RoadVitals

2002 Honda Civic Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure 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.
20
Latest Jan 20, 2020
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.
3%
of 702 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.
6
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
9

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Honda Civic submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 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 body or structure

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

Body & structure
Filed Jan 20, 2020
Crash reported1 injury reported

I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 101 IN CALIFORNIA IN MODERATE TRAFFIC WHEN THERE WAS AN UNEXPECTED SLOWDOWN. I BRAKED IN TIME, BUT THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME DID NOT. I WAS REAR-ENDED AND MY CAR WAS TOTALED. I WAS NOT INJURED. HOWEVER, THE PERSON IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, WHO WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT, WAS THROWN FORWARD. SHE STRUCK HER HEAD ON THE DASHBOARD (POSSIBLY THE GRILL) AND INCURRED A SERIOUS EYE INJURY THAT REQUIRED SURGERY TO REPAIR. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THE LAP PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT RESTRAINED HER, APPARENTLY THE SHOULDER PORTION DID NOT. THE ACCIDENT IS DOCUMENTED IN TRAFFIC COLLISION REPORT #9360-2020-00053 ISSUED BY THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL, 6100 LABATH AVE., ROHNERT PARK, CA. 707-588-1400. THE PHOTO I'VE ATTACHED WAS TAKEN ABOUT THREE DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
11300507
Incident
Jan 8, 2020
Mileage
186,000 mi
Body & structureDriver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 8, 2018

#1) OVERHEATS/BOILS RESERVOIR LOST 3 CAPS #2)WATER PUMP FAILURE #3)TRUNK LATCH DOESN'T WORK ALL TIME #4)CRUISE CONTROL NEVER WORKED #5) WINDOW WASHER MOTOR FRIED #6) CAN'T RUN AC SOMETIMES HEATER CAUSES TO OVERHEAT IT WILL IDLE FOR HOURS BUT ONCE ITS DRIVEN DOWN HWY IT STARTS TO OVER HEAT. #7) TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING IN TO LIBRARY TO GET MY SON IT WAS LIKE IT WENT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE I WAS DRIVING NO SPEED ALL RPMS. #8) IGNITION KEEPS STICKING WON'T ALWAYS START FEELS LIKE THE KEY IS GOING TO BREAK #9) ALL THE WINDOWS ARE NOW MANUAL DRIVERS SIDE WIRE FRAYED AND MESSED UP BROKE PLASTIC PIECES. IT'S HELD UP BY PVC THE PASSENGER IS THE ONLY WINDOW STILL OPERABLE ONE MOTOR STOPPED AND NEVER STARTED THE OTHER IS HELD UP WITH A DOOR STOPPER. #10) THE SEATBELTS LOCK AND WON'T LET GO EVEN IF THE CAR IS STARTED BUT NOT MOBILE STILL IN PARK.

NHTSA ID
11110140
Incident
Jun 21, 2018
Mileage
176,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 23, 2016
Crash reported1 injury reported

TAKATA RECALL- THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION ON THE EXPRESSWAY. IT SUSTAINED MAJOR FRONT END DAMAGE, HOWEVER THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS PART OF THE MAJOR AIRBAG RECALL. THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED OCTOBER 2015.

NHTSA ID
10937214
Incident
Dec 20, 2016
Mileage
108,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 23, 2016
Crash reported1 injury reported

TAKATA INFLATORS- THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION ON THE EXPRESSWAY. IT SUSTAINED MAJOR FRONT END DAMAGE, HOWEVER THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS PART OF THE MAJOR AIRBAG RECALL. THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED OCTOBER 2015.

NHTSA ID
10937212
Incident
Dec 20, 2015
Mileage
108,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 27, 2016

PAINT PEELING FOR NO REASON.

NHTSA ID
10928145
Incident
Sep 13, 2016
AirbagsBody & structureEngine
Filed Sep 29, 2016
Crash reported3 injuries reported

DEFECTIVE CAR.

NHTSA ID
10910662
Incident
Jan 1, 2016
Mileage
35,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 22, 2015

THE PAINT IS FADING AND PEELING VERY BADLY ON MY 2002 HONDA CIVIC...ALMOST TO THE POINT WHERE THE TRUCK, ROOF, AND OTHER AREAS OF MY RED VEHICLE ARE ALMOST WHITE!!! I KNOW THE CAR IS OLD BUT I HAVE A SILVER 2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR WITH DOUBLE THE MILES ON IT AND NO PAINT ISSUES WHATSOEVER. FROM ALL THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET, THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH INFERIOR QUALITY PAINT JOBS THAT HONDA REFUSES TO CORRECT. I HAVE WASHED AND WAXED THE VEHICLE REGULARLY AND DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE PAINT WOULD FADE AND PEEL LIKE IT HAS. TO TOP IT OFF, THE VEHICLE WAS KEPT IN AN INSIDE STORAGE FACILITY FOR THREE YEARS WHILE I WAS STATIONED IN JAPAN. I REALLY FEEL THAT HONDA NEEDS TO STAND BY ITS PRODUCTS AND RESTORE THE QUALITY THAT THEIR NAME WAS BUILT UPON.

