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.

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:
7 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
7 / 0
Average Mileage:
88,936 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 steering problems

steering problem

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2001 Honda Civic Owner Comments

problem #10

Jul 202017

Civic

  • miles

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

The was just park and when I put the ignition key on the steering wheel and key ignition didn't want to start

- Placentia, CA, USA

problem #9

Mar 182016

Civic

  • 145,000 miles
Steering: I was on the freeway northbound in slow lane, the vehicle was pulling heavy to the right. I remember going into a fishtail then to the right which was grassy and dirt. Slamming sideways up against a wall or fence ending up drivers side. My car was towed to performance towing in santa rosa, ca. I was unable to get it back, I was unable to pay for towing charges. Performance towing place a lien sale on it. Now I'm without a car in debt.

- Santa Rosa, CA, USA

problem #8

Mar 182016

Civic

  • 145,000 miles
"takata recall" I was on the freeway North in first lane, the vehicle was pulling heavy to the right. I remember going into a fishtail then to the right which was grassy and dirt. Slamming sideways up against a wall or fence ending up drivers side. Driver's side steering airbag did not deploy. Passenger side as I watch it pop out and smoking. Several people had stopped to give me assistance and advised me to turn the car off due to it smoking.

- Santa Rosa, CA, USA

problem #7

Nov 022015

Civic

  • miles

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

"takata recall" I totalled my car because the steering locked while I was driving. I lost control and flipped it. I was stuck in the seat belt because it would not release. I have airbag dermatitis from the airbag chemicals.

- Felton, DE, USA

problem #6

Nov 052014

Civic

  • 130,000 miles
I had never had any problem like this with my car before this incident. I was driving by myself on a state highway just after dawn, at approximately 45 miles per hour, approaching a curve to the right. I had just executed a curve to the left and was straightening the wheel when the steering froze, and I was unable to straighten the wheel. Going off the road to the right, I bounced from side to side while crashing into a ditch. Two cars immediately stopped, I unfastened my seatbelt, took my keys out of the ignition, and turned everything off. Then the drivers helped me out through the driver's side window. Later when the tow truck arrived, the driver told me to steer the vehicle as he pulled it up out of the ditch toward his truck. I told him it was frozen, and I would not be able to steer it. However, when I turned the engine on, the steering column was no longer locked. I do not know why it froze. I do not know if the engine stopped running, but I don't think so because I remember turning the key off right away because of fear of fire. I did not go to the hospital but called my chiropractor and began treatment that afternoon.

- Lower Salem, OH, USA

problem #5

Aug 042012

Civic 4-cyl

  • 105,000 miles
I tried to Dodge the car in front of it, and failed to do so. I scratch the rear left bumper of the car in front of me, and I lost control of my car, then spin 540 degrees and hit the concrete wall of the interstate. I was wearing the seatbelt so it was ok but the front airbag should have deployed to protect me from certain injuries. I still feel some pain on my neck and my back 3 days after the incident.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #4

Mar 042012

Civic 4-cyl

  • 157,361 miles

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

Was driving on bluegrass parkway in Kentucky. My check engine light came on. I hit a small bump in the road and both airbags deployed. I tried getting out of harms way. Then my engine cut off. I had no power steering and brakes it wouldn't stop the car. I went off the road and hit a tree causing severe damage to my car. Honda placed a recall in December 2011 but never contacted me of the recall. I was taken by ambulance to the nearest hospital. Suffered wrist and ankle damage so who is responsible"??"

- Radcliff, KY, USA

problem #3

Dec 282010

Civic 4-cyl

  • 207,000 miles
Failure - have began to notice on my 2001 Honda Civic that I can not release key from the ignition. Just had a transmission put in the car at over 207, xxx miles. This is becoming a problem because I have to back up and pull forward just to get the steering wheel straighten - then pull the key out.

- Kansas City, MO, USA

problem #2

Nov 212010

Civic

  • miles
My mother is a victim of sudden acceleration incident from a Honda Civic 2001. She was driving the vehicle on a small street and had placed it in park. Then, she placed the gear back into drive and before tapping the gas pedal the car surged forward in high acceleration and went out of control. She applied the brakes a few times but it failed to stop the car. The steering was also out of control and the car continued to accelerate about 30-40 mph for an entire block and finally, crashed into a tree totaling the vehicle. She was taken away by ambulance. As a result of the crash, she suffered from a broken ankle and heel, deep gash to the knee, severe chest pain (from airbag) and heart contusion. She spent over a week in the hospital and is still in the process of recovering.

- Toronto, 00, USA

problem #1

Apr 012001

Civic

  • miles
Wind noise can be heard inside the vehicle, the dealer resealed the windshield molding, noise while braking, faulty ECM fuse caused the vehicle to stall while stopped, rattle in dash, dealer replaced the felt tape between the air ducts and vents, cd player skips and was replaced, faulty front spring caused noise in the front end, both left doors leak, the drivers seat is loose at the track, a ripped seal caused the sunroof to leak, steering wheel not centered.

- Wise , VA, USA

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