2001 Honda Civic Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 403about this part
- Share
- 37%of 1,079 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 98,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 403 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2001 Honda Civic, 37% of the 1,079 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 98,000 miles. 6 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was driving home from picking my daughter up from school when at 65 MPH the car started to jerk. The transmission was slipping in an out of gear. If I pulled over an sat for 15 min it would start to pull like normal again for a couple miles then do it again. I had to do that several times turning a 15 min trip into a 2 hour trip.”
NHTSA complaint #10503842, filed 2013-03, 130,000 miles“The transmission failed on my/my mother's car. This car was Honda serviced and very well maintained throughout our ownership. The car was also very gently used. It did no long distance driving, the most it drove was 15 minutes to and from my mother's job. There is no reason for this car to fail other than the car being improperly designed and put together.”
NHTSA complaint #10374039, filed 2011-01, 74,500 miles“As I was exiting the freeway I slowed down to stop at the traffic light. When I went to accelerate, my car would hardly move. I tried pressing harder on the pedal and all it did was rev the engine and let off a rubber smell. After letting it rest a few hours it would finally move again, but only at a slow speed. If I press on the gas too hard it will jerk the car.”
NHTSA complaint #10411408, filed 2011-07, 178,000 miles“My 2001 Honda Civic transmission failed in traffic almost causing several rear end crashes. I took my life in my hands pushing the car out of the lanes of rush hour traffic. Have since found out how common this tranny problem is for the 2001 hondas. Took the car to a Honda dealer and was told I would need a 3000 dollar rebuilt tranny. This is an outrage!”
NHTSA complaint #10351088, filed 2010-08, 131,010 miles“Driving my car with only 78,000 miles the engine light went on and within 15 minutes the car lost power to move foreword/backward etc.........took to the gas station glendale mobile broadway, everett,ma, the car has always been taken care of,,, I know it is old but only 78,000 . He put in a used transmission for 1900.00., there was no warning only minutes from the time check engine went on until complete failure on highway.”
NHTSA complaint #10574057, filed 2014-03, 78,000 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.
- 10129307Jun 5, 2014Service bulletin - A power surge may damage components in the ECM/ PCM. If this happens, the MIL may come on with DTC P1705 short in transmission range circuit) stored. In…
- 10024568Feb 5, 2008Honda service campaign: see document search button for owner letter. Warranty extension: cvt start clutch judder. Csc was received.
- 10024235Feb 5, 2008Honda service campaign: see document search button for owner letter. Warranty extension: cvt drive belt slippage -- on affected vehicles, the cvt (continuously variable…
- 10019973Apr 16, 2006Won't move in any gear, whine, grinding noise.
- 10016346Apr 16, 2005Automatic transmission fluid (atf) leaks. Honda tech line summary.
- 10013656Nov 1, 2004Manual transmission grinds shifting to 3rd gear. Honda servicenews.
- 10014470Oct 16, 2004Grinds at 2-3 upshift.
- 10013607Oct 1, 2004Automatic transmission solenoid replacement criteria.
- 10013844Sep 16, 2004Transmission solenoid replacement criteria.
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 2001 Honda Civic
310 complaintsEngine cooling
64 complaintsExterior lighting
62 complaintsElectrical system
59 complaintsSuspension
52 complaintsFuel system
51 complaintsBrakes
47 complaintsSeat belts
41 complaintsVehicle speed control
30 complaintsBody and structure
29 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
28 complaintsTires
23 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2001 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