RoadVitals

2002 Honda Civic 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.
73
Latest Feb 10, 2025
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.
10%
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.
0
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 2002 Honda Civic submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 73 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

The 25 most recent of 73, in the owner's own words

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
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
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
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
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 9, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED. ADDITIONALLY, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR REBUILT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. CAMBRIDGE HONDA (LOCATED AT 275 FRESH POND PKWY, CAMBRIDGE, MA 02138, (866) 702-3190) WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

NHTSA ID
11194970
Incident
Apr 6, 2019
Mileage
76,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 6, 2019

MY 2002 HONDA CIVIC THAT I PURCHASED FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AS A COMMUTER CAR TWO YEARS AGO SUDDENLY HAD TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR 30,000 MILES OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS AND HAVE NOT HAD A PROBLEM. ONE DAY THE CAR WAS PLACED IN PARK WHILE IN A DRIVE THROUGH WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN PLACED BACK INTO DRIVE. NONE OF THE FORWARD OR REVERSE GEARS WOULD MOVE THE CAR. I TOWED THE CAR HOME AND STILL LOOKING FOR THE FIX. I THOUGHT THE SHIFT CABLE MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE BUT THAT IS NOT THE PROBLEM AS IT IS FUNCTIONING AT THE SHIFTER AND AT THE TRANSMISSION. NOT SURE IF A SHIFT SOLENOID IS BAD OR IF THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT. NO WARNING, NO ERRATIC SHIFTING, AND NO BURNT TRANSMISSION FLUID. VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 02 CIVICS AND HONDA HAS TURNED I BLIND EYE TO A KNOWN PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
11165532
Incident
Nov 12, 2018
Mileage
199,000 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
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 26, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE A CELLULAR BUILD UP HAD OCCURRED IN THE TRANSMISSION AND FLUID LEAKED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID
11081373
Incident
Mar 19, 2018
Mileage
140,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 12, 2017

I JUST BOUGHT A HONDA CIVIC 2002 THINKING IT WAS A SAFE RELIABLE CARE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TRANSMISSON STARTS GIVING OUT IN THE PATH OF CARS CAUSING MY SAFTEY TO BE A CONCERN I THINK ITS FOR THE BEST OF HONDA DRIVERS THAT THIS CAR GETS RECALLED FOR ITS TRANSMISSION ISSUES I ALMOST DONT EVEN WANT A HONDA ANYMORE

NHTSA ID
11014871
Incident
Aug 11, 2017
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 12, 2017

I JUST BOUGHT A 2002 HONDA THINKING IT WAS A SAFE RELIABLE CAR. THEN I FOUND OUT IT IS A FINANCIAL MISTAKE BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSON IS GIVING OUT. THIS EXPERINCE IS CHANGING MY VEIW ON HONDAS FOR THE WORST BECAUSE NOW IM HAVING SO MANY PROBLEMS AND NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO FIX IT THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR ITS TRANSMISSON ISSUES

NHTSA ID
11014869
Incident
Aug 2, 2017
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
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 1, 2017

MY HONDA LOST POWER AND WAS REALLY SLUGGISH ON THE HIGHWAY WITH AN 18 WHEELER BEHIND ME.COME TO FIND OUT I HAD TO PUT IN A TRANSMISSION.NOW,LESS THAN A YEAR LATER I GET A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT READING PO740 01/01 TCC CIRCUTE MALFUNCTION.PUT IN TOO MUCH MONEY TO FIX SOMETHING ELSE.MY SON WAS COMING BACK FROM COLLEGE WITH AN HOUR LEFT TO GET HOME WHEN LIGHT CAME ON SECOND TIME.

NHTSA ID
10982963
Incident
Apr 12, 2017
Mileage
130,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 12, 2017

TRANSMISSION GOES INTO GEAR THEN WILL NOT ENGAGE AFTER 30 SECONDS. REVERSED THEN PUT IN DRIVE AND NOW IT WONT ENGAGE

NHTSA ID
10960251
Incident
Mar 11, 2017
Mileage
173,240 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
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 9, 2016

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 130,000 MILES. SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAME ISSUE SO I TRIED CALLING HONDA BUT SINCE THE CAR IS PRETTY OLD THEY REFUSED TO HELP.

