10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
37,658 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.

2015 Honda Civic drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2015 Honda Civic Owner Comments (Page 3 of 8)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #111

Jan 232023

Civic 4-cyl

  • miles

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

The passenger side drive shaft or axle snapped in half due to excessive rusts under the vibration dampener. I was accelerating from a red light while going uphill, heard a clunk, all of a sudden car would not go forward or go into park. I had to hit the brakes to avoid rolling backwards and hitting a car behind me. Then I had to put it in neutral to get to a safe area and get my car towed. The car has about 51,000 mi on it. We are in Pennsylvania so we do get a lot of road salt, still it doesn't seem like this should have failed just driving forward. The mechanic says he hasn't seen a failure like this in a car of this age. The portion of the axle under the dampener was clearly quite tapered due to chronic rusting, finally just snapped where it was so thin. It appears that the dampener traps salt and moisture against the shaft.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #110

Dec 252022

Civic

  • miles
The car was driving fine until I heard a grinding sound and pulled over to the side of the road. I turned the car off and on again, put it in drive, and pressed the gas pedal but instead of driving the car started to roll backwards down the hill I was stopped on. No check engine or other warning lights came on. I had the car towed to a mechanic who said the transmission was broken and needed to be replaced. The car is outside of the manufacturer's power train warranty but is only 7 years old with 95,000 miles. I was lucky to be driving on a residential road with no other cars around when the transmission failed instead of potentially driving on a busy highway. After having the car repaired I learned that this car once had a recall regarding broken drive pulley shafts. There are 0 open recalls tied to my VIN so I believe the software update recall was performed before I purchased the used car. I'm wondering if the software update was sufficient if the transmission still failed only a few years later.

- Cliffwood, NJ, USA

problem #109

Dec 012022

Civic

  • miles
Pressure caused transmission plug to pop out unknowingly. Vehicle now jerks at low speeds or when accelerating from a full stop position. Likely that missing plug is allowing dirt and debris into transmission fluid. Transmission likely negatively impacted. This vehicle has less than 75,000 miles. Seems this vehicle should have been included with the NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 15V574000

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #108

Dec 152022

Civic

  • 100,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2015 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH, felt a vibration and noise at low speed and would go away as soon as the vehicle got up to speed. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had driven the vehicle to an independent mechanic who referred the contact to a transmission shop. The vehicle was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer for diagnoses. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V574000 (Power Train). The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

- Middletown, OH, USA

problem #107

Sep 132022

Civic

  • miles
There is no dipstick to check transmission fluid level. My car with no warning light or check engine light lost acceleration and had almost close to stop. Thank god I wan-??t on highway. Upon taking i into mechanic they said a screw was loose and transmission fluid was leaking. It ha happened to me twice. The problem has not been confirmed by dealer. Transmission fluid can neither be measured nor condition of transmission fluid can be seen without dipstick. Very importantly there is no warning light for it.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #106

Dec 052022

Civic

  • miles
No warning lights. No check engine lights. No dipstick to check transmission fluid. Changed the transmission fluid in 8/2021 around 90k miles and my transmission went out ON THE HIGHWAY WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS GOING 70 MPH. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. NOTHING. TRANSMISSION LIGHT COMES ON AFTER MY CAR IS AT A STOP.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #105

Nov 092022

Civic

  • miles

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

I was driving home from work and as I took off from a standstill, I accelerated and my car began to reach 4000-5000 RPM immediately but my speedometer read 4-6 mph. I made it to through the intersection and drove until I reached a safe parking lot. It began puttering through the parking lot, almost jerking, but sounded like I was accelerating at top speeds. Then, it stopped completely. I had it towed to a mechanic that I trust and it turns out that my transmission plug/cap was missing entirely, and all my transmission fluid leaked out without any notice, warning light, or message. I had driven without the cap for days likely before the car began to fail. I was alone and driving in the dark when it occurred which made me panic even more trying to get out of the road in rush hour traffic. After the tow truck began to drive away, I found this puddle of transmission fluid on the concrete. After the mechanic inspected and diagnosed all the damages/failures, he informed me that my entire transmission needs to be replaced along with other affected parts including a pump, new transmission cap, and transmission fluid. I found several other complaints reported to NHTSA about others having the same transmission failure and missing transmission cap/plug. This is my daily driver to/from work as well as transportation for me to take my parents to doctors appointments. Now, not only am I without a mode of transportation to work/medical appointments, but I am having to replace or rebuild the transmission. I was quoted $5366 for a new transmission-??WITHOUT labor, replacement cap, new fluid. All for a $25 cap that popped off-??NHTSA or Honda need to address this issue and find a solution. I could have been injured trying to navigate to a safe place while my car was stalling and sputtering.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #104

Nov 012022

Civic

  • miles
While driving at the interstate speed of 70 mph all of my warning lights came on at one time and the car began to run roughly. I stopped the car for a few moments about 30 minutes. When I started the car back it ran rough but the although the lights went out and went back to normal. I stopped on a steep incline at a stop sign and when I attempted to merge into traffic the transmission will not engage. The shifter moves through all gears freely but the shift but the transmission is not engaged. Has not been inspected yet is I don't have the money to have it towed to a dealer. I've read where there's a recall on the transmission but my VIN is not listed in that recall and it is my assumption that Honda will not make the repairs

- Salem, AL, USA

problem #103

Oct 282022

Civic

  • miles
Noticed at around 58,000 miles my trans fluid fill plug kept popping out, I cleaned the vent cap and that helped for a few weeks. Back to popping out time after time. I did a trans fluid change the first time I noticed it. Still kept popping out. Now the transmission is starting have little shimmies or slips, I-??ve notice it more and more. There-??s no good reason this should be happening to a vehicle with 60,000 miles on it, it absolutely has to be some kind of recall or manufacturer defect. Please advise.

