RoadVitals

2002 Honda Civic Engine Problems

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

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
48
Latest Mar 29, 2021
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.
7%
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.
9
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
5

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. 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. 48 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 engine

The 25 most recent of 48, in the owner's own words

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
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
Driver assistanceEngineVisibility
Filed Mar 22, 2020

ENGINE RUNS SLOW AND ACCELARATING MAKES IT SLOWER WINDSHIELD BROKE BY ITSELF WHEN DOING CARWASH

NHTSA ID
11318917
Incident
Mar 12, 2020
Mileage
177,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 28, 2019

NUMEROUS OIL LEAKS ALL HAPPENING SIMULTANEOUSLY - SOLENOID SEAL, FRONT CRANKSHAFT SEAL, VALVE COVER, TIMING COVER , REAR MAIN SEAL, AND OTHERS UNIDENTIFIED YET -- I CANNOT AFFORD ALL OF THESE REPAIRS

NHTSA ID
11172533
Incident
Jan 16, 2019
ElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 30, 2017

DRIVING HOME FROM LONG WAY IN. LAKE COUNTY ILLINIOS. SHIFT IN GEAR AND JUMP OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING AND POWER N STEERING AND ENGINE SHUT DOWN COULD OF BEEN AN BAD ACCIDENT THEN CAR STUCK IN ONE GEAR AND COMPLETELY WON'T MOVE. AT ALL ESPECIALLY IN WINTER

NHTSA ID
11030618
Incident
Sep 11, 2017
Mileage
55 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 9, 2017

TRANSMITION WENT OUT AT 74400 MILES WITH NO WARNING ⚠️ TOWN DRIVING TOOK CORNER NO 3RD OR 4TH GEAR ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMITION COULD ONLY GO20 MILES AN HOUR GOT IT BACK HOME COST 2500 BUCK S TO FIX WITH HONDAS "GOOD WILL " POLICY. NOW IT HAS BLOWN CYLINDER HEAD AT 1400000 CAR LOSES COOLANT AND COMES OUT OVER FLOW TANK

NHTSA ID
11013833
Incident
Nov 1, 2009
Mileage
74,400 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 8, 2017

I KEEP HAVING OIL SEEPAGE -- REPLACED GASKET COVER, MAIN OIL SEAL, OIL PAN, ETC IS THERE A RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETIN ON MY 2002 HONDA CIVIC DX

NHTSA ID
11003813
Incident
Jul 7, 2017
Mileage
90,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Jun 2, 2017

"TAKATA RECALL" I HAVE A HONDA AND IT HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES ON IT AND MY TRANSMISSION IS NOT WORKING. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS BOTH SAY THE SAME. TO GET IN CONTACT WITH HONDA AND TO MAKE A COMPLAINT THAT MY CAR IS LOW ON MILES TO BE GIVING ME THIS KIND OF PROBLEMS.I TAKE REALLY GOOD CARE OF MY CAR AND IT IS VERY DISAPPOINTED TO HAVE THIS KIND OF A PROBLEM ON A WELL TAKEN CAR.

NHTSA ID
10992891
Incident
May 31, 2017
Mileage
93,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 19, 2017

VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING (MOVING AND AT STOPS). RESTARTS ARE IMMEDIATELY POSSIBLE HOWEVER PROBLEM REOCCURS AND LEAVES MOTORISTS POTENTIALLY STRANDED AND IMPEDING TRAFFIC. VEHICLE HAS 175000 MILES AND HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED. ENGINE LIGHT IS INTERMITTENT WITH THE PROBLEM AND HAS INDICATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS FAILED, CODE P0420. HOWEVER THE ENGINE LIGHT CLEARS WITH DRIVE AND START CYCLES. ONLINE RESEARCH POINTS MORE DIRECTLY AT A WORN IGNITION SWITCH ISSUE. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN CA, RELOCATED TO AZ IN 2003 AND HAS BEEN THERE EVER SINCE. ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN REPLACED ARE, TIMING BELT, WATER PUMP, RADIATOR, THERMOSTAT, A/C SYSTEM, ALTERNATOR, IGNITION COIL AND SPARK PLUGS, SUSPENSION BUSHINGS, FRONT STRUTS AND COILS, FUEL PUMP, CAMSHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR. ALL RECALLS HAVE BEEN COMPLIED WITH.

