Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. 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. 35 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.
The 25 most recent of 35, in the owner's own words
DURING LAST YEAR NY STATE INSPECTION, A TECHNICIAN SAID, THE TWO FRONT STRUT WAS LEAKED; LATER ON WHEN I AM DRIVING THE CAR, I CAN HEAR A NOISE AND FEEL IT UNCOMFORTABLE AND UNSAFE. SO THIS YEAR INSPECTION IN PEP BOYS (STORE ID # 1072), I WAS ASKED TO REPLACE THE TWO, BY MONROE PART # 71433/71434, $204.39 PER UNIT.
ROUTINE INSPECTION BY SERVICE PERSONNEL REVEALED BOTH FRONT STRUTS WERE LEAKING AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. HONDA CIVIC HAD APPROXIMATELY 85,000 MILES, TECHNICIAN STATED THAT IT IS RARE TO HAVE BOTH GO BAD AT THE SAME TIME. *TR
I PURCHASED MY HONDA CIVIC BRAND NEW IN FEBRUARY OF 2002. I HAD MY RIGHT FRONT STRUT REPLACED THE FIRST TIME ON APRIL 8, 2003. I HAD TO HAVE THE SAME RIGHT FRONT STRUT REPLACED AGAIN ON FEBRUARY 22, 2004. MY CAR WENT OUT OF WARRANTY IN 2005, HOWEVER I STILL NOTICED THAT THE AUTOMOBILE DID NOT SEEM TO HANDLE BUMPS/HOLES IN THE ROAD VERY WELL, SHAKING AND RATTLING WITH EVERY ONE. BEING A FAIRLY YOUNG DRIVER, AND THIS BEING MY VERY FIRST CAR, I DID NOT REALIZE THAT THIS WAS AN ACTUAL PROBLEM - I JUST THOUGHT THAT IT WAS THE WAY THE CAR HANDLED. I HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT FOR ANOTHER REASON NOT TOO LONG AGO AND WAS INFORMED BY MY MECHANIC THAT THIS WAS NOT NORMAL AND WAS DUE TO YET AGAIN A SUSPENSION/STRUT PROBLEM. I HAVE ENCOUNTERED SEVERAL HONDA CIVIC OWNERS, ESPECIALLY WITHIN THIS PARTICULAR GENERATION OF CIVIC THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS I HAVE. I BELIEVE THE PARTS TO BE DEFECTIVE. *TR
I BOUGHT A 2002 HONDA CIVIC EX IN 2002. THE CAR ALWAYS SORT OF JUMPED WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CHANGED GEARS. I DID TELL THE SERVICE PEOPLE ABOUT THIS AT THE FIRST FEW REQUIRED SERVICES. THEY MADE OFF LIKE IT WAS JUST NORMAL SO I DROPPED COMPLAINING. THE CAR NOW HAS 130K MILES AND 4 DAYS AGO THE TRANSMISSION BROKE DOWN. I FOUND THAT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN FROM A NUMBER OF ISSUES FROM YOUR SITE. I SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE MGR AT LEITH HONDA IN RALEIGH WHERE MY CAR WAS TOWED. HE EMPHATICALLY STATES THAT THERE IS NO SERVICE ISSUE WITH THE 2002 HONDA CIVIC TRANSMISSIONS. MY CAR WAS SERVICED AS REQUIRED IN FACT SINCE I USE SYNTHETIC OIL MORE THAN REQUIRED. I HAS BEEN TAKEN TO HONDA DEALERSHIPS FOR BIG MILE CHECK UPS OR OTHER REPUTABLE SERVICE PLACES FOR NORMAL OIL CHANGES. I HAVE HAD 3 OTHER HONDA CARS OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS AND THEY ALL GOT WAY OVER 130K MILES BEFORE I TRADED OR SOLD THEM AND NONE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPLIANCE BUSHINGS IN THE FRONT. THIS IS VERY EARLY FOR SOMETHING OF THIS NATURE. *TR
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