- Grove City, OH, USA

problem #102

Sep 142022

Civic

  • miles
Under 78,000 miles just out of warranty, bought certified used in 2016. Car randomly started shaking/jerking when slowly accelerating. I thought I had a flat tire. Tires were fine and shaking went away as I went up to higher speeds. Progressively got worse throughout the day, more shaking and jerking and then wasn-??t shifting at higher speeds. Check emission and transmission warnings popped up. I immediately took to a small shop who said they didn-??t have the tech to properly diagnose the transmission issue. They took it for a test drive after clearing the computer and transmission went capoot. Towed to Honda and they said transmission bad, lots of broken metal inside. $7200 before tax for a fix. They-??ve offered me $2000 to help cover cost but still outrageous. My VIN wasn-??t part of the recall. Car isn-??t even paid off, this is insanity. Honda is supposed to be reliable.

- Seattle, WA, USA

problem #101

Aug 202022

Civic

  • miles

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

With no warning, the transmission went out on the Civic. It left my son stranded on the side of a busy road. The car still ran, but would not engage in drive or reverse. I had to have it towed and they have concluded the transmission is shot. The mechanic stated the 2015 model is known for this, but mine is not in the recall. This should really be looked into, $7000 out of my pocket when there is a known defect really bothers me.

- Central Point , OR, USA

problem #100

Jun 282022

Civic

  • miles
Software glitch fried the transmission on the spot. Without warning all warning lights came on (engine, brake, power steering, tpms, etc.) then the car immediately lost all power. It would start and run fine, but no power to the wheels and the warning lights all stayed on. This left me stranded on the highway for hours in the middle of the night. Towed to honda dealership who first misdiagnosed issue then concluded the transmission was shot. It is clear to me and others that had this same issue, that the software has a glitch that increases hydraulic fluid in the transmission case tenfold, leading to immediate failure. All maintenance had been meticulously maintained. Honda charged me 9000 dollars for a new transmission. How do you hold the customer responsible for a software issue? A class action suit is needed. I was the biggest honda fanboy out there...not anymore. It had 118000 miles at time of incident.

- Valencia, PA, USA

problem #99

Aug 022022

Civic

  • miles
The transmission failed; however, no code or warning appeared to indicate there was a problem. The only indication that there was an issue, we-??re problems with acceleration. This was meant to be our newer reliable family vehicle for which we drive our two year old son in. Had the car broken down the wrong place and wrong time it could put our son and others in danger. Some sort of code should have appeared to indicate there was an issue before the transmission failed prematurely. The car had just a little over 100,000 miles when the transmission failed. The car was evaluated at a Honda service shop in Annapolis MD (west street). They determine the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. I suspect that 2015 Honda civics have transmission problems and defects. Although our VIN number is not associated with the 2014-2015 Honda Civic recalls, those recalls were transmission related issues. I don-??t know that it is a coincidence, I suspect this year, make and model produced defective transmissions. The most concerning part is that no code nor check engine light appeared to warn us of the transmission issue. The car is currently in an transmission auto shop (glen Burnie, MD) waiting for a used transmission to be installed. It may take two to three weeks for the repairs.

- Arnold, MD, USA

problem #98

Jun 182022

Civic

  • miles
My transmission failed because the transmission fill plug came off at some point during my commute. I had no idea the cap had come off until my transmission stopped shifting properly which is very scary when you are on the highway and are trying to reach safe highway speeds. The next morning, I pulled out of my parking space and was able to pull through my apartment gates without any indications of issues shifting until I stopped at my stop sign. Upon acceleration, my car only had enough acceleration to put me right in the middle of the road. Thankfully it was an early Saturday morning or that would have been even more dangerous. I put it in on the S level to have more control of my low gear and I was barely able to get back to my apartment and could not go more than 5 mph. This was very scary because I knew nobody around that could help me. Imagine if this was late at night or in a more dangerous part of town. No service engine light has ever came on. I get the proper and routine oil changes and also rotate my tires. I bought the car in 2018 as a certified preowned Honda with 33k miles and now it has 95k.The technician at HONDA informed me he has frequently seen this issue with CVT transmission from Honda as the fill plug likely comes off due to the internal forces from the transmission when driving. The technician also informed me that there was no way I could know that the fill plug came off until the complications I had started. A complaint about the $7000 dollar repair to Honda corporate has been filed (I have a warranty for powertrain, but was denied because the fill plug is conveniently not covered by the warranty.) Overall, I am scared that even when this is fixed, that it will happen again. This issue is already happening to others and it has the potential to cause injury. This issue has been inspected by Honda and my insurance. There is no damage that has been identified by either party to have caused this issue other than fill plug being dislodged.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #97

Jun 192022

Civic

  • miles
The transmission fill plug comes out and the transmission fluid then gets all over under the hood. This is the second time this has happened as the first time I brought it to the Honda dealership, they said its nothing to worry about and happens as they put a new cap in and cleaned it up. This can not be ok as it has only been about a year an only 15,000 to 20,000 sence the first occurrence. I can feal a difference when operating the vehicle as it shifts weird and drags the car excessively, there is no warning. My loved ones operate this vehicle and I do not want to see any accidents happen as I have heard of them happening to the same year, make, and model 2015 Honda Civic EX. I would love for an inspection.

- Midlothian, TX, USA

problem #96

Apr 112022

Civic

  • miles
The problem first started when I would put the car in reverse, the car would abruptly stall. I would take the car to many shops and they would change the battery, clean the throttle body and nothing fixed it. Then it would do it when I would put the car in drive. Same thing nobody knew what was going on with the car. There would be no check engine lights. Then one day it started to do it when the car would be at a slow speed. I would be slowing down towards a red light or a stop sign and then out of nowhere the car would come to a complete stop. When that happened I took it to the Honda dealership and they had it for a month. They didn-??t know what was wrong with the car. They had their techline and a field tech come out to see what was wrong with the car still no answers. Then they told me it was a faulty transmission. The transmission didn-??t know what gear to put the car in so it would just put the car in 5th gear. Luckily this didn-??t cause an accident because the car would come to abrupt complete stop. Someone could of ram into the car and their would have been nothing I could do. And with Honda not knowing that they have transmission doing this with no warning is extremely dangerous.

- Oakdale, PA, USA

problem #95

May 012022

Civic

  • miles
As I started driving and pressed on the gas my car hesitated then finally moved. I stopped at a red light, When I pressed on the gas, I had to put the gas petal to the floor, my car lurched, then stopped. Lights came on showing check emission, check transmission. I could smell something. I found out it was transmission fluid that leaked out all over the street. A man stopped who was behind me when this happened told me I lost my transmission fluid. He pushed my car off the road for me to call and have it towed. It was towed to a shop, the man there told me it was the pressure switch that disengaged making me lose the transmission fluid. He said it was the torque converter and it could only be changed by getting a new transmission. He said the NHTSA had hundreds of complaints of the same thing happening to other 2015 Honda Civics. I checked and also filed a complaint, since this has not been addressed a recall with Honda. I will have my car with only 45,000 miles taken to Chapman Honda 22nd Street in Tucson where I purchased it brand new in 2015 to be diagnosed and hopefully fixed. I filed a complaint with Honda receiving a case number and hoping they will assist with fixing my car.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #94

Apr 182022

Civic

  • miles
driving on the GSP fault lights came on in heavy traffic and the transmission disengaged, brought to Causeway Honda and said there the transmission is blow and the recall doesn't cover my car replaced for 5400. dollars...

- Little Egg Harbor, NJ, USA

problem #93

Feb 252022

Civic

  • miles
I was traveling home from Port Aransas TX. I had just driven off the ferry when the car started to violently shake. I was doing 30mph, I had to find a safe place to pull over. I drove no more than 500 ft when RPMs went up but forward momentum stopped. There was no warning other than the shaking. Vehicle was towed home and then to the local repair shop. They stated the transmission had failed. They stated rebuilding was not an option as it was a CVT transmission that had to be ordered via the Honda dealership. It was ordered and installed. Vehicle had 108,000 miles.

- Corpus Christi, TX, USA

problem #92

Apr 022022

Civic

  • miles
On a side street going 25 mph. The car lurched several times. The transmission light came on. The car wouldn't move. It was stuck in park. The transmission filler cap (Honda CVT 25615-5T0-004) had popped out and was missing. There was transmission fluid on the ground. There was only about 1 quart of transmission fluid left in the car. The car had to be towed to a transmission shop. The transmission needed to be replaced !!! :( The mechanic said that he has seen this same problem on other Hondas. NOT HAPPY WITH HONDA ! !!! An internet check with for Honda civic transmission cap problem reveled this has happened to many Hondas with CVT. The overflow vent gets clogged, cause pressure into increase in the transmission, then the cap pops off, the fluid leaks out and the transmission fails. Reference: https://www.civicforums.com/forums/356-transmission/378721-2015-honda-civic-lx-missing-fill-plug-transmission.html https://www.civicforums.com/forums/321-transmission/372757-cvt-fill-plug-solved.html https://www.civicforums.com/forums/356-transmission/372474-fill-plug-jumping-out.html https://www.youtube.com/watch"v=FJoGgP6aICY&ab_channel=TyRC12 https://www.youtube.com/watch"v=taARp_6M02U&ab_channel=NestorAutoRepair

- Kaysville, UT, USA

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