2002 Honda Civic Transmission Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING, HE ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE BUT IT FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,808. UPDATED 11/21/13*LJ

NHTSA ID

10548126

Incident

Oct 14, 2013

Mileage

83,808 mi

MY 2002 HONDA CIVIC BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT ANY WARNING AS I ATTEMPTED TO MERGE ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY IN WASHINGTON DC. I COULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR WHEN I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR; FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT TO THE SHOULDER ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT INCIDENT. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A HONDA DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS AN INTERNAL TRANSMISSION ISSUE AND I WAS ADVISED THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED FOR $4700. THE COST FOR THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT WAS OUTRAGEOUS AND AFTER RESEARCHING POSSIBLE REASONS FOR THE FAILURE, I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED FROM THE HONDA DEALERSHIP TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. MY VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE WHICH CAUSED METAL SHAVINGS TO DAMAGE CLUTCHES IN THE TRANSMISSION. DURING MY RESEARCH, I READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS BY HUNDREDS OF OTHERS WHO OWN A 2001 TO 2003 HONDA CIVIC AND STATED THAT THEIR TRANSMISSION FAILED WHEN THEIR MILEAGE RANGED FROM 135K TO AS LOW AS 65K. ALTHOUGH HONDA ISSUED A 2004 RECALL ON TRANSMISSIONS, IT EXCLUDED THE HONDA CIVIC; I AM OUTRAGED THAT HONDA KNEW ABOUT THE HUNDREDS OF TRANSMISSION COMPLAINTS FROM HONDA CIVIC OWNERS BUT DELIBERATELY DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLES TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND WELFARE OF DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS. THE LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FROM HONDA CIVIC OWNERS ABOUT THE LACK OF RELIABILITY OF THEIR CIVICS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS DEMONSTRATIVE OF A DEFECT. I HOPE THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION INVESTIGATES THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE COMPLAINTS AND FORCES HONDA TO RECALL AND REPAIR VEHICLES/COMPENSATE OWNERS FOR REPAIRS. *TR UPDATED 01/23/13 UPDATED 02/19/13 UPDATED 08/21/13

NHTSA ID

10482628

Incident

Oct 13, 2012

Mileage

110,000 mi

I OWN A 2002 HONDA CIVIC LX WHICH IS NOTORIOUS FOR TRANSMISSION FAILURES. I BECAME PRO ACTIVE ABOUT IT WHEN THE AUTOMATIC SHIFTING STARTED TO SLIP. I HAD IT LOOKED AT AND TESTED SEVERAL TIMES, INCLUDING AN ENTIRE DAY WITH THE HONDA DEALERSHIP THAT I PURCHASED IT FROM. I EVEN SENT A LETTER IN 2009 TO AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.THEY ALL INSISTED IT WAS FINE. ON JULY 8, 2011 WHILE DRIVING ON A NARROW MOUNTAIN ROAD IN THE ROCKIES, THE TRANSMISSION WENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND REPLACED AND REBUILT. I DO HAVE THE OLD PARTS. HONDA, WHEN CONTACTED BASICALLY SAID THEY WOULD DO NOTHING. THIS IS A LONG STANDING PROBLEM AND HONDA HAS KNOWN ABOUT IT FOR MANY YEARS. DOES NOT SIT WELL WITH ME NOR SHOULD IT FOR ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD WANT A HONDA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10413192

Incident

Jul 8, 2011

Mileage

87,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 40 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN ON IT'S OWN. HE TRIED TO ACCELERATE, BUT THE SPEED WOULD NOT INCREASE. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A DEALER WHO ADVISED HIM THAT HE NEEDED A TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000. UPDATED 09/15/11 *BF UPDATED 09/26/11

