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. Read more »

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:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
117,297 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 (Page 1 of 2)

problem #34

Feb 242023

Civic

  • 218,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2001 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving at approximately 70 MPH, the high-beam headlights failed to function as needed. The contact stated that the running lights and low-beam headlights were operable. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that they needed to take the vehicle apart in order to get the correct part number to repair the vehicle. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The contact was made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V086000 (Exterior Lighting) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 218,000.

- Warsaw, MO, USA

problem #33

Feb 012019

Civic 4-cyl

  • 95,000 miles
Vehicles of this type were subjected to a recall back in 2012 due to a safety issue where the low beam headlights would unexpectedly fail while the vehicle was being driven at night. The recall work has been performed previously by Honda on this specific vehicle. However, a similar problem has recently started occurring on this vehicle even though the recall work has already been done to it. I am an air force veteran with an extensive background in aviation electronics. I also have professional experience doing electrical and electronic engineering. I also have a lot of experience repairing automotive electrical systems. I have analyzed the current problem in my wife's Civic, which involves unexpected failures in the nighttime lighting system where all the lights suddenly shut off. I have also studied the information from the previous recall. I have concluded that the previous recall done by Honda has not fully addressed the previously reported lighting problems that led to the previous recall. It explains why my wife's vehicle is still having similar problems now even though the problem was supposed to have been fixed under the previous recall. I have written a statement giving all the details you should need as a lead in to an investigation. It is attached to this report. If I can be of further assistance please don't hesitate to contact me.

- Nashua, NH, USA

problem #32

Sep 192017

Civic

  • 90,000 miles
Light switch terminal overheated. While in motion on the road, low beam lights suddenly go dark, but high beams and parking lights do work fine. See NHTSA campaign id 04V086000

- Glendale, WI, USA

problem #31

Jul 112017

Civic

  • 191,500 miles

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

In July 2017, the low beam headlights failed (were inoperable), but the high beam and all other external lights were operational. These are the symptoms of a Honda safety recall service bulletin 04-015. This car had the safety recall repairs in September 2009, but the same symptoms reappeared in July 2017. Dealer made the repairs (it took two tries to get it right as shown on the invoices attached) and charged me for the repairs because they said the company will pay for the first recall repair but not subsequent ones.

- Shoreview, MN, USA

problem #30

Jan 212017

Civic 4-cyl

  • miles
Takata recall the side airbag light check turns on randomly from time to time. Then a day or 2 later I get a dmv alert saying my vehicle has been recalled for a safety defect in the airbag. The check light would turn on when I am driving and would stay on.

- Fresno, CA, USA

problem #29

Mar 042016

Civic

  • 144,000 miles
The instrument panel lights have failed to work. The fuse and connections have been checked and are in good repair. The problem lies in the multiplex control unit (mcu). There was a recall on 1998-2000 Honda Accord for the same issue. The problem occurred at night while I was driving. I could no longer see my speed and cannot see any instruments at night.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #28

Feb 042016

Civic

  • 113,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2001 Honda Civic. The vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 04V086000 (exterior lighting). A year later, the low beam headlights failed to function. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the low beam headlights needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 113,000.

- Plainfield, IL, USA

problem #27

Sep 172015

Civic

  • miles
Running lights do not shut off. Must disconnect battery to turn them off.

- Dickinson, TX, USA

problem #26

Aug 012015

Civic

  • 205,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the headlights failed without warning. The lights came back on and the failure did not recur. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 205,000. The VIN was not provided.

- Newport, KY, USA

problem #25

Jun 032015

Civic

  • 141,635 miles
We were driving from reno nv to antioch ca and were in the Sierra mountains at about 2:30 am and all of the sudden we lost our low beam head lights in which we couldn't see the road and we went off the road we avoided an accident because I knew how to steer the vehicle to avoid hitting anything we got out and attempted to see why we didn't have the low beams and could not see why we clicked the high beams and they worked and we proceeded to drive with the high beam headlights

- Sun Valley , NV, USA

problem #24

Dec 022014

Civic

  • 195,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2001 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 15 mph, the low beam headlights failed. The failure occurred on multiple occasions. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The repair specifics were not available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 04V086000 (exterior lighting). The approximate failure mileage was 195,000.

- Bowling Green, OH, USA

problem #23

Aug 042014

Civic

  • 104,073 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously serviced under NHTSA campaign id number 04V086000 (exterior lighting) by the previous owner. The contact stated that the failure recurred. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was unable to be repaired a second time under the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 104,073.

- Snowville, GA, USA

problem #22

Feb 272014

Civic 4-cyl

  • 200,000 miles
Headlights low beam failed was repaired in a recall one before but failed again shows in there service bulletin www-ODI.NHTSA.dot.gov/acms/cs/jaxrs/download/doc/ucm426719/rcrit-12V136-0022.pdf to cut out the repair again.

- Ceres, CA, USA

problem #21

Feb 272014

Civic

  • 200,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the low beam headlights failed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer and was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and advised that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number 04V086000 (exterior lighting). The failure and current mileage was 200,000.

- Ceres , CA, USA

problem #20

Feb 092014

Civic 4-cyl

  • 170,000 miles
We got into a head on collision with a SUV receiving damage to the front of the car. None of the airbags deployed, but both deployed in the other car (SUV). There were two recalls for our Honda Civic airbags in 2010 and 2013. In both recalls our Honda Civic was serviced and the "driver airbag inflator" was replaced. We were told the repairs were made, but the airbags never deployed. We do not want this to happen to anyone else.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #19

Sep 292013

Civic 4-cyl

  • 215,966 miles
As I was driving home in my vehicle at night. The low beam headlights went out suddenly, my high beam lights work so I was able to make it home. This problem was corrected before on a recall campaign. Now my question is can this problem be fixed again free of charge" and is there a better fix for this problem" I have replaced both bulbs with no avail. It seems to be the same problem again. Being a safety issue on my vehicle and possibly other drivers.

- Round Rock, TX, USA

problem #18

Sep 172013

Civic

  • 205,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving approximately 57 mph, the high beam headlights were activated and suddenly became inoperative. The headlights failed to illuminate after several attempts. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for inspection, who stated that the headlight switch had melted. There was a recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number 04V086000 (exterior lighting) however, the contact's VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 205,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Greenview, CA, USA

problem #17

Mar 252013

Civic 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 150,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the low beam headlights malfunctioned and would not re-illuminate. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who advised the contact that the wiring was melted, causing the board to overheat. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and advised him that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign id number 06E044000 (exterior lighting). The failure and current mileage was approximately 150,000. Updated 04/30/13

- Richmond, VA, USA

problem #16

Dec 202012

Civic 4-cyl

  • 90,000 miles
This vehicle was recalled by Honda because of a faulty headlight switch which causes total loss of the low beam headlights. The recall was performed, but the lights have gone out again because of the same problem, and Honda refuses to make the repair at their cost. This is a big safety problem, and Honda should fix it, since they obviously did not fix it correctly the first time.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #15

Apr 112012

Civic 4-cyl

  • 120,000 miles
While driving home from work at approx. 12am the low beams stopped working. High beams still work, but low beams will not come on.

- Macedon, NY, USA

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