick out a different car. I wish I would have come to this website sooner and seen that there is a problem with this car's transmission. I always thought Honda's were more reliable than this.
- lithloren, Omaha, NE, US
I had my 2002 Honda Civic LX serviced within the last month. Oil changed, fluids checked. A few weeks later, the engine light went on and the Drive button began blinking all in one day. After taking it back into the shop, I discovered that the transmission was going out. My vehicle only has 95,000 miles on it. So much for Hondas "lasting forever"! I am still trying to figure out what to do with my car since I cannot afford to have a new or rebuilt transmission put in. I drive about 20-30 miles each day to work and I am afraid that the transmission is going to go out while I am on the highway or interstate. I wish that I would have found this website before I purchased my car 3 years ago because I never would have even considered buying it. Honda needs to recall the transmissions in the early 2000 Hondas. FIX OUR PROBLEMS!
- skc, Mission, KS, US
I just had bought my car , and hadnt even made the first payment on it. I was driving to get my daughter and there was a little snow on the road. All of the sudden the check engine light came on then the car started slipping and within about 100 ft my car lost all power and was just reving up without moving. We checked the trans fluid and it was completly black.Now i have replaced the tran but not the torque converter and my car still isnt working. So now I am going to try a torque converter and hopefully this works! I am completley agianst hondas now. Honda should do something about this they are losing valuable customers.
- Hava R., Lansing, NC, US
The tranny blew out at 90K miles when ironically i was driving to the dealer to get an oil change. Luckily i was off the highway then i noticed the rpm skyrocketed & the car would not go more then 20 mph. Then parked on a side street. The dealer quoted me $3,600 for a remaufactured tranny with a 3 yr warranty & $ 2,000 for a tranny with a 1 yr warranty. I called American Honda & they knocked $1,600 off the 3 yr package so i paid $2,000 cash.
My brother has a 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier with 210,000 miles & he has never had a transmission problem. Leads me to believe that Honda's are not built to last 200K miles like the one's in the 1980's & 90's. I have driven 4K miles with the rebuilt tranny & have had no problems. But Oh yeah today my A/C stopped working so it seems like this 2002 Honda starts to have big time isssus once you reach 90K miles.
I will not be buying Honda ever again!
- dicklong, Anaheim, CA, US
My family and I were traveling on a busy interstate, heading home from a great day at the theme park. We had NO sign of trouble or clue of trouble awaiting us. The car was just completely serviced before moving from Arizona to Ohio. We exited the interstate and turned onto the road when the car's engine would rev up at the press of the gas. Luckily, we were able to coast to the side of the road. I tried to putting the car in reverse, drive, D3 with no success. I turned the car off and back on, still no success. This piece of crap car has left my family on the side of the road and in 95 degree heat!! My wife and I pushed the car more to the side and hope to peak the hill in an effort to coast down the hill to a parking lot. However, that was unsuccessful. Of course, traffic keeps passing us by with no offerings of help. Finally, we had no choice but to call a tow truck. I left my wife and youngest daughter with the car while my oldest daughter and I caught a ride to our house to get our other vehicle. I came back to the car with my other vehicle and followed the tow truck to the Honda dealership. They tell us, "we can't even look at your car until Tuesday or Wednesday". They didn't even mention that this particular year is notorius for transmission failure (by the way, our car has 93K miles)!! They wouldn't even offer a loaner car!!!
This is ridiculous and I will get rid of this car once fixed and NEVER buy another Honda!! This is how they treat their customers?! I wished I had known about this website before purchasing this car! I will definately use this website before I EVER buy another vehicle.
- tyminke, Dayton, OH, US
I bought my car used in 2005 from a certified honda dealership with close to 60,000 miles on it. Only recently did I look through my car paperwork seeing how much I have had to spend in repairs. It seems like I have had way too much trouble for a Honda which, since ownership, I've done routine repairs on it. The service I remembered the most was the expensive transmission rebuild I had to have in 2008 at about 97,000 miles. I'm not sure what the problem is since my whole family has had Hondas with much more wear and tear without encountering these problems. I'm guessing the newer makes just aren't as good as their name was built up to with previous designs. I wish something would be done about this transmission problem that seems to be common since the 2000 models. I'm just crossing my fingers I don't have another big one soon!
- mop, Mission Viejo, CA, US
Transmission failure again!!! Starting making sounds, then would not move forward or back. Car was towed home. Unable to find a replacement transmission without going to local dealership, as honesty there is a issue from the past. Thinking Honda should do the right thing, and correct the transmission failure issues and problem. Expected more from Honda!!!! Any suggestions are welcome on what to do next.