NHTSA ID

10410481

Incident

Jun 25, 2011

Mileage

110,000 mi

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY ROAD. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR ONE YEAR AGO, AND DO THE REGULAR MAINTENANCE. I DID THE TRANSMISSION FLUSH BEFORE 100,000 MILES. BUT WHEN IT REACHED JUST OVER 110,000 MILES, THE CAR JUST CAN'T BE MOVED. ON THE SECOND MORNING, THE CAR CAN BE SLOWLY DRIVEN, SO I SLIPPED IT TO A TRANSMISSION GARAGE. THEY TOLD ME IT WILL COST OVER $2000 TO FIX IT. I THOUGHT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO ME. THEN I DROVE IT BACK TO MY PARKING SPACE. I CALLED HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10408782

Incident

Jun 19, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC EX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SMOKING. THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND TOLD THE CONTACT THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION; THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ID

10405758

Incident

Jan 4, 2011

Mileage

190,000 mi

MY DAUGHTER HAS 2002 HONDA CIVIC AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING - IT THEN STARTED WITH GRINDING NOISE AND CAR WOULD THEN NOT GO OVER 15 MPH. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET CAR INTO PARKING LOT BEFORE IT DIED - I WAS ABLE TO START BACK UP BUT DID SAME THING TO ME. I THEN LOOKED UP KNOWN HONDA CIVIC PROBLEMS AND THERE WERE 160 COMPLAINTS HERE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH 2001 AND 2002 TRANSMISSION FAILURES WHILE DRIVING. IN MY ESTIMATION THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM WHICH CAN EASILY RESULT IN ACCIDENTS INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. IT DOES NOT JUST GRADUALLY HAPPEN BUT JUST APPEARS WITH MOST OF THE STORIES I HAVE READ ON-LINE. I FEEL HONDA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM SINCE MOST PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF DO NOT HAVE $2400 TO $3600 LAYING AROUND TO FIX AND POSSIBLY HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10398866

Incident

May 3, 2011

Mileage

127,300 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD MOMENTARILY HESITATE BEFORE JERKING INTO GEAR WHEN DRIVING FORWARD OR IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

NHTSA ID

10398781

Incident

Feb 1, 2011

Mileage

37,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN ABD THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,000. UPDATED 06/16/11*LJ UPDATED 08/18/11

NHTSA ID

10397383

Incident

May 10, 2008

Mileage

200,000 mi

THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD AND 2 DAYS LATER IT FAILED ALTOGETHER IN TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE IF I HAD BEEN UNABLE TO PULL OVER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10395945

Incident

Apr 14, 2011

Mileage

105,000 mi

CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED AND WOULD BASICALLY "COAST" MAKING IT VERY SCARY WHEN YOU'RE ON THE FREEWAY ONRAMP WITH CARS BEHIND YOU. HAVE THANKFULLY NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT BUT OBVIOUSLY HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR ONE. WAS TOLD TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND WOULD COST $1800 FOR A REBUILD. HAPPENS EVERYTIME I DRIVE. INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND IS COMMON TO THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10394210

Incident

Mar 1, 2011

Mileage

87,000 mi

2002 HONDA CIVIC EX AUTOMATIC TRANS 88K MILES. TRANS STARTED MAKING NOISE, AFTER REVIEWING THIS SITE I REALIZED THAT IT WAS NOT SAFE FOR MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE READING HOW QUICKLY THE TRANS APPEAR TO GIVE WAY AND BREAK DOWN. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO A TRANSMISSION CENTER WHERE IT WAS TAKEN ON A TEST DRIVE (THE TRANSMISSION FAILED) TALK ABOUT GOOD TIMING AND A GOOD CALL... HONDA MUST RECALL FOR SAFETY REASON AND REPAY THOSE OF US HAVING TO FOOT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON AN OBVIOUS FAULTY TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10386706

Incident

Feb 15, 2011

Mileage

88,000 mi

I JUST TOOK OFF FOR WORK AND MY CAR WOULDN'T ACCELERATE AND MADE A TERRIBLE WHINING SOUND. IT WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 4. I TRY TO TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY CAR AND SINCE HONDAS SUPPOSEDLY LAST A LONG TIME I DID NOT THINK SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD HAPPEN AROUND 143,500 MILES. I COULD HAVE BEEN HIT SINCE I LIVE RIGHT ON A ROAD WHERE PEOPLE ARE CONSTANTLY SPEEDING BY, BUT WAS LUCKY IT WAS NOT A BUSY TIME OF DAY. I HAVE EVEN BROUGHT THE CAR INTO HONDA TO LOOK AT THE TRANSMISSION FOR SLIPPING. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT I JUST NEED TO WARM THE CAR UP BEFORE I DRIVE IT. CLEARLY THAT WASN'T HELPFUL AT ALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10386261

Incident

Feb 16, 2011

Mileage

143,500 mi

OWNER OF A 2002 HONDA CIVIC WITH 57,471 MILES ON IT. MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE IS FOLLOWED REGULARLY. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITH NO PRIOR WARNING ON A BUSY BOULEVARD. STOPPED ONE LANE OF TRAFFIC UNTIL SOME CITIZENS GOT OUT OF THEIR CARS, RAN ACROSS 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC, AND HELPED ME PUSH IT TO WHERE IT WAS SAFE. REFURBISHED THE TRANSMISSION AND PAID A TOTAL OF $2,100.00. CONTACTED HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WOULD BE DONE TO FIX IT BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AT THE DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10381639

Incident

Feb 6, 2011

Mileage

57,471 mi

MY CAR STARTED REVVING WHILE I WAS DRIVING. TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. CHECKED FLUID, WAS BROWN. CHANGED FLUID. LASTED ABOUT 1000 MILES MORE AND THEN TRANSMISSION FAILED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10375356

Incident

Jan 7, 2011

Mileage

129,000 mi

DAUGHTER DRIVING 2002 HONDA CIVIC WHEN SUDDENLY CAR LOST ABILITY TO ACCELERATE, LEAVING HER ALONE AND STRANDED LATE AT NIGHT ABOUT 40 MILES FROM HOME. CAR TOWED TO LOCAL GARAGE WHERE ASSUMPTION IS TRANSMISSION FAILURE (PENDING). DEALER TOLD ME I COULD (AT MY EXPENSE) HAVE CAR TOWED TO HONDA AND PAY FOR DIAGNOSIS, BUT UNLIKELY ANY RESPONSIBILITY ASSUMED BY HONDA SINCE CAR WAS NOT SERVICED THERE SINCE WARRANTY EXPIRED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10369546

Incident

Dec 6, 2010

Mileage

90,000 mi

TRANSMISSION ON MY 2002 HONDA CIVIC STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD WHINNY NOISE. A FEW DAYS LATER TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR. (ENGINE WOULD REV UP PRIOR TO UPSHIFT, LAG IN SHIFTING). HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED IN AN EFFORT TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM. FOUR DAYS LATER PUT THE CAR IN GEAR DEPRESSED ACCELERATOR BUT THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT ENGAGE. CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. COULD NOT MOVE IN ANY FORWARD GEAR OR REVERSE. TRANSMISSION WAS TOTALLY INEFFECTIVE (DEAD). TRANSMISSION HAD 141,860 MILES. FLUSHED APPROXIMATELY 141,775 MILES. PRIOR TO THAT HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED AT APPROXIMATELY 110,000 MILES. RESEARCHED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH EARLY 2000 TRANSMISSIONS. IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS AN ACUTE PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSIONS DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. VERY LITTLE IF ANY WARNING OF A SERIOUS PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO THE FACT THAT A VEHICLE ENCOUNTERING THIS PROBLEM CAN BE COLLIDE INTO BY OTHER VEHICLES DUE TO THE LOSS OF ACCELERATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10369419

Incident

Dec 6, 2010

Mileage

141,860 mi

I WAS DRIVING THIS 2002 CIVIC I BOUGHT WITH 120,000 MILES ON IT AND WITHOUT WARNING THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND NOT SHIFTING. AFTER STOPPING AND PRAYING THE CAR DID ENGAGE THE FIRST GEAR AND I BROUGHT IT HOME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10367880

Incident

Nov 26, 2010

Mileage

125,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON SURFACE STREETS MY TRANSMISSION FAILED AND I WAS UNABLE TO USE MY CAR. I WAS ALMOST HIT MY MULTIPLE CARS BEHIND ME AS MY CAR HAD SUDDENLY FAILED. I COULD HEAR MY ENGINE REV TO HIGH RPM, BUT THE CAR WAS NOT IN MOTION. THEREAFTER 5 MINUTES LATER, THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON. I WENT TO A MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. I'VE FOUND NUMEROUS PROBLEMS OCCUR ON THIS VEHICLE AFTER RESEARCHING IT ONLINE FURTHER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10365539

Incident

Jul 12, 2010

Mileage

93,899 mi

2002 HONDA CIVIC EX TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY CHICAGO CITY STREET. COULD NOT GET CAR TO ACCELERATE. COULD ONLY GO UP TO 15 MPH IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. ABLE TO GET BACK TO MY JOB. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP (COMMUNITY HONDA) WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED. ADVISED NOT TO ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY COULD ONLY GET IT TO MOVE BY PUTTING IT IN REVERSE AS IT HAD COMPLETED QUIT GOING FORWARD, COULDN'T USE ANY DRIVE FEATURES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10361450

Incident

Oct 19, 2010

Mileage

162,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND STOPPED, BUT WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT IT INTO PARK THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL FORWARD. HE HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. HE WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE AMONGST THESE VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 99,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10361212

Incident

Oct 15, 2010

Mileage

99,000 mi

2002 HONDA CIVIC (AUTOMATIC) TRANSMISSION FAILED IN 2009 WITH 72K MILES. THE CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD ALL OF A SUDDEN AND WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR. THERE WERE NO INDICATORS PRIOR TO THIS WHICH IS WHY IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS. TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT AND SEEMED OK FOR A FEW MONTHS. THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND FOR TAKING IN TO BE REPAIRED. IT IS NOW 2010, 99K MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT IS ON YET AGAIN AND THE CAR SOUNDS ROUGH WHEN ITS IDLING OR MOVING. HONDA REFUSES TO ASSIST WITH ANY OF THE COST. THIS WILL BE THE 3RD TIME IN LESS THAN 2 YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10360258

Incident

Jul 1, 2009

Mileage

72,000 mi

2002 HONDA CIVIC GX BEGAN LOSING POWER, THREW ENGINE CODE 1890 AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING BADLY IN 3RD GEAR. INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT COULD NOT LOCATE EITHER A NEW OR REBUILT TRANSMISSION. THE HONDA DEALER SAID AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ONLY COVERED UP TO 105,000 MILES OR 7 YEARS, WHICHEVER WAS LESS. THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN BACK TO ME ON ANY OTHER EXTENDED WARRANTIES AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10360001

Incident

Oct 8, 2010

Mileage

130,000 mi

MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT OF MY 2002 HONDA CIVIC WITH JUST 83,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS PULLING OUT OF A GAS STATION ONTO A BUSY STREET. WAS HELD WAY OUT INTO THE STREET AND TRANSMISSION JUST BOUND UP STOPPING BY CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. A CAR HAD TO SLAM ON ITS BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING ME AND HONKED EXCESSIVELY AT ME AS IF IT WERE MY FAULT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10356968

Incident

Sep 4, 2010

Mileage

83,000 mi

TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY THEN WOULD JERK INTO GEAR. WELL THE TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT WHILE CROSSING A BUSY INTERSECTION AND I WAS LUCKY THE CAR MADE IT ACROSS. NEEDLESS TO SAY $2600 AND A NEW TRANSMISSION LATER, IT NOW WORKS FINE (OF COURSE). THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED CAUSING THE FRONT PUMP TO FAIL. PERSONALLY I KNOW 3 PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, GEE YOU WOULD THINK THAT HONDA WOULD REALIZE THE PARTS THEY USED WERE CRAP AND RECALL THE CARS TO REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTERS. NEVER AGAIN!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10352638

Incident

May 22, 2009

Mileage

110,000 mi