2002 Honda Civic Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 185about this part
- Share
- 26%of 702 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 102,681miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 185 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2002 Honda Civic, 26% of the 702 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 102,681 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“One day all of the sudden without any prior slipping or any notice of all for that matter I was parked sitting in a drive thru when I went to put the car in drive it wouldn't engage or move at all there is a complaint of faulty poor quality tranmissons between 2000-2004 please help”
NHTSA complaint #11414551, filed 2021-04, 125,000 miles“My Honda lost power and was really sluggish on the highway with an 18 wheeler behind me.come to find out I had to put in a transmission.now,less than a year later I get a check engine light reading po740 01/01 tcc circute malfunction.put in too much money to fix something else.my son was coming back from college with an hour left to get home when light came on second time.”
NHTSA complaint #10982963, filed 2017-05, 130,000 miles“Takata recall replaced transmission $3,000 2014. Radiator 2015.. Temp rising shut off 2 times on freeway same day $283. Towing fee on aaa plus ins. . Blown gasket. April 2016. Done. Sitting in garage. Looking for toyota prius, I see they also have lots of problems. What shall I do? Can't find your Honda hybrid, I know they have them. Yes was in motion on the hwy.”
NHTSA complaint #10862671, filed 2016-05, 122,676 miles“My 2002 Honda Civic is having an electrical problem to where my bran new just bought battery is draining withing 10 minutes of driving and all of a sudden my car just turns off while driving in traffic and cause it to where it is hard to stear and even to where I cant get out of the middle of dead traffic. The whole car just shuts off and won't let me start it again. This has now happend to me on the freeway and on a 55mph street as well.”
NHTSA complaint #11349679, filed 2020-08, 170,000 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!”
NHTSA complaint #10672854, filed 2015-01, 220,000 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.
- 10041766Oct 22, 2011Honda: software update for ecm/pcm with hds.
- 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 2002 Honda Civic
241 complaintsExterior lighting
53 complaintsSeat belts
51 complaintsElectrical system
49 complaintsSuspension
35 complaintsEngine cooling
31 complaintsOther or unknown
26 complaintsVehicle speed control
25 complaintsBrakes
24 complaintsSteering
23 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
21 complaintsBody and structure
20 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 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