Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
702
Latest Apr 4, 2025
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
126
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Dec 8, 2001
What this page shows
Our database holds 702 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Honda Civic. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaints, most recent first
Showing 1–25 of 702 · page 1 of 29
Airbags
Filed Apr 4, 2025
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Civic. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V501000(Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were contacted.
NHTSA ID
11652851
Incident
Apr 4, 2025
Airbags
Filed Feb 28, 2025
Crash reportedFire reported1 death reported
The death investigator's decedent owned a 2002 Honda Civic. The contact stated that after the decedent stopped at a stop sign, they attempted to make a left turn and struck another vehicle on the passenger side. The decedent's air bag was deployed which caused trauma to the decedent's neck. The decedent's vehicle caught fire shortly after impact. The other driver attempted to remove the decedent from the vehicle as authorities were called to the scene. The decedent received medical treatment at the scene and was later transported to the hospital. The decedent was pronounced deceased approximately 30 minutes after arriving at the emergency room. The other driver did not sustain any injuries. A police officer who arrived at the scene managed to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher. The fire department later arrived at the scene to ensure that the fire was extinguished. A police report was filed. The whereabouts of the vehicle after the accident were unknown. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. Upon investigation, it was discovered that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V370000(Air Bags) and NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V320000(Air Bags) which the contact linked to the decedent's death. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA ID
11645529
Incident
Aug 20, 2020
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 10, 2025
I recently purchased the car . I see on several forums , the transmission in this car for this year is prone to leaks and failures and Honda is aware . I’m having that issue .
NHTSA ID
11641805
Incident
Jan 16, 2025
Airbags
Filed Jan 15, 2025
SRS light came on. Vehicle didn’t have any change in driving performance.
NHTSA ID
11636094
Incident
Dec 2, 2024
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 23, 2024
I bought this vehicle with only ~74,000 miles yet the transmission slips 100% of the time when the automatic transmission shifts from first to second gear, and also second to third gear.
NHTSA ID
11595963
Incident
Jun 1, 2024
Airbags
Filed Apr 29, 2024
The contact owned a 2002 Honda Civic. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 15V370000 (Air Bags) and 15V320000 (Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not contacted.
NHTSA ID
11585835
Incident
Apr 29, 2024
Filed Sep 7, 2023
Unknown
NHTSA ID
11543064
Incident
Sep 7, 2023
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 29, 2023
Automatic high beams, etc. Potentially very dangerous to other drivers. Place a limit on the intensity of headlights. Ultra bright lights tend to interfere with me knowing where my own vehicle is on the road.It's getting to be almost a constant anxiety attack driving at night with both on coming and following vehicles with ultra bright lights, including low beams. And if the offending vehicle is a SUV or a pickup it feels like I'm flirting with the distinct possibility of an accident and or injury.
NHTSA ID
11514431
Incident
Mar 28, 2023
Seat belts
Filed Feb 2, 2023
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Civic. The contact stated while trying to fasten the driver’s side seat belt, the seat belt failed to release, not allowing the contact to fasten the seat belt. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was contacted and also stated that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed. The failure mileage was 76,000.
NHTSA ID
11505138
Incident
Nov 2, 2022
Mileage
76,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 28, 2022
For many months, I have been smelling gas inside the car even when the car has been stationary for an extended period. I recently did a Google search and found many reports and YouTube videos related to fuel leaks caused by a cracked fuel pump housing or module located under the rear seat. It can leak enough to leave a puddle of fuel where the housing goes into the tank. This has apparently been a problem for many years. The fuel pump works as it should and the engine runs fine. I removed the rear seat yesterday and found that I have this problem. It is severe enough that fuel visibly sprays out of the cracked housing whenever the key is in the on position and causes a puddle.
NHTSA ID
11491330
Incident
May 1, 2022
Airbags
Filed May 25, 2022
SRS light is on. Upon resetting, light comes back on in a couple days. Mechanic says the airbags will not fire with the SRS light on.
NHTSA ID
11466058
Incident
Jan 1, 2020
Fuel system
Filed Feb 1, 2022
The contact's friend owns a 2002 Honda Civic. The contact stated that there was fuel leaking from the fuel tank. There was fuel on the body of the vehicle. There was an abnormal odor of fuel detected. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA but, no further assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 235,900.
