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.

9.3

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$2,320
Average Mileage:
104,800 miles
Total Complaints:
682 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. replaced transmission (261 reports)
  2. rebuilt whole transmission (154 reports)
  3. not sure (142 reports)
  4. get Honda to cover the cost (54 reports)
  5. buy a different car...can't afford the repair (24 reports)
  6. break down the transmission and fix (15 reports)
2001 Honda Civic transmission problems

transmission problem

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2001 Honda Civic Owner Comments (Page 31 of 35)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #82

Nov 042007

(reported on)

Civic LX 1.7L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 79,000 miles

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

Stop & go traffic on the I80 in NJ, when its time to go again my 79k mile 2001 Civic revved up but would not pick up speed. I used the last bit of momentum it had to pull over to the shoulder. I got the car towed to an Aamco station for $100. A read of the computer and an external diagnostic of the transmission yielded no signs of a problem except for burned transmission fluid. They took the transmission apart and discovered that the torque converter was burning the transmission fluid which in turn ruined the transmission. I ended up having to pay $2828 to have the torque converter replaced and the transmission rebuilt which is not money that I have lying around. I am going to call the Honda customer service number tomorrow morning and complain about them not replacing these faulty torque converters; I hope they at least offer to pay for part of this bill. I have a lease on a Ford Explorer that is running out in July '08, I was thinking about getting a Honda SUV to replace it but this experience will definitely play a factor in my decision.

- James A., East Stroudsburg, PA, US

problem #81

Nov 032007

(reported on)

Civic EX 1.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 95,544 miles

I take excellent care of my 2001 Honda civic Sedan; I meet or surpass all maintenance requirements. I am the original owner. I use synthetic Mobil 1 motor oil, I use Honda Genuine ATF for transmission oil changes [have done 3 of these following Severe Service Maintenance Schedule even though I don't really consider my driving 'Severe'], I use Honda Genuine brake pads when replacing brake pads, I take the Honda to the dealer for all safety recalls/TSB's. I bought KYB gas charged shocks for superb ride comfort, and in summary I keep my ride all OEM because thats the way I like it.

So I am on my way home from work on Thursday, November 1, 2007, and when about 2 miles away from home the car starts jerking and losing power. The transmission was slipping as the rpm's went up around 5000. After taking the vehicle to Advance Auto for a code reading I find out there is code P0730 causing an issue. After limping home at about 20 mph, I find out there are dozens of folks with the same issue!! What a coincidence.

Here is what I find interesting. The www.ahm-ownerlink.com website states, as do all the civic owners manuals, that the Honda Civic enjoys a 105,000 Mile Tune-Up Interval. NOWHERE IN THE OWNERS MANUAL DOES IT STATE THAT THE TRANSMISSION MUST BE CHANGED BEFORE THE FIRST SCHEDULED TUNE-UP!!!!

That is my beef. I have NEVER owned a car whose transmission gave up the ghost before 100,000 miles, and certainly NONE of the vehicles I have purchased brand new have ever had a major component failure similar to this 2001 Honda Civic. I have an appointment at Roush Honda in Westerville Ohio on Tuesday November 6, 2007 for an official diagnosis of the transmission. I will be asking Honda to supply a new, complementary transmission.

- Tom B., Gahanna, OH, US

problem #80

Nov 022007

(reported on)

Civic LX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 56,000 miles

My 2001 Honda Civic had a complete transmission failure with only 56,000 miles. When I contacted Honda they advise "Sorry" and said it needed replacement. In searching the web I see there have been many transmission problems with other of their models and they extended those warranties but not the Civic. Feel they need to cover some of the cost with the low mileage. I also am dumbfounded to find out they never take the transmission apart to see what the cause of the failure was. They just send it back to a shop to rebuild. For a Japanese company that prides itself on customer satisfaction and quality not knowing what is causing the failure makes no sense.