- yhoward, Albemarle, NC, US
Was picking few friends up for dinner and transmission broke as soon as I got to their place. No warning what's so ever and just had an inspection at 100k without issue. Engine revs up but can't go forward or backward, complete slippage. Stop the car for a while and it could go up to 20mph but slips again after like 5 mins. Now the car is sitting in front of my friend's house and I'll prob have to sink in 2k+. Damn, if only I saw this site before, I would of sold this piece of shyt before 90k miles!
- jaec, San Jose, CA, US
Stopped on the side of the road, and without warning the transmission was out. Had had the transmission serviced 1 year prior to failure.
- yhoward, Albemarle, NC, US
I had my 2002 Honda Civic EX serviced within the last month. Oil changed, fluids checked, and had to have the entire braking system replaced. A few weeks later, the engine light went on and the Drive button began blinking all in one day. After taking it back into the shop, I discovered that the transmission was going out. My vehicle only has 85,000 miles on it. So much for Hondas "lasting forever"! I am still trying to figure out what to do with my car since I cannot afford to have a new or rebuilt transmission put in. I drive about 80-100 miles each day to work and school and I am afraid that the transmission is going to go out while I am on the highway or interstate. I wish that I would have found this website before I purchased my car 4 years ago because I never would have even considered buying it. Honda needs to recall the transmissions in the early 2000 Hondas. FIX OUR PROBLEMS!
- lgiesse1, Kennard, NE, US
I am an auto tech. and after much research this is a major defect, why is there no class action lawsuit??Every Trans. shop I talked to said the same thing, clutch or torque converter material clogs a internal filter.
Update from Jul 28, 2010: Wrote a letter to American Honda and the reimbursed me for 50% of the trans.
- bmac, Niskayuna, NY, US
I have a 02 civic with 95k miles and just like everyone else the tranny gave out with no warning. Luckily i pulled into a royal farm store a sec before it gave out. the trans. fluid was real hot and after cooling i tried to see if the transmission worked and i could back up and move forward but it gave out after a min or 2 again. Got it towed home and i was able to pull into my driveway. My mech. said I had to replace the tranny and i would spend about 2k for a rebuilt one with labor which is a good price but only cause its a side job.
I got a honda because i heard they're reliable. but a tranny giving out at 95 k is terrible especially with all these other complaints. The transmission light came on in my dash right after it gave out.What worries me is putting another 02 transmission in this car when the factory one gave out in less than a 100k miles.
- l3obby, Baltimore, MD, US
Was leaving a concert with me & 3 friends when the car just stopped moving. It would rev up but wouldn't move. Luckily had friends with me to help push car off road. But there was no signs of problems car was running great. Just got oil changed and an inspection. Not sure what it is going to cost but I am glad I found this web site. I will let everyone know what the outcome is.
- Scott B., Lowell, NC, US
Add another one to list all of a sudden having problems accelerating on way to work.
- cale, Phoenix, AZ, US
Purchased car in early 2003 with under 10,000 on it. I kept up with the maintenance and never had any problems until now. As a matter of fact I just had a tune up and oil change right before my transmission died. There was no warning I just lost speed. I was on the highway doing just under 70. Luckily, I was in the right lane and was able to pull over to the shoulder. I was about a mile away from the nearest exit. I'm very grateful I was able to get off the highway without being hit or hurt. It took some time to get to the exit as I could only get 5mph from my car.
Wouldn't you know it my car broke down 1 year to the day my extended warranty expired? Thankfully, I paid off the car in 2008.
I'm not sure if I'll get a new or rebuilt transmission. I can't believe that Honda is getting away with this. Where is their fine?!
- Amelia E., San Antonio, TX, US
I've read the NUMEROUS complaints about the 2002 Honda Civic and the transmission issues, the same thing happened to my brother's wife's car and hers is a 2001, now I am having the same EXACT problems- car revs up but will not go into gear. I turned the car off for a little while the re-started and it only goes 20 mph. If Honda knows of the issues why won't they recall and make necessary repairs?
- Andrea I., Stafford, TX, US
The left meter on the dash board jumped to the highest level and the speed could not go over 20 miles when my son drove our 2002 Honda Civic LX on the way home 3/27/20. There was no signal, no data when the transmission was checked by a computer detector. I called the Honda dealer and Honda Corp. They just say sorry. I don't need a sorry. I want my car fixed by Honda. This should be a recall!!!
- florencewu, San Dimas, CA, US
Same story...different person. Sign me up for a class action law suit. It's been giving me problems since I got it. Transmission was rebuilt but now it's the shift linkage??? I'm tired of putting money into this car. I don't know what else to do.
- Mani B., Gardner, KS, US