2002 Honda Civic Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2002 Civic report two dominant themes: automatic transmission failures that often arrive without warning, and a persistent SRS warning light tied to the airbag control unit or seat belt buckle sensor. The model year is also covered by numerous Takata airbag inflator recalls. Most transmission complaints arrive well past 80,000 miles, while SRS complaints show up from roughly 40,000 miles upward.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Automatic transmission slips, then fails to engage

   • 186 complaints (27%)
   • median 100,500 mi at 8.6 yrs old (154 state mileage)
   • 11 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,400 (median of 28 quotes)
   • filed 2001–2025

   Owners describe the automatic transmission slipping between gears, revving without forward motion, or quitting entirely while driving. Several say the car would only move in reverse or would not engage at all after being parked. Dealers and shops typically diagnosed internal transmission failure and quoted rebuilds or replacements; some owners report the repairs were done at their own expense. Mostly reported between roughly 88,000 and 150,000 miles, usually while driving at city or highway speed.

   What to check: Test drive from cold through all gears and check for delayed or harsh engagement; ask whether the transmission fluid has been serviced and whether the unit has ever been rebuilt or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The transmission in my 2002 Honda Civic started slipping and failed at 88,000 miles. I took it to a transmission mechanic and he said the transmission needed rebuilt. There were pieces of burned material stuck to the dipstick. He said it was the third 2001-2002 Civic transmission he fixed this week and they can fail early. Paid to have the transmission rebuilt for $2,500.”

   NHTSA complaint #10298181, filed 2010-01, 88,000 miles

   “The engine in my 2002 Honda Civic le stopped running... There was heavy traffic and this was definitely dangerous. The cause was transmission failure.... The car was towed to the local dealership and the price to retrieve it was over $5,900. The mileage was 100,505... Too soon for this kind of problem and absurdly expensive. It is my only car, and I felt captive, for sure. Not a good report for Honda of america.”

   NHTSA complaint #10358113, filed 2010-09, 100,500 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   SRS airbag warning light stays on

   • 199 complaints (28%)
   • median 67,761 mi at 7.9 yrs old (126 state mileage)
   • 58 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $600 (median of 17 quotes)
   • filed 2001–2025

   Complaints describe the SRS light coming on and staying lit, sometimes with no prior crash. Owners say dealers replaced or reset the SRS control unit, and in some cases the light returned. Others were told the seat belt buckle sensor or pretensioner was the cause. Many owners express concern that the airbags may not deploy while the light is on. Reported from as low as about 40,000 miles up past 180,000 miles, often appearing with no triggering event.

   Recall 19V499000Recall 19V501000Recall 18V2680004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Confirm the SRS light does not stay on after startup, ask for any SRS unit or buckle replacement records, and verify open airbag recalls by VIN with a dealer.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Srs light came on for no reason but was told the seat and safety belt were the problem but the sensor would need to be replaced. The air bags will not work till fixed and then he was not sure as I found out several people have had this same problem. We have had the car in the family since new. No wreck or accident happened.”

   NHTSA complaint #10232898, filed 2008-07, 68,324 miles

   “Takata recall----Civic had unceasing lighted srs lights on dashboard during month of june 2014. Honda mechanics informed me that the condition meant the air bags would not inflate if a need occurred. Repeated visits to Honda during which they kept car for 2 days and than 3 days. They made me pay bills of $292.56 and $705.19 for a new srs computer system so air bags would work”

   NHTSA complaint #11056112, filed 2017-12, 58,047 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Takata airbag inflator recalls and replacements

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report receiving recall notices for front airbag inflators and describe long waits for parts, with some saying the dealer could not complete the repair. A few complaints describe deployments, or non-deployment of the driver airbag, in a crash. Several owners of Civic Si models say they could not get confirmation whether their car was covered. Notices and complaints span many years and mileages, from under 60,000 to well over 200,000 miles.

   Recall 15V370000Recall 15V320000Recall 14V700000Recall 19V1820004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have a dealer run the VIN for open recalls and confirm the driver and passenger inflators were actually replaced, not just scheduled.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I believe that american Honda and dick hannah Honda of vancouver wa has failed and is unable to remedy the defect in my car, w/out charge, within a reasonable period of time from the first time I contacted them ( more than 60 days) this is a recalled airbag that the dealer has stated that will take them at least 3 months to get the parts in.”

   NHTSA complaint #10702068, filed 2015-03, 145,000 miles

   “Honda has no record of my car for the takata airbag recall. It is a Civic si, 2002. The car was discontinued in 2005. I need to know if my car is in the recall. I am getting no notices and no help from Honda.”

   NHTSA complaint #10854092, filed 2016-04, 168,000 miles
4. 4
   Seat belts

   Seat belt buckle and pretensioner problems

   • 70 complaints (10%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 7.8 yrs old (49 state mileage)
   • 25 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $500 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2001–2023

   Complaints describe seat belts that will not release or buckle, rear belts too short to secure a child seat, and buckle sensors that trigger the SRS light. Owners report dealers quoting diagnostic fees or replacing buckles, with some saying the problem returned after replacement. Reported from about 67,000 to over 185,000 miles.

   What to check: Buckle and release every belt, including the rear ones with a child seat if you use one, and check that the SRS light stays off when the buckle is latched.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “For no discernible reason the electrical system momentarily failed upon start up and then the srs indicator light came on. This is the computer that controls the air bags and seat belts. I took it to the dealer and was charged $80 for a diagnostic - basically, they reboot the srs computer and told me if it happens again I would have to buy a new computer at a minimum cost of $800 plus labor.”

   NHTSA complaint #10139185, filed 2005-10, 67,198 miles

   “I have Honda Civic 2002. Srs light is on I take it to dealer to check & they found my driver side seat belt buckle has sensor in it makes trouble Honda warranty comes with life time warranty on the buckle but dealer say in order to fix they have to change buckle but its not covered by warranty. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10236441, filed 2008-07, 108,537 miles
5. 5
   Exterior lighting

   Low-beam headlights quit, switch connector overheats

   • 135 complaints (19%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 9.0 yrs old (111 state mileage)
   • 14 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $515 (median of 14 quotes)
   • filed 2002–2022

   Owners describe the low beams cutting out without warning while driving, sometimes both at once. Inspections found the combination switch or its connector discolored from heat. Some owners were told their VIN was outside the headlight switch recall even though the symptoms matched it. Complaints also mention turn signals, tail lights and dash lights failing as part of a broader wiring problem. Usually reported past roughly 80,000 miles, commonly on higher-mileage cars.

   Recall 12V136000Recall 04V086000

   What to check: Check that both low beams work and ask whether the headlight switch or connector has been replaced; confirm recall 12V136000 status by VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Progressive failing of the multiplex control unit, part # 38200-s5p-a11, for my 2002 Honda Civic hx 5sp has resulted in various problems that can prove to be very dangerous such as failure of turn signals, tail lights, windshield wiper motor, dashboard lights, dome light, power door locks, etc. Exactly when these failures occurred are hard to pin point but so far I have avoided property and bodily harm but not great inconvenience and repair cost. Please act to prevent this problem from causing harm or loss of life.”

   NHTSA complaint #11376356, filed 2020-11, 200,000 miles

   “Both low beams failed at the same time. High beams unaffected. Inspected combination switch and connector, switch is failing and low beam wire and connector is discolored indicating overheating. It is obvious that NHTSA recall 04v086000 / Honda service bulletin 04-015 applies to this vehicle even though the Honda service bulletin and dealer claims it is out of range... Updated 02/06/12 .”

   NHTSA complaint #10443936, filed 2012-01, 96,000 miles

Buying note. On a 2002 Civic, prioritize a careful automatic transmission test drive and records of any rebuild, and confirm by VIN that all airbag inflator and headlight switch recalls have been completed. Verify the SRS light goes out after startup, since fixes for it are often paid for by the owner.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.