NHTSA ID
11449770
Incident
Jan 1, 2019
Mileage
235,900 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 28, 2021
Drove my Honda civic through town today for about 15 minutes. Came up to a stop light. When the light turned green. I took my foot off the brake and the car jerked forward real hard and then there was grinding noise coming from the transmission. The car wouldn't go into drive or reverse. With my foot on the brake the transmission wouldn't go into park. Had to have the car towed home
NHTSA ID
11430820
Incident
Aug 27, 2021
ElectricalPowertrain (other)Seat belts
Filed Jun 3, 2021
SRS Light on for a while in Honda Civic, Contacted Dealer as this car was messed with by another dealership last year during light swsitch recall, so wanted only other Dealership to diagnose the issue with SRS but diagnosis alone is $157 and since my auto mechanic cannot read the diagnosis Honda has put or installed this restricted setting on the car. Seat belts and seat bekt sensors may be bad and seat belt cant stick on driver;s side, indicating a safety issue, Transmission exhibiting trouble and revs up when shifting, hard to shift gears with automatic gear shift problems. This should not be happening and brand new engine had to be competely installed with new engine blocks, and new radiator and watter pump need due to failing.
NHTSA ID
11419572
Incident
Jun 3, 2021
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 14, 2021
TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT ALL OF A SUDDEN AT A LIGHT WITH 179,000 MILES ON IT. WHEN TRYING TO GIVE IT GAS, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD WHINE. HAD TO GET IT TOWED HOME.
NHTSA ID
11416601
Incident
May 4, 2021
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 30, 2021
ONE DAY ALL OF THE SUDDEN WITHOUT ANY PRIOR SLIPPING OR ANY NOTICE OF ALL FOR THAT MATTER I WAS PARKED SITTING IN A DRIVE THRU WHEN I WENT TO PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE IT WOULDN'T ENGAGE OR MOVE AT ALL THERE IS A COMPLAINT OF FAULTY POOR QUALITY TRANMISSONS BETWEEN 2000-2004 PLEASE HELP
NHTSA ID
11414551
Incident
Apr 20, 2021
Mileage
125,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Apr 13, 2021
SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE THE SRS WARNING LIGHT HAS CONTINUOUSLY STAYED ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD. MY FIRST THOUGHT OF COURSE WAS SOMETHING WAS EITHER WRONG WITH THE AIR BAG SYSTEM OR THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION THAT LED TO THE AIR BAGS (WHICH ONES I HAVE NO CLUE) BEING DEPLOYED AND SO WHEN I SIGNED THE BILL OF SALE WITH THE DEALER I INQUIRED ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND WAS GIVEN A PAPER THAT STATES THE DEALER DID NOT KNOW AS WELL AS TO WHAYLT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM STATUS WAS BUT WAS TO BE EXCLUDED FROM LIABILITY TO THIS ISSUE BY MAKING UP THIS RIDICULOUS DOCUMENT. AFTER SEEING THE CAR FAX THE VEHICLE WAS THEN KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN IN A HEAD ON COLLISION IN 2018 AND SO THE DEALER LIED A BOUT NOT KNOWING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THIS DEALER HAS BEEN TOTALLY NON COMPLIANT WITH THE PROCESS OF GETTING THIS ISSUE ADDRESSED LET ALONE FIXED AND I HAVE TRIED ON SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO TALK TO OWNER WITHOUT ANY CALLBACK OR ANSWERS. I KNLY GET HOUNDED ABOUT WHAT THEY BELIEVE TO BE THE BALANCE DUE ON THE VEHICLE THAT'S IT . JUST TODAY I RAN THE VIN INN THE DATABASE AND SURE ENOUGH THERE WAS AN OPEN RECALL ON THE AIR BAG SYSTWMM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS VIN AND THAT'S WHEN I DECIDED TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT .
NHTSA ID
11407968
Incident
Oct 28, 2020
Engine
Filed Mar 29, 2021
OVERHEATING, LEAKING COOLANT, WATER PUMP FAILURE. WHEN DRIVING AND AT IDLE.
NHTSA ID
11405463
Incident
Mar 27, 2021
Mileage
295,200 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 12, 2021
WHILE DRIVING THE LOW BEAMS CUT OUT AND THE SWITCH HARNESS PROVED TO BE FAULTY. OTHER HONDA CIVICS OF THAT YEAR HAD THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH RECALLED BUT MY VIN DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL. THE RECALL IT SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN BUT IT DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR WAS NHTSARECALL NUMBER:12V-136
NHTSA ID
11402539
Incident
Mar 2, 2021
Mileage
220,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 4, 2021
RECURRENT AND UNSOLVED ISSUES WITH THE SRS AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. IT WAS "REPAIRED" IN 2016, AGAIN IN FEBRUARY 2021, AND HAS RECURRED AGAIN IN MARCH 2021. I HAVE A HONDA CIVIC SI, WHICH WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE TAKATA RECALL PROGRAM. THE SI IS AN UNCOMMON MODEL OF THE CIVIC, AND I BELIEVE THIS IS THE REASON IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I HAVE CONTINUED TO HAVE ISSUES OVER THE YEARS WITH THE SRS WARNING LIGHT COMING ON, AND NOT BEING ABLE TO HAVE IT EFFECTIVELY REPAIRED. ACCORDING TO ONLINE FORUMS FOR OLDER CIVICS, THE SRS WARNING LIGHT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE. THOSE OWNERS RECOMMEND DIY REPAIRS AND WORK-AROUNDS. GIVEN THE LIFE-SAVING IMPORTANCE OF AIRBAGS, HONDA SHOULD BE REPAIRING/REPLACING THEM AS NEEDED.
