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 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
106,486 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2002 Honda Civic Owner Comments

problem #17

Mar 272021

Civic

  • 295,200 miles

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

Overheating, leaking coolant, water pump failure. When driving and at idle.

- Hickory Hills, IL, USA

problem #16

Sep 292016

Civic

  • 180,000 miles
First week I purchased the car in tallahassee I had a major oil leak loose screws and and couldn't steer. First week I ran into the back of a safety police office while on campus at tallahassee community college we did the initial insurance report but she claim she wasn't hurt, I couldn't stop and when I hit her rear end I got whiplashed, this was my first car I didn't know anything about cars, the man just sold I to me with no warnings months later start receiving mail about a recall I squeduled but they never came and got the car so years later I just sold it to pick and pull cause it was in operability. On school campus

- Tallahassee, FL, USA

problem #15

Mar 122020

Civic

  • 177,000 miles
Engine runs slow and accelarating makes it slower windshield broke by itself when doing carwash

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #14

Jan 162019

Civic

  • miles

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

Numerous oil leaks all happening simultaneously - solenoid seal, front crankshaft seal, valve cover, timing cover, rear main seal, and others unidentified yet -- I cannot afford all of these repairs

- Alpharetta, GA, USA

problem #13

Sep 112017

Civic

  • 55 miles
Driving home from long way in. Lake county illinios. Shift in gear and jump out of gear while driving and power N steering and engine shut down could of been an bad accident then car stuck in one gear and completely won't move. At all especially in winter

- Rockford, IL, USA

problem #12

Nov 012009

Civic

  • 74,400 miles
Transmition went out at 74400 miles with no warning ⚠️ town driving took corner no 3rd or 4th gear on automatic transmition could only GO20 miles an hour got it back home cost 2500 buck S to fix with Honda "good will " policy. Now it has blown cylinder head at 1400000 car loses coolant and comes out over flow tank

- Ripon, CA, USA

problem #11

Jul 072017

Civic

  • 90,000 miles

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

I keep having oil seepage -- replaced gasket cover, main oil seal, oil pan, etc is there a recall or service bulletin on my 2002 Honda Civic

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #10

May 312017

Civic

  • 93,000 miles
"takata recall" I have a Honda and it has less than 100,000 miles on it and my transmission is not working. I have taken it to two different mechanics both say the same. To get in contact with Honda and to make a complaint that my car is low on miles to be giving me this kind of problems.I take really good care of my car and it is very disappointed to have this kind of a problem on a well taken car.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #9

Apr 182017

Civic

  • 175,000 miles
Vehicle stalls while driving (moving and at stops). Restarts are immediately possible however problem reoccurs and leaves motorists potentially stranded and impeding traffic. Vehicle has 175000 miles and has been meticulously maintained. Engine light is intermittent with the problem and has indicated that the catalytic converter has failed, code P0420. However the engine light clears with drive and start cycles. Online research points more directly at a worn ignition switch issue. Vehicle was purchased new in ca, relocated to AZ in 2003 and has been there ever since. Items that have been replaced are, timing belt, water pump, radiator, thermostat, A/C system, alternator, ignition coil and spark plugs, suspension bushings, front struts and coils, fuel pump, camshaft positioning sensor. All recalls have been complied with.

- Tempe, AZ, USA

problem #8

Nov 232014

Civic

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the vehicle independently shifted out of gear while being operated at various speeds. The check engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the technician flushed the transmission fluid however the failure recurred. The contact replaced the transmission however after being operated for 60,000 miles, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

- Lauderhill, FL, USA

problem #7

Jan 012016

Civic

  • 35,000 miles

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

Defective car.

- Saint Louis, MO, USA

problem #6

Aug 152015

Civic

  • miles
Headers are cracked car lost power, suspension is not durable. Steering components not durable

- Rosemead, CA, USA

problem #5

Sep 052014

Civic

  • 92,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled and unknown warning lights flickered. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed that the relay switch needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 92,000.

- West Palm Beach, FL, USA

problem #4

Nov 072012

Civic

  • 220,000 miles
The first thing was I noticed the temp starting to rise, immediately was shut off and radiator replaced. Few months later November of 2013, temp started to rise, didn't even get hot. Blown head gasket. It sat till July 2014, when a new motor was installed. Drove good until October 2014 when out of no where my transmission quit working!

- Seymour, WI, USA

problem #3

Mar 262009

Civic 4-cyl

  • 69,085 miles
During schedule maintenance on March 26, 2009, a Honda service technician detected an oil leak. The head cover gasket was replaced. During schedule maintenance on January 24, 2013, a Honda service technician detected an oil leak. The head cover gasket was replaced. During schedule maintenance on April 19, 2014, a Honda service technician detected an oil leak. The recommendation was to replace head cover gasket.

- Elizabethtown, KY, USA

problem #2

Jan 022014

Civic

  • 171,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Civic. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the engine rpms increased over 3000 until the vehicle was shut off. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 171,000.

- Loranger, LA, USA

problem #1

Feb 112010

Civic 4-cyl

  • 78,530 miles
My cars transmission if failing again, back in 2010 is when it first started, I was on my way to work, then all of a sudden my car wouldn't move and I was pressing down on the gas pedal, only the acceleration gauge was moving. I called my dad and told him what had happened, so he took it to a mechanic and he said I needed a new transmission, so I had it replaced and the cost came out of my own pocket, and now two years later the same thing is happening again, the car jerks when shifting gears and the check engine light is on again....

- Mission Hills, CA, USA

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