HONDA CIVIC 2002 MANUAL TRANS TO MCKEEVER AUTO BRADENTON, FL CHECK RATTLING SOUND IN ENGINE AREA, MAYBE AC? MCKEEVER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM WITH AC,TOOK TO BRADENTON HONDA TOLD COMING FROM TRANS,HONDA MECH NO IDEA WHY. HAD A TRANS FLUID CHANGE USING HONDA FLUID . NO SIGN OF DETERIORATION FLUID,TRANS WORKED FINE, BUT STILL NOISE. NOW HUMMING UNDER HOOD, TOOK TO TIRES PLUS GOT AXLE. DROVE 1200 MILES TRANS STARTS POPPING OUT OF 5 GEAR. TOOK TO MCKEEVER, USA TRANS SAID NEEDED TRANS. COULD REBUILD FOR $2500 NO GUARANTEE.HONDA SAID NO WARRANTY EXTENSION, BULLETIN, OUT OF WARRANTY; NEW TRANS 6000 TECH CAN NOT OPEN TRANS MUST GO TO FACTORY NO ONE WOULD FIX PROBLEM, OPTIONS REBUILD, GET ANOTHER. GOT USED TRANS LOW MILES MCKEEVER INSTALLED REPLACED HONDA SEALS AND FLUID, DROVE 400 MILES LIKE NEW SUDDENLY AT HIGH SPEED ENGINE RACED TRANS POPPED OUT 5 GEAR.RETURNED MCKEEVER?S. FOUND NUMEROUS BULLETINS,COMPLAINTS HONDA TRANS, INCLUDING SAME FOR 01. MCKEEVER?S PUT ORIGINAL TRANS IN CIVIC, TOOK TO HONDA CONTACTED TO REPORT CASE #N012007-10-1601112, TOLD NO BULLETINS ON TRANS FOR MY CAR. TOLD HONDA BULLETIN 01-081 FOR THE 01 CIVIC SAME PROBLEM.HONDA TOLD ME CAR NOT PART OF THAT. TOLD ONLY 01, DRIVE FROM MCKEEVER FOUND THE TRANS SAME AS BEFORE POPPING OUT OF GEAR QUICKLY GOT WORSE UNABLE TO HOLD. HONDA INSPECTED VEHICLE FOUND AXLE SLIPPED OUT, TRANS FLUID LEAKED,TOOK PICTURES HONDA TOLD ME AXLE WRONG, DID NOT FIT, DROVE IN 4TH GEAR TO TIRES PLUS WHO TALKED TO HONDA, THEN PUT AXLE IN SHOWED ME IT FIT.ORDERED ANOTHER AXLE INSTALLED IT SHOWED ME IT FIT. DO NOT KNOW IF AFTERMARKET AXLES FOR THIS VEHICLE ARE SAFETY ISSUE OR IF IT CAUSED DAMAGE TO TRANS REQUESTED ANOTHER USED TRANS. FROM MCKEEVER AUTO WAITING TO CONFIRM AXLE HOLDING.CONTACTED HONDA BACK, HONDA LIED THERE R ISSUES WITH THESE TRANS. HONDA LIED THAT TECH'S CAN NOT OPEN TRANS HAD TO GO TO FACTORY. ORIGINAL TRANS, NEW AXLE IN HONDA OLD AXLE TIRES PLUS, FIRST USED TRANS MCKEEVERS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN LARGE AMOUNTS OF MORNING DEW WERE ON THE WINDSHIELD AND REAR WINDOW, IT WAS HARD TO REMOVE. THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED ON COLD MORNINGS. THE CONTACT USED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, BUT THE DEW REMAINED. THE DEFROSTER WOULD TAKE A LONG TIME TO ACTIVATE AND THE INTERIOR GLASS WOULD CLEAR UP, BUT THE OUTSIDE GLASS WOULD REMAIN FOGGED. THE CONTACT CALLED HONDA CARE AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT NEITHER COULD CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 42,000. UPDATED 01-14-08. *KB THE BRAKES MADE A NOISE WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE SUSPENSION FELT ROUGH. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE CONSUMER CONCERNS. UPDATED 12/12/07. *JB
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE STRUT WAS LEAKING. THE CONTACT CALLED HONDA AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS AN ISSUE BUT, THEIR IS NO RECALL BECAUSE IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, WHO IS WILLING TO REPLACE THE PART AT NO CHARGE BUT THE CONTACT WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE LABOR AND ALIGNMENT.
