CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2001 Civic has transmission problems, transmission problems & more transmission problems. Did we mention transmission problems? And a dangerous defect with the front airbag that didn't get recalled for 10 years.
Although eventually the defective 2001 Civic airbag inflators were fixed under recalls in 2011 & 2013, that meant for 10 to 12 years airbags were activating with excessive force where metal fragments went shooting into passengers when the airbag deployed.
As for the 2001 Civic's transmission woes? Honda conducted a major transmission recall in 2004 & settled a class action lawsuit for defective transmissions in 2006. But, neither the recall or the lawsuit included the 2001 Civic.
Last thing to consider - the 2001 Civic is the most-recalled car ever, closely followed by the 2002 Civic & the 2001 Accord. The 2001 Civic is the 4th most-recalled vehicle overall, only a Ford truck & two Ford vans have more.
6.4
fairly significant
Typical Repair Cost:
$80
Average Mileage:
75,100 miles
Total Complaints:
10 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
fuel door is a poor design, no solution (4 reports)
not sure (3 reports)
ripped out trunk carpet & fixed fuel door cable (2 reports)
i purchased a kit at http://www.fueldoorfix.com/ (1 reports)
I pulled up to the gas station in New Jersey and the guy couldn't get my gas door open to pump the gas even though I had hit the button many times. For a temporary fix, I had to pull the trunk lining back to take the gas door off. To put the gas door back on, I had to pull the paneling at the bottom of my door jam off to re-attach the cable and put it back together. It had snapped in half.
The fuel door and trunk latch stopped working simultaneously, which isn't good when you're at the gas station and on empty. I had to bend my fuel door out with my hand and left a very noticeable dent in the fuel door. It doesn't close all the way now. Good job honda, you've ripped me again.
This was annoying until I had it fixed because I was constantly bothered by other drivers around me who thought I left it open. Good thing it was covered by warranty at the time.
I purchased a kit on the internet at http://www.fueldoorfix.com/. It was only $20 dollars + shipping, and it was a fairly simple DIY. All the instructions are on the website.
I have been dealing with the same problem on my 2001 Civic for at least two years now. I ripped out the carpet in my trunk and fiddled with the cable. It now works again...the only problem is that when I pop the trunk, it usually also releases the fuel door. A small price to pay. something else that I found worked...If i banged the fuel door with the side of my fist, it usually released. I hate my civic, I've paid more in repairs than I have for my car.
- tmsilvei,
South Hadley, MA, US
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
Another extremely annoying, unreasonable issue. How did Honda mess this up? Even in terms of ergonomics or as someone else mentioned cleanliness. It's on the floor, prone to damage and salt, sand, dirt, water. I pulled into a gas station on a freezing February a few years ago and it popped. Possibly because it was cold, I don't know. As usual the Honda rep said "oh I've never seen this problem before" yet somehow knew the item number by part. I did the fix myself, I probably shouldn't have only because the plastic piece between the drivers side doors is now not flush with car and a bit lose. The part was also very expensive so I didn't want to have to pay Honda for the labor as well. I do, however, maintain all my Honda's at the dealer. It broke again last summer, maybe it was too hot this time. Needless to say I didn't fix it again so every time i get gas i just pop my trunk and slip my hand through jagged confines of the inner trunk and turn the lock with my fingers. I have to make sure I don't have anything on that side of the trunk at all times. In case you are wondering, I did not join this site to complain about this. I'm complaining about the other, $3,000 problem that this car has. Not cool HONDA
I've always been annoyed about having to release the fuel door with a mechanical lever inside the car. I'm about out of gas, and pull into the station to re-fuel. The release lever doesn't work. I'm close to dead-empty, but manage to get home. I'm seeing no emergency release for the fuel-door at all in the trunk. Looks like I'm going to have to remove the trunk carpet and try to somehow pop the door from the inside (if that's even possible). I need to at least get enough gas into the car to get it to a dealer.
That's a very, very BAD design. Whoe needs that lock anyway? It can be easily broken by anyone. But to open the tank without breaking the lock is not an easy task especially for technically challenged people like myself. I had to spent several hours of my time and and one hour of my friend's time to open that door. We discovered that the isolation of the cable is damaged. That doesn't allow the cable to pull the latch. The cable is too loose now. I have to go throught the trank and pull that latch unit manually. I don't want to go to a repair shop and spend $100+ to provide a better living for bad designers. Honda should cover it.
Release cable is on floor by door, open to dirt and salt etc. Release keeps failing and the only way to open filler door is to remove trunk lining and reach up inside car body and remove latch, then when filled car try to reinstall. A real poor design, release should be up under dash in dry. Honda should fix older cars with this problem or give me a filler door with an outside key lock. This is the fourth time I have had this fixed on routine Honda services. I do pay for the fix but not sure what. I hate Honda cars now.
This is the second time the release cable for the gas door has broken (first time it broke at 37,000 miles). Best of all there is no emergency release inside the trunk to open the door. Poor design!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I pulled up to the gas station in New Jersey and the guy couldn't get my gas door open to pump the gas even though I had hit the button many times. For a temporary fix, I had to pull the trunk lining back to take the gas door off. To put the gas door back on, I had to pull the paneling at the bottom of my door jam off to re-attach the cable and put it back together. It had snapped in half.
- heyitssammyg, Hellertown, PA, US