- David H., Orlando, FL, US

problem #79

Oct 292007

(reported on)

Civic EX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles

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

Same problem as everyone else. Stuck in gridlock traffic in SF on the freeway, four lanes and no shoulder. Car would rev but wouldn't shift into gear or move (its an automatic).

After traffic started to move I was stuck in the fast lane unable to move. I had to turn off the car, wait 30-60 seconds, turn it back on and pray that the car would move. When it did, the torque converter would fail again after about 5 seconds of gentle acceleration. I did this about 6-7 times before I was able to roll off the freeway and make an illegal turn into a gas station, and of course during this whole ordeal the good citizens of San Francisco were giving me a piece of their mind. Only one driver was nice enough to give me some space (even though I had my blinkers on).

I had to have my car towed home (two hours away!) My Honda dealership told me that it wasn't covered by warranty but that they would offer me the equivalent of an extended warranty where I could pay 10% and the dealership pay 90% for the rebuilding of my transmission.

- Darren C., Gold River, CA, US

problem #78

Oct 252007

(reported on)

Civic DX 1.7L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 77,050 miles

The check engine light came on and I took it to the Honda dealer from where it was purchased. They called me today and said that the transmission needed to be replaced at a cost of $ 3700. After reading of all the repairs to these transmissions on the NHTSA website, I told the service represenative that I wanted them to adjust this price. After talking to the Zone Manager, they reduced the price by 25 %. During this time, I was doing more research and discovered the Honda Service Bulletin # 04-036 which deals with transmission failures. It stated that once the 36,000 mile warranty had expired, the District Parts and Service Manager or their Zone Manager could reduce this cost for "goodwill consideration". I am still talking to them about the final cost of the repairs. After reading the complaints on this site, it appears that this is a big problem. On the NHTSA website, it appears that Honda has picked up the cost of the transmission but not the labor. See ODI # 10138365

- Michael S., Burke, VA, US

problem #77

Oct 232007

(reported on)

Civic DX 1.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 72,079 miles

after reading this i was shocked that so many other people had suffered this problem. i thought it was due to my first accident and then i used to drive this car like a manual transmission and i thought it died due to that but now seeing this i am really mad. i thought Hondas where good cars but next car is going to be a ford lol.

- jkam, Brampton, ON, Canada

problem #76

Oct 232007

(reported on)

Civic DX 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 73,322 miles

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

So there I was driving my 2001 Honda Civic(my very first ever new car)on my way to the doctor for a blood glucose test, when what to my wondering mind should appear but the sight of the transmission being in drive but no engagement whatever with the wheels!!!!! Like the stoplight turns green but my car goes nowhere. To make a long story short...two tows to two places because I could not believe that a Honda with 118,000 kilometers (90% of them highway driven)would require a transmission job. Yet that is exactly what it did require...to the tune of $2200.00 Canadian. Funny how this happened right close after the warranty wore out. I know that my driving is not a factor because my second hand 1985 Chevy Impala handled the same work route with no problems for over 11years. Time for me to talk to Honda as I will not be buying another one and I want them to know why.

- tikdoff, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

problem #75

Oct 222007

(reported on)

Civic LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

We recently inherited a 2001 Honda Civic from my brother-in-law. The car has 75,000 miles on it and has been keeping up with its scheduled maintenance. This morning, the transmission just quit, and it's going to cost around $2,200 to replace it. We are trying to determine whether it's worth the money to replace the transmission or to come up with an alternate plan. For those of you who have called Honda, would you recommend it? Under what circumstances? Thanks for your help.

- Stacey G., Denver, CO, US

problem #74

Oct 162007

(reported on)

Civic EX Vtec-4 Clylinder

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

I was driving down a 2-lane highway when our Honda Civic EX 2001 totally stopped. When I attempted to move forward (to get out of the way of traffic) it would not move forward or backward. I pushed it off to the side of the road and had to call for a tow truck. I called the Honda dealer for a price to repair or replace transmission. He said it would be about $3,500.00 to replace the transmission.