NHTSA ID
10767484
Incident
Jun 3, 2013
Mileage
72,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Feb 5, 2015

CAR'S CLEARCOAT HAS BEEN FLAKING OFF THE ROOF AND THE TRUNK LID. IT FIRST STARTED WITH DISCOLORATION (LIGHTENED BLOTCHES) IN JUNE OF 2010 (8 YEARS AFTER PURCHASED NEW). CURRENTLY (FEB., 2015), 30% OF THE CLEARCOAT ON THE ROOF, AND 10% ON THE TRUNK LID HAVE FLAKED OFF. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN EXPOSED TO SNOW, ONLY TO CA CLIMATE. I'VE READ THAT THE CLEARCOAT ISSUE IS COMMON WITH HONDA AUTOMOBILES SINCE THE LATE 1990'S. I ALSO HAVE A 1993 ACURA LEGEND (236K MILES) THAT WAS EXPOSED TO THE EXACT SAME CLIMATE CONDITIONS, BUT THE CLEAR COAT ON IT IS STILL IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. BOTH CARS ARE MAINTAINED THE SAME WAY. ALL MY CARS ARE WELL MAINTAINED ABOVE & BEYOND WHAT THE MANUAL RECOMMENDED. I THINK I'M FAIRLY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT CARS IN GENERAL (MECHANICAL, TECHNOLOGY, INDUSTRY TREND, ..ETC) BECAUSE I READ ABOUT IT AS A ROUTINE EVERYDAY, JUST LIKE MOST PEOPLE READ THE NEWS EVERYDAY. BASED ON THE COLLECTIVE INFORMATION I'VE READ IN THE LAST DECADE, I BELIEVE THE CLEARCOAT DEGRADATION FOR THE CAR YEARS COINCIDED WITH HONDA'S SWITCHED OVER TO THE USE OF MORE ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY PAINT (I.E. WATER BASED PAINT) IN THE LATE 1990'S OR EARLY 2000'S. ON MY OWN CIVIC, THE CLEARCOAT FLAKES BECOME VERY SOFT (ALMOST GEL-LIKE) WHEN WET FROM WASHING. I DON'T THINK THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE. IT WAS A MANUFACTURING DECISION HONDA MADE WHICH PROVED TO BE LESS DURABLE. HONDA SHOULD BE CALLED OUT OF IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10681594
Incident
Jun 1, 2010
Mileage
160,000 mi
Body & structureExterior lighting
Filed Nov 22, 2014
Crash reported1 injury reported

MY DAUGHTER (18 YRS. OF AGE) RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2002 HONDA CIVIC AND WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. IN THIS ACCIDENT THE UNFORTUNATE THING WAS HER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND HER CHEST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. SHE WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL. X-RAYS WERE DONE AND SHE WAS JUST BRUISED AND NO BROKEN BONES. SHE MAY HAVE NOT SUSTAINED ANY INJURIES IF THE AIR BAG WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. I KNOW HONDA HAS HAD LAW SUITS FILED AGAINST THEM BECAUSE OF AIR BAGS DEPLOYING AND CAUSING INJURY, BUT IN HER CASE IT CAUSED INJURY THAT MAYBE COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF IT HAD DEPLOYED. THANKS *TR

NHTSA ID
10660197
Incident
Nov 18, 2014
Mileage
170,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 5, 2014

MY 2002 PAINT IS STARTING TO COME OFF THE HOOD AND TOP OF CAR. STARTED A LITTLE SPOT HERE AND THERE AND IS QUICKLY TAKING OFF IF LARGER SPOTS. I HAVE SEE THE EXACT SAME COMPLAIN ON SAME CAR ON THIS SITE. I WOULD LIKE HOOD AND TOP OF CAR REPAIRED FOR NO EXPENSE FROM HONDA AND WOULD LIKE INFORMATION ON THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10652879
Incident
May 1, 2014
Mileage
151,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jun 22, 2014

PAINT FROM CAR IS PEELING. AT THE BEGINNING WAS SMALL PARTS AND I WAS TOLD IT IS BECAUSE OF ENVIRONMENT..... NOW THE ENTIRE CAR IS PEELING. I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN SAME ISSUES WITH OTHER HONDA CARS, BUT MY CIVIC 2002 HAS NO RECALL. I WILL NEED TO PAY TO COVER THIS EXPENSE. MONEY I CANNOT AFFORD AND IT IS NOT OUR FAULT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10605033
Incident
Jun 6, 2012
Mileage
110,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 29, 2012