NHTSA ID
10873450
Incident
Jun 10, 2014
Mileage
130,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 9, 2016

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND WAS ENTERING A MAJOR INTERSECTION WHEN THE RPMS REVED UP TO APPROXIMATELY 4000 AND I LOST ALL CONTROL OF THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE AND THIS ALL HAPPENED WITH A SUDDEN JERK. I THEN PUSHED MY GEAR SHIFTIER (CAR IS AUTOMATIC) INTO NEUTRAL THEN BACK INTO DRIVE WHILE TRYING TO AVOID CARS IN THE INTERSECTION. THE CAR FINALLY ENGAGED AGAIN AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A NEARBY GAS STATION. I HAD TO SIT IN THE GAS STATION WITH THE CAR OFF FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES BEFORE I COULD DRIVE HOME. ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER THE VEHICLE DID THE SAME THING AND ALMOST REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. I WAS PRETTY SURE IT WAS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE AND COULDN'T CALL THE MECHANIC TILL THE NEXT MORNING BECAUSE THIS HAPPENED ON A SUNDAY EVENING AND SHOPS WERE NOT OPEN. I WAS ABLE TO TAKE IT IN THE NEXT MORNING TO A MECHANIC WHO OF WHICH EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE WHILE TEST DRIVING MY VEHICLE UNFORTUNATELY WITH MY VEHICLE THE TRANSMISSION IS ENCASED AND HE GAVE ME THE NUMBER FOR A HONDA TRANSMISSION SHOP. UPON SPEAKING TO THE HONDA SPECIALIST HE INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH HONDA'S AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REBUILT FOR THE CAR TO BE SALVAGEABLE. WHEN ASKED HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST I WAS TOLD 2550 PLUS STATE TAXES. UPON CALLING HONDA I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST IN COVERING THE COST EVEN THOUGH ITS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THEIR VEHICLES AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR MY KIDS. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED.

NHTSA ID
10863937
Incident
May 8, 2016
Mileage
194,400 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 2, 2016

TAKATA RECALL REPLACED TRANSMISSION $3,000 2014. RADIATOR 2015.. TEMP RISING SHUT OFF 2 TIMES ON FREEWAY SAME DAY $283. TOWING FEE ON AAA PLUS INS. . BLOWN GASKET. APRIL 2016. DONE. SITTING IN GARAGE. LOOKING FOR TOYOTA PRIUS, I SEE THEY ALSO HAVE LOTS OF PROBLEMS. WHAT SHALL I DO? CAN'T FIND YOUR HONDA HYBRID, I KNOW THEY HAVE THEM. YES WAS IN MOTION ON THE HWY.

NHTSA ID
10862671
Incident
Apr 25, 2016
Mileage
122,676 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 13, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT ONLY SHIFTED INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.

NHTSA ID
10781711
Incident
Oct 9, 2015
Mileage
137,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 4, 2015

WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR SYMPTOMS THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. DEALER DETERMINED TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED, BASED ON DTC CODES: P0700 A/T SYSTEM P0730 INCORRECT GEAR RATIO DEALER SAYS TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF (WITH A USED TRANSMISSION WITH 89,000 MILES ON IT A A SIX MONTH/6000 MILE WARRANTY) $2,700 INSTALLED. I DECLINED. CAR SEEMS TO BE RUNNING FINE BUT ENGINE WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ON, CAUSING MA VEHICLE SAFETY INSPECTION FAILURE AND I NOW HAVE 60 DAYS TO REPAIR IT OR TAKE IT OFF THE ROAD. THE PROBLEM WITH HONDA TRANSMISSIONS SEEMS TO BE ENDEMIC, BUT A SECRET. OTHERS HAVE FARED MUCH WORSE WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURES ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA ID
10746271
Incident
Aug 3, 2015
Mileage
121,426 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 8, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ID
10732820
Incident
Jun 3, 2015
Mileage
115,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 26, 2015

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY GOING ABOUT 30 MPH IN MODERATE TRAFFIC WHEN THE CAR STOPPED RESPONDING TO MY GAS PEDAL AND THE RPMS JUST STARTED TO SPIKE UP. THIS PUT ME IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND THE CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST REAR ENDED ME BUT SWERVED AWAY. LUCKILY MY CAR MANAGED TO GLIDE TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND OUT OF HARM'S WAY. AFTERWARD I HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED. I WAS QUOTED AT VARIOUS DEALERSHIPS THAT THE REPAIR WOULD BE EXCESS OF 3000, SO NOW I'M STUCK WITH REPAIRS THAT EXCEED THE VALUE OF MY CAR. APPARENTLY, HONDA DIDN'T DO A GOOD JOB OF CREATING A RELIABLE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ID
10730514
Incident
Jun 17, 2014
Mileage
130,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 27, 2015

TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT ANY WARNING SIGNS ON 2001 HONDA CIVIC. MANY OTHER USERS HAVE HAD SAME ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10691179
Incident
Feb 25, 2015
Mileage
128,000 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.

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