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.

6.3

fairly significant
Typical Repair Cost:
$370
Average Mileage:
85,300 miles
Total Complaints:
46 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (23 reports)
  2. replace defective seat belt buckle (8 reports)
  3. SRS module needs to be replaced (8 reports)
  4. replaced seat belt component (3 reports)
  5. left front seat belt buckle switch fault under warranty (1 reports)
  6. replace seat belt tensioner (1 reports)
2002 Honda Civic seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2002 Honda Civic Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #46

Nov 252014

Civic SI

  • Manual transmission
  • 145,000 miles

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

SRS light on, every time I had it reset it would come back on. Seat belts also wouldn't retract; read my Honda book and took it in to have them fixed under warranty, SRS light still on....they say it is the buckle and I need to replace it at a cost of $849.00. Whaaat!!??? Tell me my airbag won't deploy unless the buckle is fixed. So much for Honda being concerned with safety issues and correcting them for free. Now seat belts retract...most of the time. Can't afford to have the buckle fixed.

- unhappylady, Holland, MI, US

problem #45

Jul 232012

Civic LX 1.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 22,369 miles

We have since sold the car ( that's why I couldn't provide vin#) this kind of thing should not happen no matter how old the car is. Seems to me these belt buckle problems have obsolescence built in to the vehicle to happen just after warrantee expires

- Karl H., St. Albert, AB, Canada

problem #44

Feb 032015

Civic LX 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,000 miles

I can't take it in for this recall since the dealer didn't have them in stock when I called and when they did have them in stock the transmission was out. 2002 seem to be a really sucky year for Honda.

- pam3020, Pacifica, CA, US

problem #43

Mar 252010

Civic LX 1.7L I-4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 142,115 miles

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

Vehicle was taken to the dealer on 3 occasions due to SRS light being illuminated.

On 3/25/2010 Vic Bailey Honda replaced the driver's airbag inflator per S/B 08-093. Part number 04770-S5A-308 (kit, inflator comp). Total for parts and labor $126.50 charged to factory warranty. This did not fix the problem.

On 04/03/2010 Vic Bailey Honda replaced the driver's seat belt buckle switch due to failure for $79.95 which I paid. This did not fix the problem. They also scanned using a Honda tester and advised that the SRS unit was bad and estimated $615 to replace it.

On 04/19/2010 Vic Bailey Honda replaced the SRS control (part number 960-S5A-A84). The part cost $357 and the labor was $100. With tax and fees the total was $493.42

All together this repair cost $573.39 to turn the SRS light off.

- axistang, Inman, SC, US

problem #42

Feb 012012

Civic LX 1.7L 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 91,800 miles

Not sure what I should do...I'll have my mechanic look at it in the spring...

- Mike B., Oakville, Ontario, canada

problem #41

Dec 012011

Civic LX 1.4L

  • Manual transmission
  • 70,000 miles

Bought car second hand. One month later SRS light comes on. Go to Honda dealership. They diagnose a new srs module is needed and will cost a minimum of 800 euros. It is shocking that this is a known problem and Honda do nothing about it..

- Pau E., Sligo, Sligo, Ireland

problem #40

Jun 232011

Civic DX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 43,247 miles

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

Honda should do a recall as they did with 2001 civics My next Honda will be a Toyota

- Werner A., Abbotsford, British Columbia, canada

problem #39

Jun 232011

Civic DX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 69,504 miles

$69.95 to diagnose will let you know tomorrow what dealer will charge. will not buy another Honda if this problem reoccurs over and over as others have said.

- Werner A., Abbotsford, British Columbia, canada

problem #38

Oct 052011

Civic LX 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 167,000 miles

Local mechanic charged $28.00 of his $45.00 quote to reset. Boy was I a sucker:)

Local dealer quoted $200.00 to replace the seat belt!

Now what???

- keepnitreal4u27, Anytown, NJ, US

problem #37

Oct 032010

Civic EX 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 66,000 miles

one the day the transmission failed on this low miles, one owner, dealer maintained, garage kept, never wrecked car, the SRS light came on......some of these Honda cars have had a serious problem about this....but again Honda says not their problem. Did not bother to fix after paying over 2500 for transmission repair. NEVER A HONDA again.

- Kristi L., St Louis,, MO, US

problem #36

Aug 012010

Civic EX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 170,000 miles

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

I had an inkling that this might be a common problem, sucks that we have to deal with it but I'm glad I'm not the only one. Wow have I had problems with this SRS light. It came on at 50,000 miles, they replaced a recalled part in the "computer", and it was off. 6 months later it happened again. They replaced it again. 6 months later it happened AGAIN. They replaced it again. 6 months later light comes on again. It is SOMETHING ELSE in the passenger seat. They fixed it because it was under warranty. Now, it is on YET AGAIN and now they are telling me it is the passenger seat belt tensioner and since it is no longer under warranty it is going to be $500!!!!!! They really need to figure out this sensor and fix it for free, like a seat belt.

- Stacey G., St. Paul, MN, US

problem #35

Jul 162010

Civic LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 61,000 miles

2002 Civic SRS light stays on. Honda dealer wants $65 to diagnose the problem. Went to another mechanic who reset the seat belt code it was fixed for few days but then the SRS light came back on. We are going to order the seat belt part and install, hopefully it will solve the issue. Honda should take responsibility and fix this for free since this seems to be a common problem.

Update from Aug 28, 2010: The good news is that the SRS light problem is part of the seat belt which has life time warranty. Even though the dealer would want to charge you $95 (or whatever the rate is by your dealer) to diagnose the problem, they will not collect the charge from you if the problem is with the seat belt buckle, where the sensor is. My dealer had to order the part and installed it few days later for no charge to me.

Good luck!

- dalia, El Sobrante, CA, US

problem #34

Apr 052010

Civic LX 1.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,000 miles

SRS light is on for 2 months. Car drives fine but seeing the SRS light on is annoying. Confirmed with Honda USA that this VIN is not a part of their previous recall. Will try to report to NHTSA and will see what will happen. At meantime called the dealer - asked $90 for diagnostic.

- Ivan M., Virginia Beach, VA, US

problem #33

May 302010

Civic LX 1.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 91,050 miles

Last Sunday my SRS light came on and stayed on. I took it to my mechanic (not a Honda dealership). He scanned my car and the left seat belt buckle switch fault code came up. He reset and the light was out, so he tried buckling and unbuckling the seat belt the light came on again. He ran a new scan, the same code came up. He called the Honda dealership and they told him it was covered under the seat belt life time warranty. But they would have to rescan. We went there and they said they would rescan but it wouldn't cost anything as long as the code was the same. They would then order the part and install at no cost to me. So I'm glad it wasn't anything worse.

- Kim K., Bellingham, WA, US

problem #32

May 012009

Civic DX 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 110,000 miles

I just don't understand how they can have a recall for their airbags in the 2001 Civic and not see that they have a problem with the 2002 Civic airbags. Since these lights keep coming on, they obviously have a problem with the airbags in the 2002 Civics as well.

My light is on for no reason, i have not had an accident so why has it come on? And then i find out a lot of people are having these problems. If Honda is not careful, they are going to have the same lawsuits as Toyota. They should jump on it now or they will have to pay more later.

- David L., Castle Rock, CO, US

problem #31

Jun 152005

Civic LX 1.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 42,000 miles

I bought this car brand new & the SRS light came on at about 42,000 miles after 3 yrs of ownership. The dealer said it would be $95 to diagnose & repair would be anywhere from something as minor as a seat belt buckle to $1000 for major air bag damage.

I have had several problems with this car & can honestly say they begin to break down after the 3 yr warranty expires. It's almost as if they are built to last 3 yrs then you are on your own for the repairs. Leasing sure makes much more sense then buying a new Honda. Especially when the car starts taking money out of your pocket after only 3 yrs...

- dicklong, Anaheim, CA, US

problem #30

Feb 212010

Civic LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 77,000 miles

SRS lights came on today when I started my car. Plan to take it to dealer have it checked. Worried about the safety of the car. Wish me good luck

- Qingfang H., Little Rock, AR, US

problem #29

Sep 292009

Civic SI-G

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles

The SRS light stays on in my 2002 Civic too. Sounds like its a common problem in Hondas. Definitely worth a recall!

- joache, Vancouver, BC, Canada

problem #28

Oct 152009

Civic LX 1.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 54,681 miles

srs light came on,called dealer,asked about recall.They said this car is not part of the recall and srs is not related to airbag.Called Honda Canada,they said I'm on my own for the cost of repairs.This is definitely our last Honda

- Tom B., Surrey, BC, Canada

problem #27

Aug 112009

Civic EX 1.7lt Vtec

  • Automatic transmission
  • 81,000 miles

Drivers seat buckle stopped locking in place, resulting in the SRS light being on constantly. Took it to the dealer and had the buckle replaced.

- Brandon S., Acworth, GA, US

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