TL* - THE CONTACT SAYS THE FRONT STRUTS ARE LEAKING. HIS ODOMETER CURRENTLY HAS 32,000 MILES. THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED ONCE SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE AND PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. A MECHANIC SAID THAT THE PROBLEM IS NORMAL.
(1) CRUNCHING SOUND WITH ANY BUMPS IN THE ROAD (2) THE DAMAGE TO RIGHT FRONT TIRE, THE CV BOOT & SHAFT, WAS DUE TO DEFECTIVE STRUT COMING LOOSE. (3) ALL PARTS WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY THAT WAS WITHIN THE 1ST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP, WITH 3,000 MILES ON THE CAR. THIS AGAIN HAPPENED AGAIN IN 2006 ON THE LEFT SIDE, WITH 25,000 MILES ON THE CAR, THIS TIME THEY SAID IT HAD A DEFECTIVE CV JOINT SHAFT & BOOT WAS TWISTING WITH LEFT SIDE SHOCK BEING DEFECTIVE & DAMAGED ALSO. HONDA DEALER PAID FOR ALL BUT 300.00 TO REPLACE & REPAIR ALL THAT THEY FOUND. THIS 2002 HONDA CIVIC LX STILL HAS A CRUNCHING SOUND IN THE FRONT END WITH BUMPS & TURNS AFTER REPAIR 6 WEEKS AGO. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 6 TIMES TO DETERMINE WHAT IS CAUSING A LOUD CLICKING NOISE AT 5MPH IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED. HOWEVER, NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.
EXPERIENCED SEVERE FRONT END VIBRATION, HAD TO REPLACE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT STRUTS AND STRUT BEARINGS. HONDA WAS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT, COST SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *AK
WHILE DRIVING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH FRONTAL UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 50 MPH HEAR A NOISE AND LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. STILL HOLDING THE STEERING WHEEL. *JB
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH ON A SMOOTH ROAD THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT THEN TO THE LEFT AND STRUCK A VEHICLE ON THE OPPOSITE LANE. THERE WAS NO WARNING. EVERYTHING WAS WORKING UNTIL THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BROKEN RIBS AND THE TWO CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT SUSTAINED BRUISES AND CUTS. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTALED . *SC *JB
FRONT STRUT FAILURE ON 2002 CIVIC COUPE EX AT ONLY 47,000 MILES. CHARGED FOR REPAIR DESPITE EARLY STRUT FAILURE BEING A KNOWN FACTORY DEFECT.*AK
THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW ON APRIL 20, 2002. SINCE THE VERY FIRST DAY SEVERAL PROBLEMS WERE DISCOVERED WHICH HONDA HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RESOLVE. ONE ONGOING PROBLEM IS A VIBRATION AT 55 MPH IN THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH HONDA HAS ATTRIBUTED TO A WHEEL BALANCE PROBLEM AND TIRE PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED 14 TIMES BY HONDA AND FIRESTONE (TIRE MANUFACTURER) AND MERCHANT TIRE (BALANCE). HONDA TRIED TO BALANCE THE WHEELS AND AFTER SEVERAL FAILED ATTEMPTS TOLD ME IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH FAULTY TIRES (OEM). HONDA TOLD ME THEY COULD DO NOTHING FURTHER ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND TOLD ME I HAD TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM ON MY OWN WITH THE TIRE MANUFACTURER DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE CAR WAS OBVIOUSLY STILL UNDER HONDA WARRANTY. NONE OF THE BALANCING SOLVED THE PROBLEM AND HONDA TOLD ME IT MUST BE DEFECTIVE (ORIGINAL) TIRES. FIRESTONE THEM REPLACED 3 TIRES UNDER WARRANTY AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTED. THEY ATTEMPTED TO BALANCE THE WHEELS 2 MORE TIMES. I WENT BACK TO HONDA AND THEY BALANCED THE WHEELS AGAIN WITH NO SUCCESS AND THEY WOULD NOT INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM FURTHER. THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS. ONE IS A PROBLEM WITH HISSING AND STATIC IN THE RADIO RECEPTION WHEN THE REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER IS ON (SINCE NEW). HONDA REPLACED THE RADIO AND DEFOGGER SWITCH BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS A VISIBILITY PROBLEM IN THE REAR WINDOW (SINCE NEW). A HAZY STICKY FILM DEVELOPS ON THE REAR WINDOW. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CLEAN WITH HOUSEHOLD GLASS CLEANER. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THAT THE ORIGINAL HONDA FLOOR MAT WORE RIGHT THROUGH WHEN THE CAR WAS NOT EVEN A YEAR OLD. I HAD TO PURCHASE A WHOLE SET FOR ABOUT $90. THE DRIVERS SEAT UPHOLSTERY ALSO BEGAN TO WEAR PREMATURELY. ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT DEVELOPED OVER THE PAST YEAR IS A DAMP MOLDY MUSTY ODOR COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER/HEATER VENTS. THE ODOR IS SOMETIMES STRONG AND WHEN I TURN ON THE AC OR HEATER IT MAKES ME COUGH AND FEEL ILL. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE QUALITY OF THIS VEHICLE.
