RoadVitals

2004 Honda Civic Hybrid Powertrain (other) Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
18
Latest Jul 31, 2018
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
51%
of 35 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Honda Civic Hybrid submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming powertrain

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 31, 2018

WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR, THE CVT TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO "LAG" OR DELY TO ENGAGE AND ACCELERATE. RECENTLY WHEN AT A LEFT TURN AT AN INTERSECTION, I APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR AND CAR JUDDERED, WAS VIBRATING THE WHOLE CAR, AND ALMOST GOT ME T-BONED. I KNOW THIS IS NOT A SPORTS CAR BUT WOULD LIKE TO DRIVE CONFIDENTLY TO WORK WITHOUT THE WORRY OF GETTING IN AN ACCIDENT. EVERY TIME I ACCELERATE NOW, THE RPM'S RAISE TO 1,500-2,000 RPM BEFORE THE CVT STARTER CLUTCH ENGAGES AND JERKS THE CAR FORWARD. THERE IS ALSO A WHINE COMING FROM THE CVT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THE CAR HAS 62,000 MILES CURRENTLY WHICH IS NOT A LOT. I JUST HAD HIGHER STANDARDS AND EXPECTATIONS FROM SUCH A REPUTABLE CAR MANUFACTURER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION LOOKING OVER THIS COMPLAINT AND HOPEFULLY TO HELP ME GET MY CAR SAFELY BACK ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA ID
11115032
Incident
Jul 19, 2018
Mileage
62,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 12, 2018
Crash reported

TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE AND ULTIMATE FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
11084848
Incident
Apr 12, 2018
Mileage
193,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 2, 2017

HELLO, WE HAVE THIS HONDA CIVIC 2004 HYBRID WITH CVT TRANSMISSION. THE CAR HAS AROUND 68K. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS TYPE OF ISSUES BUT HONDA SAYS THERE THEY ARE NOT LONGER ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT. THE REPAIR NOW COST MORE THAN THE VEHICLE. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN HELP ME WITH ABOUT THIS ISSUE?

NHTSA ID
10992862
Incident
Mar 1, 2017
Fuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 31, 2017

BEARING FAILURE IN CVT TRANSMISSION, LEADING TO SEVERE VIBRATION AND IF NOT REPAIRED TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE COST FOR REPAIRING REPLACEMENT TO CUSTOMER $1700 . IN MY VEHICLE IS BEARING HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES IN 130,000 MILES WELL FOLLOWING FACTORS RECOMMENDATIONS OF CHANGING TRANSMISSION FLUID EVERY 30,000 MILES. ALSO HUNDRED HYBRID BATTERY SYSTEM HAS A FLAW HYBRID BATTERIES ARE ONLY GUARANTEED FOR 80,000 MILES FOR THE FIRST BATTERY AND 24,000 MILES FOR REPLACEMENT BATTERIES AT THE COST OF $2700. WELL TOYOTA GUARANTEES THEIR BATTERIES FOR 150,000 MILES. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY PACKS THREE TIMES IN 130,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID
10969667
Incident
Mar 24, 2009
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 25, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT 10 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN ACCELERATING OVER 10 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BURNED OIL AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

NHTSA ID
10861181
Incident
Apr 7, 2015
Mileage
117,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 24, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND THEN RESTARTED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FUNCTION AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. ON ANOTHER OCCASION WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND IT RESUMED TO NORMAL HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE MOUNT WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED, HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS TOLD TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE FLUID WAS CHANGED, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10806555
Incident
Jan 1, 2012
Mileage
135,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 7, 2015

WHILE DRIVING CAR JERKS AND JUMPS FROM START. CAR HAS STOPPED IN PLACE AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED. CAR IS DANGEROUS TO OPERATE. CVT TRANSMISSION HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
10761912
Incident
Aug 1, 2015
Mileage
116,000 mi
Fuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 8, 2015

THE CAR WAS SHUDDERING WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER A STOP. IT NEEDED THE CVT CLUTCH IN THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT MANY OWNERS OF 2004 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID HAVE REPORTED AND HONDA REFUSES TO RECALL THE PART. THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE BUILDING OF THE CVT TRANSMISSIONS AND HONDA WON'T ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10704407
Incident
Dec 30, 2014
Mileage
80,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 7, 2014

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY HONDA CIVIC HYBRID HAS HAD THE SAME SHUDDER/JUDDER ISSUE THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED. YOU HAVE TO TAKE OFF EXTREMELY SLOW TO KEEP IT TO A MINIMUM AND IT STILL SHAKES AND JUDDERS. IT IS OBVIOUS THERE IS A SEVER ISSUE WITH THESE CVT TRANSMISSIONS AND MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. MY CIVIC HYBRID STARTED THIS ISSUE A LONG TIME AGO AND HONDA SAID JUST CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID BUT THAT ONLY HELPS FOR A SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME. VERY DANGEROUS GOING THROUGH INTERSECTIONS. *JS

NHTSA ID
10608648
Incident
Dec 11, 2013
Mileage
130,000 mi
AirbagsPowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Jul 3, 2014

TRANSMISSION SHUTTERING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10607943
Incident
Jun 10, 2013
Mileage
140,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 18, 2014

TRANSMISSION JUDDERS/SLIPS WHEN ACCELERATING. HAD CLUTCH KIT REPLACED LESS THAN 2 YEARS AGO AND 20,000 MILES AND SAME PROBLEM IS BACK. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN SLIPPAGE OCCURS, AS CAR DOESN'T ALWAYS MOVE WHEN ACCELERATOR IS PUSHED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10604285
Incident
May 1, 2014
Mileage
139,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 5, 2014