I told him we had followed the manual instructions for the 2001 Honda Civic and it states by a graph that on page 196 that the transmission fluid be replaced at 120,000 miles, which we had planned on doing. We had 100,000 miles on the car. The car has been well kept up, and because we fell for the idea that "Hondas are very reliable", we never expected this, nor did we need an explense like this for an unexpected, unwarranted repair. In addition, qw were out the money to rent a car to go to a relative's funeral.

So Honda gets to write a book and if you follow the maintenance schedule in the book, the owner is duped and the owners, being us, are out $2700.00.

But more importantly, we feel that if this happened to us and because there was no traffic in back of us at 55 miles posted speed limit, what might have happened and probably has happened on an interstate where the speed limit is 70 mph and your car stops suddenly like that. We wonder how many lives have been lost due to Hondas' sudden transmission failures, when the owner was merely following the directions in their manual. Shame on Honda...this will be our last Honda, for sure. We will be contacting the National Highway Traffic Safety Assn. about this very dangerous safety matter(http://www.nhtsa.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/menuitem.9fee1be6b2b2000bc22cf37490008a0c/)

Robert and Pauline Alley Interlochen, MI (dooneygone@yahoo.com)

- Robert A., Interlochen, MI, US

problem #73

Aug 272007

(reported on)

Civic LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

The transmission just died! I was driving, the car started moving really slowly and then would rev but not move!

Honda said they would only pay to cover the parts but not the labor because it was not fixed at a honda dealer!

I will NEVER buy a Honda again, and will make sure to spread the word out about what happened!

- cata, Miami, FL, US

problem #72

Aug 282007

(reported on)

Civic DX 1.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,000 miles

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

Leaving my job to get home and the transmission suffered a lock-up on the highway at peak hour traffic!!!!!!!! I have been diligent in maintenance with 45,000 mileage 2001 Honda Civic DX !!!!!!!! NO Warranty!!!!!! I have to pay or Bust !!!!!!!

- Zulma D., Guaynabo, PR, Puerto Rico

problem #71

Aug 282007

(reported on)

Civic Beige

  • Automatic transmission
  • 92,000 miles

I Have a 2001 Civic EX. Transmission went out yesterday driving to work with no warning. This really Sucks!!! I thought Hondas

were reliable cars! I got couple of quotes for $2500.00. That's

Just Outrageous! There needs to be something done by Honda after reading all these complaints!!!!!! I know this much, my next car will NOT be a Honda.

- rcaud1, Claremont, CA, US

problem #70

Oct 122007

(reported on)

Civic LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 127,000 miles

I am a 23 year old college student. Struggling with a part-time job and trying to finish school. I just paid over $1000 to get my AC compressor fixed a few months ago. Just yesterday I was on my way home from school and my engine kept revving up, but I wasn't going anywhere, yet I was still able to drive the car, just had to go slow. So I started driving slowly, keeping my speed at about 30mph. I took the local way too. I end up getting to a point where no matter what I did the car wouldn't accelerate, it was as if I was in neutral. The check engine light comes on and the car comes to a crawl, I end up moving the car to the side. I turned off the car and called my parents. While I was waiting, I decided to try driving it again, so I start the car again, and it seems to work alright, however, I could still only go about 30mph. I end up meeting my parents at a nearby gas station. We attempted to drive home, but didn't get too far from the gas station and the car stops accelerating again. I finally pulled over, we called a tow truck, and we had it dropped off at the Honda dealer, but since it was night time, no one was there. We went there this morning and we find out that the dealership will be able to get a used transmission with 29,000 miles on it, with labor and parts altogether, the charge was $2500! This is after paying for an AC compressor I just replaced. At this point I don't know if I even want to get it fixed. I've always heard how reliable Honda is, this is my first car, thinking this would at least get me through college. I bought this car when I first started going to college, but it just wasn't able to make it. I'm pretty disappointed in Honda. I'm not sure what I want to do. I won't even get anything for the car if I try trading it in or salvaging it. I know one thing, I'm not getting a Honda anymore.