THE SUSPENSION OF THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN LOWERED BY DEALERSHIP,RESULTING IN STEERING PROBLEMS. THE ABILITY TO MAKE TURNS WERE MORE DIFFICULT THAN NORMAL. TIRES SQUEALED WHEN TURNING CORNERS. ALSO, ALTERED HEADLIGHTS, WHICH CAUSED BULBS TO BREAK. *AK
MY COMPLAINT IS REGARDING THE FRONT LEFT (DRIVER'S SIDE) STRUT ON A 2002 HONDA CIVIC EX COUPE. AFTER A TRIP TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE THE SERVICE ATTENDANT NOTIFIED ME OF THE FRONT LEFT STRUT LEAKING OIL AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WITH AS FEW MILES AS THE VEHICLE HAS ON IT I FEEL SOMETHING LIKE THIS SHOULD NOT FAIL. MY CONCERN IS THE NOTICEABLE TIRE MOVEMENT WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND ON ROUGH SURFACES. HONDA'S FIX FOR THE PROBLEM IS REPLACING THE STRUT WITH THE EXACT SAME STRUT WHICH NUMBEROUS FAILURES HAVE OCCURED. IN MY OPINION IT IS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS CAUSES AN ACCIDENT DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
FRONT LEFT STRUT FAILURE. *AK
CREAK NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR AND A LOUD NOISE FROM LEFT FRONT. HONDA DEALER SAID MCPHERSON STRUTS WERE LEAKING OIL. *TT
I WAS HEARING NOISES THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY 2002 HONDA CIVIC. I TOOK TO HERITAGE HONDA IN WESTMINSTER, MD TO HAVE THEM CHECK IT OUT. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THE PASSENGER SIDE STRUT WAS DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. IT HAS BEEN SIX WEEKS SINCE THE ORIGINAL COMPLAINT AND THE STRUT HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. I CONTACTED HONDA MOTOR CAR IN CALIFORNIA, THEY ADMITTED TO A PROBLEM WITH THE STRUT, BUT SAID IT WAS NOT A DEFECT OR RECALL. I FILE A CASE WITH HONDA. THIS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. *NLM
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLES FRONT SUSPENSION FAILED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM
THE VEHICLE HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE HOPPED TO THE RIGHT. WHEN THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES FORCEFULLY THE VEHICLE SLID TO THE RIGHT INSTEAD OF FORWARD. *NLM
TOOK MY 2002 CIVIC TO THE DEALER FOR ROAD VIBRATION, AUDIBLE POPPING FROM FRONT END WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES (INCLUDES FEELING THE "POP" THROUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL) CLUNKING AND POPPING WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, CLUNKING AND POPPING WHEN ENCOUNTERING ANY BUMPS. SYMPTOMS ARE GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. ADVISED BY DEALER THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CIVIC......MAY TAKE UPWARDS OF THREE WEEKS TO GET PARTS......MAY EVENTUALLY TURN INTO A RECALL.......MEANWHILE, CONTRARY TO ANYONE WITH ANY TYPE OF COMMON SENSE, HONDA EXPECTS US TO KEEP DRIVING THE CAR. I ASKED IF THEY WOULD RECOMMEND ANYONE IGNORING THE SYMPTOMS,...THEY SAID NO!. BUT STILL EXPECT ME TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. TYPICAL ATTITUDE THAT NOTHING WILL BE DONE UNTIL SOMEONE GETS KILLED! *NLM
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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