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.
6.0
fairly significant
Typical Repair Cost:
$500
Average Mileage:
80,850 miles
Total Complaints:
6 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
not sure (3 reports)
the instrument gauge is "faulty" and needs replaced (2 reports)
2001 Civic EX The problem with the instrument panel started at about 45K. All needles on all gauges would work fine then suddenly all would zero out for a day or so, then work fine again. As time went on the lapses started lasting longer and longer. Sometimes up to two weeks. I took it to the dealer and they said they never heard of such a thing, but went ahead and pulled the panel, so they said and inspected everything saying they couldn't find anything wrong. I wrote Honda and addressed the safety issues and Honda wrote back saying they have never had this type of complaint so as far as Honda was concerned, it wasn't happening. The words they used were non occurrence. Today the problem continues only the lapse times are all the time. The other day it came to life while I was driving, what an odd sight that was. I went into the store and when I returned the panel was again dead!!! BACK TO NORMAL!!
This one was only slightly annoying. The reason........my friend that was driving, while I was asleep, on a long road trip got a speeding ticket. The only thing that wasn't working was the speedometer. When the cop pulled her over he gave her the option to fix it or take the ticket. Naturally she took the fix it route and it ended up costing me around $500!!
Honda dealership told me that the computer needed to be replaced. Checked for loose wires reset pcm reset. Service advisory told me it only fixed problem for one day. Picked up the car took to another mechanic was told it was most likely a fuse box problem. Called Honda back they said no not a fuse box problem it is the computer. The mechanic probably zapped it and not really fixed. Yet , Honda did not check the fuse box according to the paperwork given to me. I paid Honda 100.00 to fix this problem. It is fine now but fixed by someone else for nothing.
Just went out today for the first time. When I turned my car back on the gauges worked again. Its a little scary when your driving and the you have no clue how fast your going and your RPM is not working. I will update you on the situation more when it happens again.
Instrument panel intermittently loses power, also head-lights shut off. Dealer mechanic replaced several wire harnesses with no fix. problem still ongoing.
- nathanathena,
Bakersfield, CA, US
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I have been dissatisfied on many levels with the dealership service on my car. This particular problem should be fixed by the manufacturer. I've NEVER experienced this problem with any previously owned cars.
My car runs fine; however, the mileage is often completely blank or displays 888888. Sometimes the instrument panel is completely blank (not measuring fuel, rpm's, speed, etc., and is dark at night when I'm driving --- then like magic, it begins working properly. I have different lights coming on and off at will --- such as the brake light, the SRS light, maintenance needed light. Sometimes a light---particularly the brake light---will be on when everything else on the dash is dark --- then when the gauges decide to work, the brake light magically goes out.
If this were an airplane, people could be killed. This is a problem that needs to be corrected by the manufacturer without cost to the car owner. It is a "faulty gauge system."
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2001 Civic EX The problem with the instrument panel started at about 45K. All needles on all gauges would work fine then suddenly all would zero out for a day or so, then work fine again. As time went on the lapses started lasting longer and longer. Sometimes up to two weeks. I took it to the dealer and they said they never heard of such a thing, but went ahead and pulled the panel, so they said and inspected everything saying they couldn't find anything wrong. I wrote Honda and addressed the safety issues and Honda wrote back saying they have never had this type of complaint so as far as Honda was concerned, it wasn't happening. The words they used were non occurrence. Today the problem continues only the lapse times are all the time. The other day it came to life while I was driving, what an odd sight that was. I went into the store and when I returned the panel was again dead!!! BACK TO NORMAL!!
- David C., Dublin, CA, US