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.
One night after turning off my Civic, I noticed a strange bubbling sound coming from the engine. I didn't think much of it. The next day, when driving home, I noticed my Temp Gauge all the way above the H. I panicked and started going about 40mph on the freeway, until I could exit. I drove slowly a few miles to my house, and on the way there I heard a pop inside my engine. Once I got home, I noticed the coolant cap had popped off and all the coolant had bubbled out of the reservoir. The next day, a mechanic friend looked at it and discovered the radiator cap had broken. No idea how that happened. So my car could have had engine damage if I had driven any further. Problem was solved by buying a new radiator cap and a new coolant cap. It really freaked me out to see the temp go that high. Honda just doesn't make them like they used to.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
One night after turning off my Civic, I noticed a strange bubbling sound coming from the engine. I didn't think much of it. The next day, when driving home, I noticed my Temp Gauge all the way above the H. I panicked and started going about 40mph on the freeway, until I could exit. I drove slowly a few miles to my house, and on the way there I heard a pop inside my engine. Once I got home, I noticed the coolant cap had popped off and all the coolant had bubbled out of the reservoir. The next day, a mechanic friend looked at it and discovered the radiator cap had broken. No idea how that happened. So my car could have had engine damage if I had driven any further. Problem was solved by buying a new radiator cap and a new coolant cap. It really freaked me out to see the temp go that high. Honda just doesn't make them like they used to.
- A A., Fontana, CA, US