NHTSA ID
10979249
Incident
Apr 18, 2017
Mileage
175,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 23, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR WHILE BEING OPERATED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION HOWEVER AFTER BEING OPERATED FOR 60,000 MILES, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

NHTSA ID
10946984
Incident
Nov 23, 2014
Mileage
60,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structureEngine
Filed Sep 29, 2016
Crash reported3 injuries reported

DEFECTIVE CAR.

NHTSA ID
10910662
Incident
Jan 1, 2016
Mileage
35,000 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Jan 14, 2016

HEADERS ARE CRACKED CAR LOST POWER, SUSPENSION IS NOT DURABLE. STEERING COMPONENTS NOT DURABLE

NHTSA ID
10820130
Incident
Aug 15, 2015
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 9, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS FLICKERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE RELAY SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

NHTSA ID
10724225
Incident
Sep 5, 2014
Mileage
92,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 15, 2015

THE FIRST THING WAS I NOTICED THE TEMP STARTING TO RISE, IMMEDIATELY WAS SHUT OFF AND RADIATOR REPLACED. FEW MONTHS LATER NOVEMBER OF 2013, TEMP STARTED TO RISE, DIDN'T EVEN GET HOT. BLOWN HEAD GASKET. IT SAT TILL JULY 2014, WHEN A NEW MOTOR WAS INSTALLED. DROVE GOOD UNTIL OCTOBER 2014 WHEN OUT OF NO WHERE MY TRANSMISSION QUIT WORKING! *TR

NHTSA ID
10672854
Incident
Nov 7, 2012
Mileage
220,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 24, 2014

DURING SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE ON MARCH 26, 2009, A HONDA SERVICE TECHNICIAN DETECTED AN OIL LEAK. THE HEAD COVER GASKET WAS REPLACED. DURING SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE ON JANUARY 24, 2013, A HONDA SERVICE TECHNICIAN DETECTED AN OIL LEAK. THE HEAD COVER GASKET WAS REPLACED. DURING SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE ON APRIL 19, 2014, A HONDA SERVICE TECHNICIAN DETECTED AN OIL LEAK. THE RECOMMENDATION WAS TO REPLACE HEAD COVER GASKET. *TR

NHTSA ID
10584669
Incident
Mar 26, 2009
Mileage
69,085 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 18, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED OVER 3000 UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000.

NHTSA ID
10573267
Incident
Jan 2, 2014
Mileage
171,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 5, 2012

MY CARS TRANSMISSION IF FAILING AGAIN, BACK IN 2010 IS WHEN IT FIRST STARTED, I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR WOULDN'T MOVE AND I WAS PRESSING DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL, ONLY THE ACCELERATION GAUGE WAS MOVING. I CALLED MY DAD AND TOLD HIM WHAT HAD HAPPENED, SO HE TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE SAID I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION, SO I HAD IT REPLACED AND THE COST CAME OUT OF MY OWN POCKET, AND NOW TWO YEARS LATER THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING AGAIN, THE CAR JERKS WHEN SHIFTING GEARS AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AGAIN.... *TR

NHTSA ID
10464368
Incident
Feb 11, 2010
Mileage
78,530 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed May 9, 2012

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH, MY CAR RAPIDLY SLOWED DOWN TO 15MPH. I WAS ALMOST SERIOUSLY INJURED DUE TO THE NATURE THAT THERE WAS CARS BEHIND ME. ON THE ROAD THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 20 MPH. THERE WAS PLENTY OF REVVING ONCE IT HIT 20MPH. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHTS TO LET ME KNOW THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE CAR ALWAYS DROVE IN GREAT CONDITION AND ALL OF A SUDDEN A MAJOR FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. AND HONDA SEEMS NOT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10457917
Incident
Dec 22, 2011
Mileage
90,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 13, 2012

ONE DAY WHEN I WAS GETTING BACK FROM SCHOOL, THE CAR MAD AN ABNORMAL SOUND WHILE SHIFTING. BUT THEN IT WAS FINE I GOT HOME NO PROBLEM AND THE NEXT TIME I GOT IN THE CAR TO DRIVE (2 DAYS LATER), THE CAR STARTED BUT WHEN I PUT IT INTO DRIVE IT DIDN'T MOVE. MY CAR IS AT 110,000 MILES AND IT HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. I HAVE HAD ALL MY OIL CHANGES DONE ONE TIME AND I CAN PROVE THAT. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AMONG THESE MODELS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10451491
Incident
Feb 16, 2012
Mileage
110,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 12, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED BUT THE RESULTS WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