- aneel, New Berlin, WI, US

problem #69

Oct 102007

(reported on)

Civic EA

  • Automatic transmission
  • 88,000 miles

Hi, I have a 2001 Civic 2-dr EX. Like many of you here I also had my transmission give up on me at 88,000 miles. If not for this website I wouldn't have an idea about this problem.

My wife drives the car, one day all of a sudden the transmission stopped engaging. You can drive it around but you can't exceed 10 mph or the thing slips and all you can do is rev the engine. Imagine the hassle in having to drive from one autoshop to another, we're trying to cut costs so we avoided using towing.

After learning here that Honda may offer to cover part of the cost, I brough the vehicle to a dealer. After their diagnosis they offered to pay for the part and I paid for the labor which was great. My maintenance history from another Honda dealer also helped negate the cost a bit. The first autoshop I brought my car to was charging me $3,500 to fix it, that made me think if I should keep the car or donate it.

Here's some advice that may be helpful:

(1)When you reach high mileage, do a major maintenance or a transmission flush to at least give yourself a chance when they investigate your vehicle's history (that is if you haven't had this problem yet).

(2) They may require a fee but getting a diagnosis from the dealer first before bringing it to a mom and pop autoshop can be very beneficial at times. I have yet to hear a dealer tell me something had to be replaced eventhough it wasn't. When I bring my car anywhere I already know what's wrong. In this case however I thought I was going to get significant cost savings by going to a dinky shop first.

This really shook up my confidence. Mostly everyone from my famly drives a Honda, their customer service came through for me this time but it will always make me think from hereon when I'm purchase my next car. (A Prius maybe?)

- logjam, Fremont, CA, US

problem #68

Aug 292007

(reported on)

Civic LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 58,000 miles

it was completely 2001 honda civic transmission failure

- Naveen K., Gaithersburg, MD, US

problem #67

Oct 092007

(reported on)

Civic EX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 141,000 miles

I bought my Honda Civic brand new in 2001 and never had an ounce of trouble.....until I paid it off in July 2007. One month later, I was driving to get some lunch and I felt my car jerk and instantly knew that was my transmission. I took it to get a transmission flush at my local maintenance shop and it seemed to have helped. On the way to work the next morning, the transmission went out completely-in 4 lanes of Clemson traffic. I had to call 911 to have policemen come out to stop oncoming traffic and push me across. My husband arranged the tow truck and I went to work.

We did not take it to a Honda dealership because they usually want to charge you a freakin kidney or 2 so we used someone around town that was referred to us. He called and told us that it was going to need a rebuilt transmission and that we were looking at approx. $2200. Well-I don't have that kind of money to spend leisurely much less on a car I just paid off.

Then-I found out the more people I talked to-I learned that MANY other people had the same problems with their Honda Civic. So I started searching the internet that is how I found this site. I couldn't believe all the other people that had experienced the same thing!! So I called the Honda Corporation and gave them a piece of my mind. I ended up paying $2090 (with towing) and American Honda Corporation paid $584 of the bill. They would only pay for the parts because I took it to an independent dealer in stead of a Honda dealer. So be sure to get in touch with them once the issues start with your car! All I had to do was fax my receipt to them.

I told the Honda Corp. that there should definately be a recall on the transmission with so many people being affected.

- megansc, Pickens, SC, US

problem #66

Oct 022007

(reported on)

Civic LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 110,000 miles

During the 2006 holiday season, we had a massive road trip planned: TX-OK-GA-FL-TX

About 3 hours after beginning the drive, my Civic started revving severely. We stopped, checked it out and when we realized we couldn't go very far as 15mph, we pulled over. Stranded in Muskogee, Oklahoma, 2 days before Christmas, we had the car towed to the nearest Honda dealership (Tulsa) and miraculously found a Toyota dealership in Muskogee that would rent us a car and we continued on our holiday road trip.

