1997 Honda Civic Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 25about this part
- Share
- 7%of 373 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 50,700miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 25 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1997 Honda Civic, 7% of the 373 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 50,700 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I purchased an automatic 1997 Honda Civic ex from costa mesa Honda in costa mesa, ca on march 11, 2000. I purchased the vehicle with 27,000 miles on it. Today (2/6/03) the car has a total of 50,734 miles on it. I have personally only driven 24,000 miles in a total of 3 years. The transmission is toast and needs to be replaced. There have been transmission recalls/ warranty extensions on other Honda makes and models. The '97 Civic unfortunately is not one of them. …”
NHTSA complaint #10005400, filed 2003-02, 50,700 miles“When pressing on the gas petal, it feels rough and notchy. It's hard to accelerate smoothly. Started to notice the problem at about 85,000 miles. Then, when I was on the freeway the engine light came on. I took it to scott robinson Honda in torrance and they said the problem was probably my diagnostics system. They informed me that is was covered by Honda extended warranty. After my car was in the shop all day, the technician informed me that it wasn't my diagnostics system, but my transmission. …”
NHTSA complaint #10013566, filed 2003-03, 5 miles“I have a 1997 Honda Civic ex coupe automatic transmission with 95,900 miles when the transmission problem started. One day I noticed my car was hesitating when I pressed the accelerator but did not put a lot of attention to it. Then soon after I noticed the check engine light turn on. So I decided to take my car to my local Honda dealer (rock Honda). They reset the check engine light, then told me that the problem was the transmission and if it turns on again that I would need to replace the transmission. …”
NHTSA complaint #10041649, filed 2003-10, 95,890 miles“I fought for 2 years about a bad ctv transmission in a 1997 Honda Civic hx which I purchased new. I was in and out of the dealership at my expense on a continual basis. They finally agreed to replace the transmission after many visits and much money out of my pocket for rental cars and unnecessary services that never corrected the problem. Honda did agree to give me an extended warranty of 7 years or 75,000 miles. The transmission was replaced with a remanufactured transmission in july 2001. I did not want a remanufactured transmission or a ctv transmission. …”
NHTSA complaint #10031027, filed 2003-08, 20,000 miles“Not even thirty days ago I purchased a new/used vehicle from a used car dealership in brattleboro, vt. My 30 day/1,000 mile warranty just ended a few days ago, and I am now having transmission problems with my automatic Honda Civic ex. I have read several other complaints on this same item in the 97 civics. My whole family owns hondas and they are usually reliable cars. This problem should not be occurring with only 62,000 miles on this car. This is rediculous and I am very upset. I have just started to deal with the problem, but assume I will end up paying for it myself. …”
NHTSA complaint #10030929, filed 2003-08, 62,500 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10107371Jul 2, 2015Service news article - planning on using a leak check dye to help find a leak? Heres the current list of vehicles that you shouldnt use dye on.
- 10014230Feb 16, 20042nd to 5th or 3rd to 5th gear upshift.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 6% |
| 2025 | 6 | 8% |
| 2024 | 6 | 5% |
| 2023 | 8 | 3% |
| 2022 | 10 | 1% |
| 2021 | 2 | 1% |
| 2020 | 32 | 14% |
| 2019 | 13 | 3% |
| 2018 | 14 | 2% |
| 2017 | 29 | 5% |
| 2016 | 36 | 3% |
| 2015 | 177 | 46% |
| 2014 | 98 | 33% |
| 2013 | 22 | 7% |
| 2012 | 49 | 11% |
| 2011 | 4 | 2% |
| 2010 | 12 | 3% |
| 2009 | 23 | 6% |
| 2008 | 52 | 6% |
| 2007 | 104 | 9% |
| 2006 | 76 | 5% |
| 2005 | 36 | 11% |
| 2004 | 56 | 16% |
| 2003 | 101 | 20% |
| 2002 | 185 | 26% |
| 2001 | 403 | 37% |
| 2000 | 30 | 10% |
| 1999 | 35 | 10% |
| 1998 | 49 | 11% |
| 1997 | 25 | 7% |
| 1996 | 25 | 8% |
| 1995 | 14 | 7% |
| 1994 | 8 | 6% |
| 1993 | 9 | 6% |
| 1992 | 5 | 5% |
| 1991 | 6 | 5% |
| 1990 | 6 | 7% |
| 1989 | 2 | 3% |
| 1988 | 1 | 2% |
| 1987 | 2 | 5% |
| 1986 | 5 | 14% |
| 1984 | 1 | 20% |
Other parts of the 1997 Honda Civic
140 complaintsVehicle speed control
38 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
33 complaintsElectrical system
30 complaintsTires
27 complaintsEngine cooling
25 complaintsBrakes
23 complaintsBody and structure
18 complaintsOther or unknown
15 complaintsSeat belts
13 complaintsExterior lighting
6 complaintsEquipment
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Honda Civic
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology