CarComplaints.com Notes: Yes, the Honda Civic receives a lot of complaints because so many were sold. And sure, car parts only last so long and things eventually break. But it's never good to see this many transmission complaints, especially when the average mileage at failure is just north of 100,000 miles.

Especially when you consider that it's predecessor also has a nasty history with transmission complaints.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
96,558 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.

2002 Honda Civic miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2002 Honda Civic Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #26

Sep 072023

Civic

  • miles

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

Unknown

- Huachuca City, AZ, USA

problem #25

Mar 272021

Civic

  • 295,200 miles
Overheating, leaking coolant, water pump failure. When driving and at idle.

- Hickory Hills, IL, USA

problem #24

Jun 112020

Civic 4-cyl

  • miles
My car shouldn't car with an unprogrammed key. Meaning the chop is not programmed and it starts anyway. Without an properly coded key it shouldn't start period. But yet I can't use a dummy key which also defects the purpose. Meaning anyone can take my key. Take it to the dealership and make a cut and that's how cars get stolen. I still have the car. Also got to start it in the on position in the ignition in order to start it. If you don't and it's still warm. It'll keep cranking for a while than fire right up. It takes longer to crank when it's warm and when you turning it from zero to three and it'll crank longer but it won't if I start it in the on position.

- Jackson, MI, USA

problem #23

Jul 122018

Civic

  • miles

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

Key lock cylinder problems. Sometimes I can't turn the key and start the vehicle. Gotta turn it a certain way to start it. Sometimes it takes longer to crank. Stationary

- Jackson, MI, USA

problem #22

Jan 082020

Civic

  • 186,000 miles
I was driving on highway 101 in California in moderate traffic when there was an unexpected slowdown. I braked in time, but the vehicle behind me did not. I was rear-ended and my car was totaled. I was not injured. However, the person in the passenger seat, who was wearing her seat belt, was thrown forward. She struck her head on the dashboard (possibly the grill) and incurred a serious eye injury that required surgery to repair. I am reporting this because although the lap portion of the seat belt restrained her, apparently the shoulder portion did not. The accident is documented in traffic collision report #9360-2020-00053 issued by the California highway patrol, 6100 labath ave., rohnert park, ca. 707-588-1400. The photo I've attached was taken about three days after the accident.

- Ukiah, CA, USA

problem #21

May 252008

Civic

  • 110,000 miles
This car was damaged in 2008 and totaled.no more worries.

- Valatie, NY, USA

problem #20

Apr 182018

Civic

  • 150,000 miles

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

While driving out in indio on a main street the check engine light went on and within 5 minutes of that happening the car would start to drive very sluggishly and struggled while in drive. It behaved as if it was in neutral and would only go 20-30 mph even if the gas was pressed all the way. Eventually as we drove down the highway back home 3 days later it completely stopped moving in drive and would high rev as you pressed the gas. It would not drive normally and acted as if it was completely in neutral, not driving at all no matter what gear it was in.

- Palmdale, CA, USA

problem #19

Mar 192018

Civic

  • 140,000 miles
Transmission - car died on the highway. Had it towed to the mechanic. Service code that appeared was P0730, and I need a new transmission. Car has 140K on it, is a 2002 Honda Civic, I'm the only owner, and I have serviced this car completely by the book. I just spent $1200 for the timing belt and water pump last month as a preventive measure, $150 on the battery in Jan 2017, tires <7K miles ago, brakes last Nov, and now a $5000 estimate given to me by the dealership in order for them to replace the transmission.

- West Hollywood, CA, USA

problem #18

Sep 112017

Civic

  • 55 miles
Driving home from long way in. Lake county illinios. Shift in gear and jump out of gear while driving and power N steering and engine shut down could of been an bad accident then car stuck in one gear and completely won't move. At all especially in winter

- Rockford, IL, USA

problem #17

Mar 012014

Civic

  • 90,800 miles
In 2014, circa 90,800 miles, the clear coat started fading and peeling on my car: First the top, then hood, now the sides going from top down. Very embarrassing to drive car like this, and costs more to repaint the car than the car is worth.

- Davis, CA, USA

problem #16

May 312017

Civic

  • 93,000 miles

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

"takata recall" I have a Honda and it has less than 100,000 miles on it and my transmission is not working. I have taken it to two different mechanics both say the same. To get in contact with Honda and to make a complaint that my car is low on miles to be giving me this kind of problems.I take really good care of my car and it is very disappointed to have this kind of a problem on a well taken car.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #15

Apr 182017

Civic

  • 175,000 miles
Vehicle stalls while driving (moving and at stops). Restarts are immediately possible however problem reoccurs and leaves motorists potentially stranded and impeding traffic. Vehicle has 175000 miles and has been meticulously maintained. Engine light is intermittent with the problem and has indicated that the catalytic converter has failed, code P0420. However the engine light clears with drive and start cycles. Online research points more directly at a worn ignition switch issue. Vehicle was purchased new in ca, relocated to AZ in 2003 and has been there ever since. Items that have been replaced are, timing belt, water pump, radiator, thermostat, A/C system, alternator, ignition coil and spark plugs, suspension bushings, front struts and coils, fuel pump, camshaft positioning sensor. All recalls have been complied with.

- Tempe, AZ, USA

problem #14

Feb 082017

Civic

  • 240,000 miles
Transmission not going into gear. Slipping. Like a false neutral. Bought it used, and havent been able to drive it yet! other than driving it home the day of purchase. It broke down before I got it home!! poured money into engine repairs. But tranny still slipping. Didnt realize this is very common issue with these cars, until we began researching repair info! I was stuck, in the dark, on a busy highway...for hours, trying to get my "new car" home. Of course, there was no warranty. So, im broke and still on foot! very disappointing. This should definitly be a recall issue. With nationwide complaints of early and multiple tranny failures in 7th generation Civics...why is Honda not doing anything about it?? people like me can not afford tranny replacement costs. Plus, too many reports of the replaced trannys failing as well. The person I bought it from changed out the transmission twice already. This one was not old..by far!

- Jennings, LA, USA

problem #13

Dec 212016

Civic

  • 128,000 miles
Cuts off when stopped idling, but will crank back

- Denton, NC, USA

problem #12

Dec 202015

Civic

  • 119,000 miles
Transmission failure

- Oak Park, IL, USA

problem #11

Mar 102015

Civic

  • 230,000 miles
The acceleration is sticking and the speed will drop to 0 if climbing up a hill using cruise control.

- Tulsa, OK, USA

problem #10

Nov 182014

Civic 4-cyl

  • 170,000 miles
My daughter (18 yrs. Of age) recently purchased a 2002 Honda Civic and was involved in an automobile accident. In this accident the unfortunate thing was her air bag did not deploy and her chest hit the steering wheel. She was taken by ambulance to a local hospital. X-rays were done and she was just bruised and no broken bones. She may have not sustained any injuries if the air bag would have deployed. I know Honda has had law suits filed against them because of air bags deploying and causing injury, but in her case it caused injury that maybe could have been avoided if it had deployed. Thanks

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #9

Jun 142012

Civic 4-cyl

  • 78,000 miles
In June 2012 I experienced on my 2002 Honda Civic an odd behavior, ac stopped working (light would be on but no cold air), power locks also failed, door chime/key left in ignition switchreminder stopped working at the same time, remote entry via key fob was somehow disabled and the most important and somehow terrifying experience is that the windshield washer and wipers do not work properly, I was splashed some muddy water on the windshield and activated the windshield washer/wiper to clear the muddy water; the wipers failed and my vision was completely blurred so I had to look out the drivers window and safely stop. I'm aware of two recall notices for my vehicle model year, one of them involving the low beam lights (I experienced that as well and thought both bulbs, low beams had gone out at the same time) this particular recall is for the defective and/or low quality of the electrical contacts/circuitry of the headlight switch. For a couple of weeks the electrical issue was gone but came back and has stayed, same electrical issues that I think might have something to do with low quality materials (as the ones used on the headlight switch recall notice) at the fuse panel inside the cabin; I'm no expert but my family's safety and the safety of the people on the road is my concern, what if the materials used on this unit (fuse panel/multiplex connector?) overheat and start a fire in the cabin or what I've experienced, a sudden splash on the windshield that prompts a quick response to stop due to null vision? I've searched online and seems the culprit of the electrical issues all at once is a poorly designed/constructed fuse panel. I should feel safe when driving not "taking a risk" hoping nothing bad happens.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #8

Jun 122013

Civic 4-cyl

  • 108,000 miles
Entered only one date but has occurred at least 5 times over the last 6 years and had been so rare didn't believe it had happened. Just so happened it has occurred now 3 times in 6 week span and twice in one day. Motor revs up on it's on when sitting with foot on brake idling, most times I have stopped and getting ready to put in park and shut ignition off. I see other models are being recalled as of June 20, 2013 but no mention of my make/model.

- Kansas City, KS, USA

problem #7

Oct 282010

Civic

  • 107,000 miles
Driving on freeway at approx. 50 mph and notice car accelerating on it's own. Attempt to pull over but notice not able to stop. Pushing down on brake all the way and car still going approx. 50 mph. Call 911 and was told to pull emergency brake. Get into shoulder lane and pull brake gradually as instructed. After doing so, car slows to approx. 10 mph. At this point shoulder lane turns into downhill off-ramp and car gains speed to approx. 15 mph. Traffic signal with red light and stopped cars directly in front of me so make decision to turn car into a pole on sidewalk. This ultimately stops car from moving. However, car RPM gauge still revving between 2.5 and 3.5 until car is turned off. File claim with my insurance, independent investigator checks car and finds that everything is in working condition and cannot find anything wrong with car to have caused the sudden unintended acceleration and inability to stop while utilizing brake pedal.

- La Verne, CA, USA

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