The transmission was shot, they said, and the Honda dealership in Tulsa called to say it would cost almost $4,000 to replace it. We then realized that they were jacking the price up because they knew we had been stranded. Instead of paying those criminals, we paid to have the car towed back to Dallas and repaired by our local Honda dealership at a much more reasonable price (closer to $3,000).

Every Honda dealership I've been to has said that this is not a problem with the 2001 Civics, although it obviously is. They refuse to take responsibility for it. Meanwhile, I could have been driving a much flashier car if I planned on spending $4,000 more when I bought it.

Everyone says Hondas last forever... but that's no longer the case. This was my first Honda and due to the company's inability to admit that the 2001 Civics have a serious tranny problem, it will be my last.

Honda, thanks for trying to ruin my 2006 holiday season and much-planned family road trip. When you have to replace the transmission, suddenly the re-sale value of the car just isn't such a great deal anymore and you must question the reliability of not only Honda products, but also the Honda corporation. They don't really care about your problems.

- M P., Dallas, TX, US

problem #65

Oct 012007

(reported on)

Civic EX 1.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 91,000 miles

DON'T BUY A HONDA! I'm a 20 year old college student who is barely making it by as it is. I bought my 2001 civic so that I would have a reliable car to get me through college. Well, like the others, I was just driving down the road when my car slipped out of gear. I had it towed to a transmission center and called Honda to see what they would do about the problem. They told me that for them to consider anything it would need to be towed again to a Honda dealership. So I paid another $82 to have it towed there. Of course, they came to the same conclusion, and Honda refused to help with anything. They told me that the transmission failed because I took improper care of the car, which is just complete bullshit. I babied this car from day 1 and always took care of everything. So now I'm out over $3,000 and Honda doesn't care at all. LET THIS BE A WARNING TO ANYONE CONSIDERING A HONDA! GO AHEAD AND BUY AN OLDER USED ONE, BUT STAY AWAY FROM ANYTHING MADE IN THE LAST 10 YEARS!!!

- Marc R., Billings, MT, US

problem #64

Sep 282007

(reported on)

Civic LX 1.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 146,000 miles

Well after reading all the complaints on a 2001 Honda Civic I am glad I am not alone. I just can't believe this happened. Just like other people say "HONDAS ARE SUCH GOOD CARS, SO RELIABLE" That is bull. I am so disappointed in Hondas. I will never get another Honda again. I wouldn't have been so surprised if the car rolled over to 200,000 miles. Honda's are suppose to go on forever. That is a LIE. There needs to be a recall on 2001 Honda Civic Transmissions. I didn't get any signs of the car tranny going bad. I was on my way to work and the car was giving this jerking feeling when it would try to get into gear. On my way home, I was driving next thing I know my RPM shot up to 5 or 6 and I was only going 20mph. I was pissed off. I took to Honda to run a diagnostic test on it to make sure it was my tranny. But of course it was. $2600 dollars.

Who in their right minds have this kind of money lying around. If I wasn't still paying on this car I would have bought a new one. This doesn't make any sense. If anybody out there knows about a recall send me a comment or something.

PLEASE DON'T EVER BUY A HONDA. THEY SUCK.

- Ebony L., Marietta, GA, US

problem #63

Sep 232007

(reported on)

Civic EX 1.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles

Driving home from work in traffic on rt.9 in N. J., my 2001 civic ex transmission decided to quit on me. Had no sign of problem until that day. The car would not move in any gear, blocking the left lane. Held up traffic for about a mile and half(what a sh*tty feeling). Luckily a tow truck came by(20 min. later} and towed me home ($125). As a mechanic i dropped the trany today. I shall take it apart during the week and see whats going on with it and if anybody is interested, let me know. I have been driving hondas since 1991 and never had this problem before. All i can say is hondas are not what they use to be.

- Edwin L., Howell, NJ, US

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