NHTSA ID
10419217
Incident
Aug 5, 2011
Mileage
96,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngineOther / unspecified
Filed Jul 15, 2011
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY AT A RAPID PACE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTED INTO PARK IN ORDER TO STOP THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP UNTIL CRASHING INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE POLICE ARRIVED TO THE SCENE AND ADVISED THAT THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER INSPECTED BY A PERSONAL FRIEND WHO DISCOVERED AN ALUMINUM NAME PLATE FROM THE SPECTRE AIR FILTER (MODEL NUMBER: 888911) (NA) WAS LODGED BETWEEN THE HOUSING AND THE BUTTERFLY, CAUSING THE THROTTLE TO BECOME STUCK OPEN AND THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. THE NAME PLATE WAS GLUED ONTO THE AIR FILTER. SAFETY PROBLEM IS WITH THE AIR FILTER NOT THE CAR. UPDATED 11/16/2011 *LN *TR

NHTSA ID
10412441
Incident
Jul 12, 2010
Engine
Filed May 4, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE AIR CLEANER ASSEMBLY COULD CAUSE PROBLEMS WITH THE THROTTLE BODY AND PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM SLOWING DOWN. THE DEALER STATED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V329000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE), WHICH WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE, BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000. UPDATED 06/03/11 *B UPDATED 07/08/11

NHTSA ID
10398898
Incident
Jun 26, 2002
Engine
Filed Jun 11, 2010

I OWN A 2002 HONDA CIVIC SI AND WAS CHECKING ON THE VALVE ADJUSTMENT IN MY ENGINE TODAY. I NOTICED ONE OF THE CAM LOBES (CYLINDER #3 ON THE EXHAUST SIDE) HAD SOME SEVERE GALLING AND PITTING. ALL OF THE OTHER CAM LOBES WERE IN PERFECT CONDITION. AFTER DOING SOME SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET (SEARCH FOR "CAM GALLING" OR "HONDA GALLING" OR SOMETHING SIMILAR) I HAVE FOUND THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE TO MANY WHO OWN THIS YEAR CIVIC SI. I ALSO FOUND SOME SITES STATING IT IS ALSO A PROBLEM IN OTHER K SERIES ENGINES (MY CAR HAS A K20A3 ENGINE) AND POSSIBLY A PROBLEM IN OTHER HONDA CARS/SUVS. MY FEAR IS THAT THE LOBE COULD DISINTEGRATE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS AND CAUSE TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE AND POSSIBLY INJURY OR AN ACCIDENT. I PLAN ON TAKING PICTURES TOMORROW AND SEEING WHAT HONDA RECOMMENDS. SINCE THE MAINTENANCE INTERVAL ON ADJUSTING VALVES IS 110,000 MILES ON MY HONDA, IT'S DIFFICULT TO CATCH A PROBLEM LIKE THIS BEFORE THE WARRANTY IS UP SINCE REMOVING A VALVE COVER IS NOT A STANDARD PROCEDURE...ALTHOUGH I WOULD VENTURE TO GUESS THE PROBLEM HAD BEGUN DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. AND, LOOKING AT THE NUMBER OF POSTS ON THE ISSUE, SOMETHING HONDA SHOULD BE RECALLING OR HELPING WITH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10335759
Incident
Jun 10, 2010
Mileage
80,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 20, 2010
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC LX. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 80 MPH, HE HEARD AN UNUSUAL NOISE AND SHIFTED INTO THIRD GEAR. HE THEN ENGAGED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND AS HE SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, THE ENGINE EXPLODED AND FLAMES WERE UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE ROAD AND EXIT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INCIDENT. HE THEN OBSERVED FLUIDS LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 133,000.

NHTSA ID
10326655
Incident
Mar 18, 2010
Mileage
133,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 17, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND SHIVERED BEFORE SHUTTING OFF. THE CONTACT HAD TO WAIT A COUPLE OF MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT A DIAGNOSTIC WOULD COST $100. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO THE INTERNAL CAPACITORS, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 75,000.

NHTSA ID
10277155
Incident
Jul 2, 2009
Mileage
75,000 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 .