THE SEALANT AROUND THE WINDOW NO LONGER KEEPS THE WATER OUT. I HAVE SINCE BEEN ABLE TO FIX THIS USING TAPE, BUT DURING EXTREMELY HEAVY RAIN, MY FLOOR WILL BE SOAKED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10459943
Incident
Jan 1, 2010
Mileage
60,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 29, 2012
Crash reported

THE HOOD PROP ROD'S LOCKING MECHANISM BECAME FAULTY. THE HOOD PROP ROD WOULD NO LONGER STAY IN PLACE. WHILE ACCELERATING, DECELERATING, OR MAKING TURNS, THE HOOD PROP ROD WOULD COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE BATTERY. THIS WOULD CAUSE HUGE SPARKS, AND SOMETIMES, WOULD CAUSE MY CAR TO STALL IF I ACCELERATED OR DECELERATED TOO FAST. THERE WAS ONE FENDER BENDER AS A RESULT OF THIS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, BUT THERE WAS NO DAMAGE. ALSO, WHEN I WOULD DO HEAVY DECELERATION, MY CAR'S BRAKING POWER WAS SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASED. FORTUNATELY, I NEVER CRASHED INTO ANYONE AS A RESULT (BUT HAD TO DRIVE INTO THE SHOULDER TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT) THE SOLUTION TO THIS WAS A VERY SIMPLE QUICK FIX AFTER MY MECHANIC IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM - JUST KEEP THE HOOD ROD IN THE TRUNK. HOWEVER, THE LOCKING MECHANISM SHOULD NOT FAIL AFTER 8 YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10459937
Incident
Jun 1, 2010
Mileage
65,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Apr 18, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS FAILED AND LOCKED ON THEIR OWN WHILE THE CONTACT'S CHILD WAS IN THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT CHANGE THE LOCK DESIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 142,000.

NHTSA ID
10455647
Incident
Apr 13, 2012
Mileage
142,000 mi
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed May 25, 2010
1 injury reported

2002 HONDA CIVIC EX 4 DOOR THE INDOOR DOOR HANDLES ARE PEELING VERY SHARP METAL THAT CUTS YOUR HAND WHEN YOU TRY TO OPEN THE DOOR. I HAVE CUT MY HAND SEVERAL TIMES. ONCE ALMOST NEEDING STITCHES. HONDA INFORMED ME THAT THERE WERE RECALLS FOR OTHER MODELS FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT NOT THIS YEAR/MAKE/MODEL. THIS IS SURELY A SAFETY DEFECT, THOUGH NOT LIFE THREATENING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10332258
Incident
May 20, 2010
Mileage
98,000 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Apr 14, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE HAS LEAKING STRUTS AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. SHE HEARD AN UNFAMILIAR NOISE COMING FROM THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,142 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,062. UPDATED 05/08/08. *LJ

NHTSA ID
10224405
Incident
Apr 10, 2003
Mileage
8,062 mi
Body & structure
Filed Mar 7, 2006

WATER LEAKS INTO THE TRUNK WHEN DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS. CAR HAS BEEN TO DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR REPAIR YET IT STILL LEAKS. IT SEEMS TO LEAK IN FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL. THE "PARTICLE BOARD" AND CLOTH THAT COVERS THE SPARE TIRE AREA WAS DAMAGED, HAS RUST, AND A MUSTY SMELL REMAINS IN THE CAR. THE CAR IS A HONDA "CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE", YET A LEAKY TRUNK IS NOT COVERED AND DEALERSHIP HAD TO COVER COST. WILL TAKE BACK FOR A THIRD REPAIR. *NM

NHTSA ID
10152066
Incident
Feb 28, 2006
Body & structure
Filed Nov 9, 2004
1 injury reported

THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRUNK SPRING WAS TOO WEAK. AS A RESULT, THE TRUNK FELL DOWN ONTO THE CONSUMER'S HEAD. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED A DEEP GASH ON THE TOP OF HEAD. *AK THE PROBLEM REMAINED THE SAME. *SC

NHTSA ID
10094666
Incident
Sep 26, 2004
Body & structure
Filed Jan 29, 2003

PAINT ON BRAND NEW HONDA CIVIC EX IS BUBBLING UP FROM UNDERNEATH, CHIPPING AND FALLING OFF. HONDA HAS DENIED RESPONSIBILITY FOR DAMAGE CLAIMING IT WAS VANDALISM. A AUTO BODY SHOP AND GIECO INSURANCE HAVE BOTH DEEMED THE DAMAGE FACTORY DEFECT.

NHTSA ID
10004893
Incident
Sep 10, 2002
Mileage
2,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 5, 2002

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE CONSUMER STATES' THAT THE SUN THAT COMES THROUGH SUNROOF IS DISTRACTING TO DRIVERS VIEW. TOOK TO HONDA AND HONDA SAYS ALL HONDA SUNROOFS ARE MADE THIS WAY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID
8023797
Incident
Oct 23, 2002

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 .