NHTSA ID
11399149
Incident
Mar 4, 2021
Mileage
190,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 13, 2021
Crash reportedFire reported1 injury reported1 death reported
DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE TAKATA AIRBAGS EXPLODED DURING DEPLOYMENT. SHRAPNEL FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAKATA AIRBAG LODGED IN THE DRIVER'S NECK CAUSING FATAL INJURIES. THE PASSENGER SIDE TAKATA AIRBAG CAUSED A FIRE ON THAT SIDE OF THE AUTOMOBILE AS WELL.*DT*JB
NHTSA ID
11387937
Incident
Aug 20, 2020
Mileage
141,692 mi
AirbagsEngineSteering
Filed Dec 20, 2020
Crash reported
FIRST WEEK I PURCHASED THE CAR IN TALLAHASSEE I HAD A MAJOR OIL LEAK LOOSE SCREWS AND AND COULDN'T STEER . FIRST WEEK I RAN INTO THE BACK OF A SAFETY POLICE OFFICE WHILE ON CAMPUS AT TALLAHASSEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE WE DID THE INITIAL INSURANCE REPORT BUT SHE CLAIM SHE WASN'T HURT , I COULDN'T STOP AND WHEN I HIT HER REAR END I GOT WHIPLASHED , THIS WAS MY FIRST CAR I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT CARS , THE MAN JUST SOLD I TO ME WITH NO WARNINGS MONTHS LATER START RECEIVING MAIL ABOUT A RECALL I SQUEDULED BUT THEY NEVER CAME AND GOT THE CAR SO YEARS LATER I JUST SOLD IT TO PICK AND PULL CAUSE IT WAS IN OPERABILITY. ON SCHOOL CAMPUS
NHTSA ID
11384291
Incident
Sep 29, 2016
Mileage
180,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Nov 25, 2020
PROGRESSIVE FAILING OF THE MULTIPLEX CONTROL UNIT, PART # 38200-S5P-A11, FOR MY 2002 HONDA CIVIC HX 5SP HAS RESULTED IN VARIOUS PROBLEMS THAT CAN PROVE TO BE VERY DANGEROUS SUCH AS FAILURE OF TURN SIGNALS, TAIL LIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR, DASHBOARD LIGHTS, DOME LIGHT, POWER DOOR LOCKS, ETC. EXACTLY WHEN THESE FAILURES OCCURRED ARE HARD TO PIN POINT BUT SO FAR I HAVE AVOIDED PROPERTY AND BODILY HARM BUT NOT GREAT INCONVENIENCE AND REPAIR COST. PLEASE ACT TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM FROM CAUSING HARM OR LOSS OF LIFE.
NHTSA ID
11376356
Incident
Nov 23, 2020
Mileage
200,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 16, 2020
MY 2002 HONDA CIVIC IS HAVING AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM TO WHERE MY BRAN NEW JUST BOUGHT BATTERY IS DRAINING WITHING 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR JUST TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND CAUSE IT TO WHERE IT IS HARD TO STEAR AND EVEN TO WHERE I CANT GET OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF DEAD TRAFFIC. THE WHOLE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF AND WON'T LET ME START IT AGAIN. THIS HAS NOW HAPPEND TO ME ON THE FREEWAY AND ON A 55MPH STREET AS WELL.
NHTSA ID
11349679
Incident
Jul 18, 2020
Mileage
170,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 11, 2020
MY CAR SHOULDN'T CAR WITH AN UNPROGRAMMED KEY. MEANING THE CHOP IS NOT PROGRAMMED AND IT STARTS ANYWAY. WITHOUT AN PROPERLY CODED KEY IT SHOULDN'T START PERIOD. BUT YET I CAN'T USE A DUMMY KEY WHICH ALSO DEFECTS THE PURPOSE. MEANING ANYONE CAN TAKE MY KEY. TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND MAKE A CUT AND THAT'S HOW CARS GET STOLEN. I STILL HAVE THE CAR. ALSO GOT TO START IT IN THE ON POSITION IN THE IGNITION IN ORDER TO START IT. IF YOU DON'T AND IT'S STILL WARM. IT'LL KEEP CRANKING FOR A WHILE THAN FIRE RIGHT UP. IT TAKES LONGER TO CRANK WHEN IT'S WARM AND WHEN YOU TURNING IT FROM ZERO TO THREE AND IT'LL CRANK LONGER BUT IT WON'T IF I START IT IN THE ON POSITION. *TR
NHTSA ID
11328354
Incident
Jun 11, 2020
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.
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