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.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
29,988 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2001 Honda Civic lights problems

lights problem

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2001 Honda Civic Owner Comments

problem #17

Jan 052007

Civic 4-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Lowbeam light was a recall took to Honda dealer ship in 2007 to fix they didn't fix but they saying they fixed it I asked them I need a copy to see they said they don't have it my lights are off don't work and its a recall not taken care yet please help us out, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Modesto, CA, USA

problem #16

May 152009

Civic

  • 67,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Honda Civic dx. The contact was driving approximately 5 mph when the low beam headlights failed. A deer ran in front of the vehicle and the contact crashed into the deer. The contact was not injured. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that her vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign id number: 04V086000 (exterior lighting: Headlights). The manufacturer advised that the recall repair was performed in 2005. The contact stated that the vehicle was not repaired in 2005. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 67,000 and the current mileage was 67,124.

- Mccalla, AL, USA

problem #15

Jul 302010

Civic

  • 68,700 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Honda Civic. The contact was driving 50 mph when the headlights failed. The contact was unable to turn the headlights back on. The high beams were the only lights that would illuminate. The dealer was unable to diagnose the failure because the headlights were functioning at the time. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and informed her that the vehicle was previously repaired under an unknown headlight recall. The contact was unaware the vehicle was ever repaired for the failure. The failure and current mileages were 68,700.

- East Hanover, NJ, USA

problem #14

May 052010

Civic

  • 76,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2001 Honda Civic dx manual 4 door sedan all of a sudden, my headline low beam lights without any incident. My high beam headlights are working just fine. I was not in an accident or anything like that. Normal driving lead to this. When I called my Honda dealer, he checked VIN number and said that there are no headline recalls for my vehicle. He asked me to bring the vehicle and he will repair it with normal diagnostic and repairs. I was not impressed about this there is a recall similar to the problem I am having but not to my car. Here is the recall information. Electrical & lights: Exterior lighting:headlights campaign number: 04V086000 dates manufactured: 03/2000 to 08/2001 number of vehicles affected: 440,000 model years affected: 2001, 2002 date owner notified: 04/2004 defect summary: On certain passenger vehicles, the low-beam terminal on the head light wire harness can overheat and could cause the low beams to fail without warning. Consequence summary: An unexpected loss of low beams could result in a crash. Corrective summary: Dealers will inspect the head light switch and coupler for signs of heat damage. If heat damage is present, the dealer will replace the switch and coupler. If no heat damage is present, the dealer will replace the head light switch and one mating pin in the coupler. Owner notification began on April 5, 2004. Owners should contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009. Recall notes: Customers can also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).

- Vienna, WV, USA

problem #13

Nov 042007

Civic

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,000 miles
I have a 2001 Honda Civic with 85,000 miles. I had the headlight switch fixed in May 2007 as part of the Honda recall. At this time the dealer did a "once over" on the car and said my struts were leaking, but nothing else. On November 4th I went to drive my car in the morning and the car would not go. The car started, but it would not go into drive or reverse, etc. Luckily I was in my driveway and not driving on a highway or busy street. It turns out that I needed an entirely new transmission, I wound up fixing it for $2,500 as the car is paid off. I called Honda's customer service and they said they will only entertain the problem if I had the car towed to a Honda dealership for a diagnosis - and what pay $5,000+ for the dealer to fix the transmission - no thanks.

- Paoli, PA, USA

problem #12

Jun 132006

Civic 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,100 miles
On February 24, 2004 Honda issued a recall - "on certain passenger vehicles, the low-beam terminal on the head light wire harness can overheat and could cause the low beams to fail without warning." - I got the recall notice and took my car for a fix on May 11, 2004 at conicelli Honda (authorized dealer and service center). A little over two years later on June 13th 2006, I have the same problem occurring in my car. I am driving - returning back from the mall - and the lights just go out. I have to drive on high beam. In the morning as I get in the car - I smell burnt plastic. I took my car to pep boys who couldn't figure out the problem. They replaced both bulbs bit the light still wouldn't work. I called Honda of North America and they said that they couldn't do anything as recalls are serviced only once. They suggested I should talk to conicelli. I called conicelli and they said that this will have to be investigated and paid-for separately and couldn't schedule me before July 3rd (today in June 14th). I am upset about the fact that neither Honda nor its dealer is willing to consider that the problem for which the vehicle was recalled still exists (either it wasn't properly fixed or the fix wasn't good enough). On top of that - the earliest they can look at my vehicle is after 18 days.

- Norristown, PA, USA

problem #11

May 082006

Civic

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Consumer had a problem with 2001 Civic low beam light. The service dealer told the consumer that the wrong lamps were in the headlight (not Honda lamps). The recall on the headlight switch was done prior to this failure. *****

- New York, NY, USA

problem #10

Apr 262006

Civic 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 50,000 miles
: the contact stated the low beams failed without warning. There is a NHTSA recall, #04V086000 concerning the exterior lighting headlights. The vehicle is having the same problems again. The dealer was alerted.

- Providence, RI, USA

problem #9

May 012005

Civic

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
2001 Honda Civic experienced problems with headlight failures and dashboard gauges. The front headlights would cut out intermittently in which Honda replaced two bulbs. The left front headlight cut out and one bulb was replaced. The right front headlight cut out again and one bulb was replaced. The gauges were erratic along with flickering front headlights. Honda could not verify the problem. The consumer felt that he should not be responsible for the repairs. The dealer told the consumer the problem was not related to the recall.

- Stow, OH, USA

problem #8

Aug 192004

Civic 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The consumer received a recall letter NHTSA #04V086000. After the vehicle was serviced, two hours later the same problem as indicated in the recall letter occurred. The consumer took the vehicle back to the dealership. Please provided additional information.

- Ontario, CA, USA

problem #7

May 042004

Civic 4-cyl

  • 22,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Consumer received recall 04V086000 notification concerning low beam lightning. Consumer waited six weeks to get recall repairs done.

- Fairbanks, AK, USA

problem #6

Jun 012004

Civic

  • miles
Request for reimbursement for headlight switch replacement. The low beams were inoperative. (low beam switch failed) the circuit burned and the combo switch assembly was replaced.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #5

May 032004

Civic

  • miles
The vehicle unexpectedly lost low beam 3 times since the dealership performed the low beam lighting recall 04V086000. The part was also replaced once, prior to receiving the recall notification.

- Lexington, NC, USA

problem #4

Mar 022004

Civic 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 91,000 miles
Headlights failed while driving the car.

- Severna Park, MD, USA

problem #3

Jan 092003

(reported on)

Civic

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
The headlight on the vehicle are not designed for use in a cold weather environment. The plastic shield frosts over cutting visibility by approximately 50 percent.

- Gleason, WI, USA

problem #2

Oct 222002

(reported on)

Civic

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Consumer states of having problems with the headlights. Please add more information.

- Gleason, WI, USA

problem #1

Feb 232002

(reported on)

Civic

  • miles
The head lights are not powerful enough to illuminate the road beyond the immidiate few feet. This creates a situation where there is insufficient light in front of the vehicle and consequently it is very risky to drive the vehicle in the dark. The risk of an accident increases several times on the highways. Recently a deer crossing the street couldnt be spotted until it was very close and put me in a dangerous situation. The problem was explained to the dealer and they tried to fix the problem but the situation did not improve in any way. When the dealer was notified of this, he explained to us that it was a manufacturers problem and nothing could be done about it. I have also corrosponded with american Honda Motors of ilinois.

- Cedar Rapids, IA, USA

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