3 YEAR OLD TRANSMISSION SYSTEM BEGAN TO FAIL AT 40,000 MILES. IT WAS SERVICED WITH SERVICE BULLETIN 07-049. IT DID NOT LAST AND EVERY YEAR THEREAFTER I HAD RECURRING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE BATTERY BEGAN TO FAIL AND CAUSED INCREASING PROBLEMS FOR THE TRANSMISSION UNTIL THE BATTERY FAILED COMPLETELY AND THE TRANSMISSION THEN FAILED ALSO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10596371
Incident
Sep 6, 2007
Mileage
40,681 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 29, 2014

MY CAR SUDDENLY MADE A LOUD NOISE WHEN MAKING A STOP ON A BUSY INTERSECTION. I COULD MANAGE TO DRIVE IT TO A SAFE SPOT BEFORE THE CAR FAILED COMPLETELY.THE REGULAR MAINTENANCE HAD BEEN DONE IN MY CAR BUT I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE TRANSMISSIONS FAILURES OF THE HONDA HYBRIDS UNTIL NOW. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10561955
Incident
Jan 21, 2014
Mileage
156,258 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 10, 2013

CAR WAS WORKING FINE 5 RECALL PERFORM SECOND TIME TRANSMISSION FAIL AFTER RECALL PERFORM , IMA FAILS, MISS OIL, THREE TIME VISIT , 2 TIME TOWED, VEHICLE IN SHOP FOR 22 DAYS, PROBLEM CONTINUE, REPAIR BILL $4322 WARRANTY BILL 3896.00 25% WARRANTY COVER , DEALER WANTED TO BUY CAR AT $2500 BEFORE REPAIR WE PAID 34000 FOR PURCHASE CALL 9734329040, PROBLEM REPORTED TO HONDA NO RESOLUTION PROVIDED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10534645
Incident
Dec 3, 2012
Mileage
130,449 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 1, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A LOUD BANGING SOUND AS IT ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

NHTSA ID
10533137
Incident
Jul 25, 2013
Mileage
123,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 31, 2013

THE TRANSMISSION IS "FAILING" ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. IT COULD FAIL THIS WEEK, OR NEXT MONTH. EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE ONLY 126,000 MILES ON IT, AND I HAVE DONE ALL THE REQUIRED TIMELY MAINTENANCE ON THE CAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW, THE DEALER SAID THIS JUST "HAPPENS" SOMETIMES TO THESE CARS. IN SEARCHING FOR INFORMATION I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL FORUMS WITH OTHER HONDA CIVIC HYBRID OWNERS DISCUSSING THE FAILING TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND THE FACT THAT HONDA WILL NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE. OR ADMIT FAULT. HTTP://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/HONDA/CIVICHYBRID/TRANSMISSION-FAILURE-PROBLEMS.PHP HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F0B3259/0. *TR

NHTSA ID
10532928
Incident
Jun 10, 2013
Mileage
126,000 mi
AirbagsPowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 10, 2012

MY VEHICLE WHEN STARTING FROM A DEAD STOP SHUDDERS FOR JITTERS WHEN YOU GO. THIS SEEMS TO SLOWLY BE GETTING WORSE. I HAVE CHANGED TRANSMISSION FLUID ON REGULAR INTERVALS WITH HONDA CVT OEM TRANSMISSION FLUID. ALSO MY AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT FOR THE DRIVERS SIDE IS CONSTANTLY ON. THIS HAS BEEN ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I HAVE JUST NEVER BOTHERED TO TAKE IT IN FOR FEAR THAT THERE WOULD BE A CHARGE TO FIX AN ITEM THAT I FEEL FOR SAFETY REASONS HONDA SHOULD TAKE CARE OF. *TR

NHTSA ID
10474590
Incident
Sep 1, 2011
Mileage
96,500 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 25, 2012

FROM MY DRIVEWAY, I SHIFTED FROM PARK INTO DRIVE, AND HEARD A LOUD WHIRRING SIMILAR TO A METAL BELT FALLING APART. IT HAS CONTINUED TO GET WORSE OF THE YEAR, AND ONLY SHOWS UP WHEN IN DRIVE AND NOW A BIT IN REVERSE. IT IS NOT PRESENT IN PARK OR NEUTRAL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CLUTCH BRAKE, BUT I STILL HAVE THE SOUND. I ALSO HAVE MINOR SLIPPAGE, AND I HAVE READ SEVERAL OTHERS HAVING THE SAME COMPLAINT ABOUT THEIR SAME MODEL WITH REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN I WAS SOLD THIS CAR, A FIRST GENERATION HYBRID, I WAS TOLD IT WOULD LAST 200K MILES WITHOUT ANY MAJOR MAINTENANCE. I HAVE HAD DEGRADED FUEL ECONOMY FROM 43MPG TO 32MPG. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE 45-50 WHEN I PURCHASED IT NEW. AT 112,000 MILES, I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A LATE REACTION TO A SERIOUS DESIGN FAULT. MY MODEL WAS RECALLED IN JAPAN FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED IN THE US. I WON'T LET MY WIFE OR DAUGHTER DRIVE THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. I AM CONCERNED THAT AT ANY MINUTE, MY TRANSMISSION CAN STOP FUNCTIONING. THE DEALER SAYS THE "FIX" IS TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID MORE OFTEN THEN ORIGINALLY ADVERTISED. THIS AUGUST 2012, THE DEALER WANTS ME TO REPLACE IT FOR $5K. *TR

NHTSA ID
10472472
Incident
May 2, 2011
Mileage
92,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .