RoadVitals

2004 Honda Civic Transmission Problems

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

Data refreshed

Transmission 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.
31
Latest Jul 7, 2011
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.
9%
of 350 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

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Honda Civic submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 31 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 transmission

The 25 most recent of 31, in the owner's own words

Transmission
Filed Jul 7, 2011

TRANSMISSION INPUT SHAFT BEARING FAILURE. NO SIGNIFICANT EVENT LEAD UP TO THE FAILURE. I HAVE NOT HAD IT REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC SAID IT IS $3500 TO REBUILD. IS A DAILY PROBLEM. NEVER GOES AWAY. A MECHANIC AT HONDA TOLD ME IT IS THE INPUT SHAFT BEARING AND I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. HE SAID THIS IS COMMON WITH HONDAS FROM MID 1990'S TO 2004. HE SAID IT WAS BOUND TO HAPPEN REGARDLESS OF MAINTENANCE & GOOD DRIVING. HARSH GRINDING NOISE WHEN DRIVING CAR OR CAR IS IDLING. NOISE STOPS WHEN CLUTCH IS ENGAGED. DIFFICULT AT TIMES TO PUT INTO GEAR. I HAVE TO EASE IT INTO GEAR AT TIMES. I FEAR FOR MY LIFE FOR WHEN THE BEARING COMPLETELY FAILS AND THE TRANSMISSIONS FALLS APART. IF I AM DRIVING WITH OTHER CARS BEHIND ME, I MAY BE RAN INTO WHEN MY CAR COMES TO A STOP. I AM AFRAID TO LEAVE TOWN IN MY CAR. I GET ANXIETY EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10410910
Incident
Nov 1, 2010
Mileage
110,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 5, 2011

WE HAVE HAD BOTH THE BATTERY AND THE TRANSMISSION FAIL. THE BATTERY FAILED AT 82K MILES, JUST PAST THE 80K MILE WARRANTY. NOW, AT 91K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IN REVIEWING OUR RECORDS, IT SEEMS THAT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS BEGAN AT 51K MILES, AS A "SURGING" WHEN WE WERE ON THE INTERSTATE SUCH THAT THE ENGINE WOULD REV WHILE WE WERE COASTING. THE DEALER COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE ISSUE AND THE STOPPED (FOR WHATEVER REASON). TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS BEGAN AGAIN AT 71K MILES AS THE SHUDDERING. DEALER BURNISHED, AND THEN WE GOT THE RECALL NOTICES AT 74K MILES. IT BEGAN AS "SURGING" WHEN WE WERE ON THE INTERSTATE, THE ENGINE REVVING EVEN WHEN WE WEREN'T ACCELERATING AT 51K MILES. THEN THE SHUDDERING STARTED AT 71K MILES. WE RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICES AT 74K MILES. SHUDDERING STARTED AGAIN AT 91K MILES & WE ARE BEING TOLD IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER SAID THAT HONDA AMERICA WILL PAY FOR THE RECALL IF THE CAR IS UNDER 100K MILES, BUT ONLY ONCE. IF THIS PROBLEM REOCCURS, ISN'T IT OBVIOUS THAT IT'S BY FAULT OF HONDA? AND THAT THESE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS OCCUR EVERY 20K MILES? THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT SEEMS TO DEMAND A RECALL ON THE PART OF HONDA AMERICA. *KB

NHTSA ID
10410621
Incident
Jul 5, 2011
Mileage
91,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jun 13, 2011

MY 2004 TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN A TURN THROUGH A NON STOP LIGHT CONTROLLED INTERSECTION. I WAS ALMOST BROADSIDED BY AN UPCOMING CAR, THAT WOULD HAVE MISSED ME IF THE TRANSMISSION DIDN'T FAIL. I FOUND A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE SAME MODEL YEAR THAT WAS PUT OUT WHILE MY CAR WAS IN THE DEALER'S POSSESSION. I AM BEING TOLD THAT IT IS MY PROBLEM, AND UNLESS I COUGH UP $8,000 TO REPLACE IT WITH A NEW TRANSMISSION I AM SCREWED. FOR A REBUILT TRANSMISSION THE COST WOULD BE $2,000, BUT IT IS ONLY GUARANTEED FOR 1 YEAR. ON TOP OF ALL THIS HONDA WON'T RELEASE THE PATENTS SO THAT YOU CAN BUY THE PARTS NEEDED TO FIX IT ON YOUR OWN. SOUNDS A LOT LIKE FRAUD TO ME! WHY WONT NHTSA FORCE HONDA TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND RECALL THESE VEHICLES? DOES SOMEONE REALLY HAVE TO BE KILLED, MAIMED OR INJURED TO MAKE COMPANIES REPAIR FAULTY VEHICLES? *TR

NHTSA ID
10406120
Incident
Jun 11, 2011
Mileage
108,553 mi
Transmission
Filed Mar 9, 2011

I HAD A CRACK THROUGH MY TRANSMISSION GEAR FROM THE INSIDE DIAMETER ALL OF THE WAY OUT AND 75% FRACTURED FROM ONE SIDE OF THAT COG CYLINDER TO THE OTHER. I REPLACED PART # 23451-PDM-A00 AND 23531-P24-J00 AT A COST OF $2241.75 AT THE SHOP AND ANOTHER $261.93 IN CAR RENTAL FEES. THE FAILURE WAS FIRST CHECKED IN AT THE SHOP ON 9/14/2010 AT 60,715 MILES BUT IT WAS CRACKED AND MAKING THE NOISE SINCE APPROXIMATELY 55,000 MILES. SHOP MANAGER TOLD ME HE HAD NOT SEEN A GEAR CRACK LIKE MINE HAD IN 15 YEARS AND ESPECIALLY AT 60,000 MILES AND THAT THERE WAS NO QUESTION IT HAD BEEN A MANUFACTURES DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10386981
Incident
Sep 14, 2010
Mileage
60,715 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 18, 2011

2004 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID, THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT. I'VE ALREADY REPLACED THE STARTER KIT, THE CV AND SOME OTHER STUFF. NOW, AT 113,000 THE TRANSMISSION IS WHINING AND JUTTERING. THIS CAR IS A LEMON. I HEAR THAT HONDA HAD A RECALL ON THE HYBRID TRANSMISSION IN JAPAN, SO THEY SHOULD HAVE ONE HERE, TOO. *LN

NHTSA ID
10383207
Incident
Jul 1, 2010
Mileage
100,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 7, 2010

CONTINUOUS TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE AND RELATED ISSUES WITH MY HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. *TR

NHTSA ID
10364330
Incident
Oct 28, 2010
Mileage
80,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 20, 2010

2004 HONDA CIVIC ROLLS BACK IN PARK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10350814
Incident
Aug 20, 2010
Mileage
91,844 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 19, 2010

MY 2004 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID HAS 65K PLUS MILES. THE PROBLEM BEGAN WITH A SLIGHT HESITATION UPON ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. I CHALKED IT UP TO MINOR WEAR. THE HESITATION HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. NOW IT SHUDDERS (OR 'JUDDERS' AS I'VE HEARD IT CALLED) ON A REGULAR BASIS;THE SEVERITY AND DURATION HAVE INCREASED. IT HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE I DON'T FEEL SAFE PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC WITHOUT MORE ROOM BETWEEN CARS THAN I'VE TYPICALLY NEEDED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10350688
Incident
Aug 18, 2010
Mileage
65,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 20, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 10 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT INCREASE IN SPEED AND BEGAN JERKING. THE DEALER ADVISED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 148,000.

NHTSA ID
10326659
Incident
Apr 5, 2008
Mileage
127,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Dec 27, 2009

I HAVE A 2004 HONDA HYBRID THAT I BOUGHT NEW FROM AN ATLANTA, GA DEALERSHIP. IT HAS 106000 MILES. IT HAS HAD 1 TRANSMISSION REPLACED, MOTOR MOUNTS, CLUTCH AND THE SAME PROBLEMS STILL EXIST. IT SLIPS, SHAKES LIKE IT IS GOING TO EXPLODE EVEN THOUGH I TAKE OFF GENTLY AND SLOWLY. I WAS AT A REDLIGHT 12-24-09 WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO TURN ONTO I75 AND IT "SLIPPED" SO BADLY IT WOULDN'T EVEN GO. THE CAR BEHIND ME BARELY MISSED SLAMMING INTO ME. BEFORE THIS DAILY IT IS SLIPPING ON HILLS, REVVING UNEXPLAINABLE AND CREAKING AS IF IT IS GOING TO FALL APART. I HAVE HAD IT REGULARLY MAINTAINED AT THE CLEVELAND TN DEALERSHIP WHERE I LIVE. NOW I AM OUT OF WARRANTY AND CANNOT AFFORD TO TAKE IT IN. IT JUST HAD THE CLUTCH AND MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED 2 WEEKS AGO!.. I AM A HOSPICE RN AND DRIVE MY CAR MANY MILES. I AM AFRAID I AM GOING TO KILL SOMEONE BECAUSE OF THE DANGER OF THE SLIPPING, ECT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10297067
Incident
Dec 24, 2009
Mileage
104,099 mi
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Dec 14, 2009

WHEN ACCELERATING TRANSMISSION SHUTTERS WAS FIXED BY DEALER ABOUT 12 MO AGO AND HAS STARTED AGAIN. THEY REPLACED CLUTCH PLATE. ALSO NO PERMANENT FIX FOR CATALYTIC CONVERTER. NOW AFTER CHANGING THE COMPONENTS FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL IT STILL CUTS OFF WITH NO WARNING. EACH OF THESE ITEMS HAVE STARTED AROUND 70,000 MILES EXCEPT FOR CRUISE CONTROL WHICH STARTED WITHIN THE PAST 3-4 MO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10295726
Incident
Aug 5, 2008
Mileage
70,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Dec 8, 2009

TRANSMISSION DELAYS APPLYING POWER, SHUDDERS, THEN ENGAGES FROM STOP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10294856
Incident
Dec 7, 2009
Mileage
80,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 26, 2009

SUDDEN ACCELERATION FROM START. HAPPENS RANDOMLY. CAR GOES OUT OF CONTROL. TAPPING ON ACCELERATOR OR BRAKE BRINGS IT UNDER CONTROL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10293648
Incident
Nov 11, 2009
Mileage
90,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 21, 2009

FAILURE OF HONDA AMERICA TO FIX A FAULTY TRANSMISSION. CHARGING FOR DIAGNOSTICS OF FAULTY TRANSMISSION, TRANSMISSION SLIPS, JUDDERS, AND SEEMS TO BE FAILING. TRANSMISSION IS WORST AFTER THEY SAID IT WAS REPAIRED. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE AND APPARENTLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT AMERICAN HONDA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO FIX REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE KNOWING THAT IT IS A PROBLEM WHICH THEY ARE AVOIDING TO FIX. MAYBE YOU SHOULD VERIFY THAT THE PROBLEM IS FIXED IN THERE NEWER CVT'S OTHERWISE DEATHS MAY OR WILL OCCUR. THE VEHICLE IS A 2004 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID, SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET THERE IS THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE CVT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IF THE REFUSE TO FIX OR FAIL TO FIX, THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND BE FORCED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE TRANSMISSIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10284820
Incident
Jan 1, 2007
Mileage
88,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 11, 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THE TRANSMISSION MADE A GRINDING NOISE. TRANSMISSION FAILURE INCREASED THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN REPLACED VARIOUS COMPONENTS IN THE TRANSMISSION; HOWEVER, AFTER THE FAILURE RESURFACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71000.

NHTSA ID
10283683
Incident
Sep 20, 2005
Mileage
12,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 14, 2009

TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE SLIPPING QUITE A BIT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10265220
Incident
Apr 10, 2009
Mileage
85,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jan 26, 2009

MY 2004 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID STARTED MAKING A WHIRRING NOISE. I TOOK IN TO HONDA AND THEY RAN A ($110.00) DIAGNOSTIC AND TOLD ME I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION THAT WOULD COST ME $4300.00. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT THEY KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER REVISED THE PRICE TO $3200.00 AND TOLD ME HONDA WOULD ONLY PAY FOR HALF. I TOLD THEM I WANT THEM TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION SINCE THEY KNEW THEY SOLD ME A DEFECTIVE ONE AND HAVE DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. THEY TELL ME THE TRANSMISSION COULD GO OUT AT ANY TIME. THEY ALSO CLAIM IT IS NOT DANGEROUS TO ME SINCE IF I DRIVE IT I WOULD HAVE TIME TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN IT GOES OUT. I BELIEVE THAT IS OUTRAGEOUS. I WANT TO RESOLVE THIS BEFORE THERE IS ANY INJURIES OR COLLISIONS AS A RESULT OF THIS DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10256369
Incident
Jan 21, 2008
Mileage
107,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 17, 2008

TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHENEVER YOU TAKE OFF IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR 2 YEARS AFTER YOU CHANGE THE TRANS. FLUID IT STOPS FOR A FEW THOUSAND MILES THEN STARTS AGAIN. I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE TO CHANGE THE FLUID MORE THAN THE ENGINE OIL IT IS GETTING EXPENSIVE!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID
10238584
Incident
May 1, 2006
Transmission
Filed Jun 22, 2008

SLIPPAGE OF TRANSMISSION WHEN STARTING ON AN INCLINE DRIVING A 2004 CIVIC HYBRID. *TR

NHTSA ID
10231933
Incident
Jun 20, 2008
Mileage
62,000 mi
Transmission
Filed May 20, 2008

2004 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID CVT TRANSMISSION SHUDDER AT 110,000. HAD SHAFT BURNISHED AND FLUID REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10228260
Incident
May 18, 2008
Mileage
113,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 12, 2008

THE CVT'S HONDA IS USING IN ITS 2004 CIVIC HYBRID IS DEFECTIVE. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AFTER ONLY 70K MILES (JUST OUT OF WARRANTY). NUMEROUS OTHER CICI HYBRID OWNERS COMPLAINING OF SAME PROBLEM (SHUDDERING AND SUDDEN RPM CHANGES). *TR

NHTSA ID
10217828
Incident
Feb 11, 2008
Mileage
65,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jan 24, 2008

FAULTY CVT TRANSMISSION, SLIPPING AND JUDDER BEGINNING AND DURING ACCELERATION. SOMETIMES ENGINE STALLS WHILE BRAKING TO A STOP. RECALL ONLY FIX PROBLEM TEMPORARY,THIS INFO. CAN BE OBTAIN IN HONDA CVT FORUM WITH OTHER CUSTOMERS WITH SIMILAR CVT ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10215930
Incident
Jan 21, 2008
Mileage
104,600 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 15, 2007

2004 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID BUCKS AND JOLTS AT LOW SPEEDS. AT ITS 30K MILE SERVICE, WAS TOLD IT IS A SECOND GEAR TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THAT HONDA WOULD FIX 'AT NO COST TO ME ONE TIME IN GOOD FAITH' THE FREE FIX HAPPENED B/C THE SERVICE REP (AT A HONDA SERVICE CENTER) SAID HE SEES A LOT OF THESE TRANSMISSION ISSUES AND HE CALLED HONDA (I ASSUME HONDA CORPORATE) AND THEY OFFERED THE (FREE TO ME) FIX. *JB

NHTSA ID
10199700
Incident
Aug 15, 2007
Transmission
Filed Aug 3, 2007

TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE SOUND, REQUIRES TRANSMISSION CHANGES EVERY 3,000 MILES AND THIS STILL DOESN'T COMPLETELY ELIMINATE THE SOUND. HONDA WON'T DO ANYTHING TO ACTUALLY FIX THE PROBLEM FOR GOOD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10198363
Incident
Dec 1, 2004
Mileage
20,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Mar 21, 2007

TRANSMISSION SLIPS IN 2004 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID AND HONDA REFUSES TO REPAIR THE ISSUE. DOCUMENTATION OF A FOREIGN RECALL WAS FOUND FOR THE VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION FAILURE WILL LEAD TO A STRANDED SITUATION WHICH COULD LEAD TO DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10185838
Incident
Feb 11, 2007
Mileage
50,000 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 .