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:
2 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
109,301 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 lights problems

lights problem

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2002 Honda Civic Owner Comments (Page 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #14

Sep 252012

Civic

  • 130,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2002 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the vehicle headlight low beam failed. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was not illuminating properperly with the low beam; the contact had to switch to the high beam. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic whom inspected the vehicle. The failure was located at the head light switch internal wires. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 130,000.

- Arlington , VA, USA

problem #13

Feb 012011

Civic 4-cyl

  • 79,000 miles
For the past 1.5 years, the low beams for both the driver and passenger side, have failed without warning while driving. This has occurred about 8 times (3-4 times for each side). After failing, a new lightbulb would have to be installed. The low beam component of the new lightbulb would only last about 2-4 months before failing again. Honda issued a voluntary recall for 2002 Civics, which does not describe my problem. However, my neighbor received NHTSA recall 12V-136, which does describe my problem. It states, "there is a potential failure with the wiring of the low beam headlights which may cause the low beam headlights to fail...the dealer will replace the low beam terminal and if necessary the combination lighting switch." In the voluntary recall, Honda will only replace the combination lighting switch. I do not understand why the NHTSA feels that Honda should replace the low beam terminal in the CR-V models, but for the same exact problem in other models, Honda does not feel they should replace the low beam terminal. I brought my Civic in for the voluntary recall. My driver side low beam had already failed (just shy of two months old. The passenger side is likely to fail soon.) after the work was complete, my low beam still was not functional. The technician explained that the recall does not authorize him to replace my lightbulb free-of-charge. When I called America Honda, I asked about receiving a replacement lightbulb. The representative said that the problem I was experiencing was different than what the recall covered. Later, he said that if the wording used in NHTSA's recall 12V-136 was used, I wouldn't even be on the phone with him. However, he explained that I would have to pay for their diagnosis services, and if the low beam terminal is the cause, I would have to pay for that myself.

- Toms River, NJ, USA

problem #12

Jan 102012

Civic

  • 163,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the low beam headlights were inoperable. Also, the wiring harness behind the bulb and the steering column was melted. The dealer advised the contact that his VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign id number: 04V086000 ( exterior lighting:headlights) and offered no further assistance. The manufacturer was aware of the failure but failed to offer any assistance. No repairs were performed. The current and the failure mileages were 163,000.

- Beauford, SC, USA

problem #11

Jan 132012

Civic 4-cyl

  • 96,000 miles

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

Both low beams failed at the same time. High beams unaffected. Inspected combination switch and connector, switch is failing and low beam wire and connector is discolored indicating overheating. It is obvious that NHTSA recall 04V086000 / Honda service bulletin 04-015 applies to this vehicle even though the Honda service bulletin and dealer claims it is out of range... updated 02/06/12.

- Renton, WA, USA

problem #10

Jul 122006

Civic

  • miles
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Civic. While driving approximately 35 mph, the low beam headlights were activated but both headlights failed to illuminate. The contact activated the high beam headlights in order to resume driving with illumination of the roadway. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign id number: 04V086000 (exterior lighting:headlights) but the contact's VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the malfunction. The approximate failure mileage was unavailable.

- Kissimmee, FL, USA

problem #9

Jul 222011

Civic

  • 140,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Civic si. The contact was traveling 45 mph when a burning odor emitted from the vehicle. The contact later noticed wires from the steering column were melted. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer but the manufacturer was contacted and they advised that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign id number: 04V086000 (exterior lighting: Headlights). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 140,000.

- Fletcher, NC, USA

problem #8

Nov 292010

Civic

  • miles

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

2002 Honda Civic headlamp lenses are not allowing adequate lighting. "

- Quarryville, PA, USA

problem #7

Sep 152010

Civic 4-cyl

  • 86,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving 35 mph at night the front two low beams malfunctioned making the road very difficult to see. The dealer was contacted and stated that there were no related recalls and refused to repair the vehicle. The failure mileage was 86000. The current mileage was 88000. Updated 01/31/11 updated 03/22/11

- South Jordan , UT, USA

problem #6

Nov 102009

Civic

  • miles
2002 Honda Civic (recall 00-02 insight/01-02 ) my 2002 Honda Civic was recalled and unsatifactory fixed by Honda dealer because the headlight low beam has failed again without warning even though the bulbs are ok. The Honda dealer & the Honda usa customer service have refused to repair this problem under warranty.

- Griffin, GA, USA

problem #5

Aug 182009

Civic

  • 162,000 miles
Sudden failure of head light low beams, due to overheating of head light switch. Damage to both switch and coupler have occurred. My mechanic diagnosed this problem on my vehicle when I took it to him after sudden low beam headlight failure while driving at night. The exact same problem is described in NHTSA campaign id number 04V086000, for Honda Civic 2002 vehicles. Honda had their own recall for this problem, under "campaign P23." I have a 2002 Honda Civic, but american Honda motor Corp. Says that my particular VIN number is not covered under their recall. I am requesting that the recall be extended to include my VIN number vehicle. Thank you.

- Benicia, CA, USA

problem #4

Dec 132008

Civic

  • 150,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2002 Honda Civic. Immediately before driving the vehicle, the contact activated the headlights and they quickly shut off. She checked the lights and noticed that both headlights had blown out. The dealer stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign id number 04V086000 (exterior lighting:headlights). Another dealer stated that they never heard of the recall. The manufacturer had not been notified. The current and failure mileages were approximately 150,000.

- Kearneysville, WV, USA

problem #3

Dec 092004

Civic

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Civic. NHTSA campaign id number 04V086000 (exterior lighting:headlights) was referenced. While driving 65 mph, the headlights shut off. The high and low beam lights were inoperable. The failure previously occurred and was repaired by a mechanic because the headlight wiring harness overheated. The repair cost $400. The failure recurred on December 8, 2008 and the contact will have the vehicle inspected again. The manufacturer stated that there were no recalls for his vehicle. The failure mileage was 100,000.

- Edgewater, FL, USA

problem #2

Sep 102008

Civic

  • 46,300 miles
On Thursday 10sep2008 I arrived home in the evening and discovered that both of my low beam headlights were out. I do not know exactly when they went out, but I clearly had just driven home in the dark with no headlights. I changed bulb, checked fuses, etc with no useful result. Online search revealed NHTSA recall 04V086000, which includes the make, model, and year of my vehicle. I was out of town (not using car) for a bit over a week, and then on 20sep2008 I took the vehicle to the Honda dealership (ourisman Honda in bethesda md). Dealership repaired the problem, but required me to pay for repair ($358.76) because my VIN was not in the range listed in the recall. The VIN on my vehicle is, while the recall included the range shhep3...2U300001 thru shhep3...2U300222. The mileage on my vehicle at the time of repair was 46313. Dealership service writer (juan quintero) gave me a copy of Honda service bulletin 04-015, which was about this recall. Service writer told me that the repair they performed to fix the problem was exactly what was described in the bulletin. On 02oct2008 I called Honda (1-800-999-1009) to request that they cover the repair. The phone rep was pretty firm that this was not covered because the VIN wasn't in range. She said I could request additional review and said that this was entered as case number N032008-10-0200448 I have not yet requested review of this case, largely because I have found several other people who had the same problem with out-of-range vins, and none of them seem to have succeeded in getting Honda to cover the repair.

- Gaithersburg, MD, USA

problem #1

Jul 302002

Civic

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Air bag light appears on the dashboard panel. Also, the passenger's side seat had broken while traveling on the highway. Dealership is aware of the problem. The consumer states that the passenger side seat slips, the seat belt on the drivers side will not retract and when its not in use it catches in the door, the speed controls main switch lamp had gone out.

- Springfield, OH, USA

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