2020 Honda Civic Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 32about this part
- Share
- 14%of 234 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 8,200miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 32 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2020 Honda Civic, 14% of the 234 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 8,200 miles. 1 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.
“Has not been taken in yet. However this is the second time I experienced this... Driving home from work at 7am in nys, down shifted from 6th to 2nd gears in reverse sequential order to use engine braking. Noticed as I was getting off the exit ramp of the highway, that my car would shoot up to 6k RPM to barely go 20 MPH... This clutch is a huge problem for all Civic si they put them in. Three years ago had the same issue with my 2017 Civic si. Was told that it was a wear item and would not be covered under warranty...”
NHTSA complaint #11413484, filed 2021-04, 9,200 miles“This 2020 Honda Civic si has been nothing but trouble. From the start I had the windshield crack on me from what Honda said was a tiny chip. I went in to work with my windshield seemingly fine only to come out to a spider web split all the way across the windshield. Honda would not cover citing it to be just an 'accident' and I would have to get it fixed. The windshield absolutely had to be replaced with factory oem glass due to safety features which was on back order so I was forced to drive around with a broken windshield for close to 2 months. …”
NHTSA complaint #11413922, filed 2021-04, 26,000 miles“Driving on the freeway was downshifting from 6th gear to 5th gear and the shifter locked up snd i could not shift into any gears except neutral. At a high speed i had to coast to the shoulder of the freeway. Luckily i was near an exit. Once i was stopped i tried to turn off and turn the car back on but i still was unable to shift the car into any gear”
NHTSA complaint #11420369, filed 2021-06“I purchased a brand new 2020 Honda Civic SI in April 2020. Around 24,000 miles, the clutch started slipping. I took the vehicle into a Honda dealership where I purchased the vehicle and was informed the clutch assembly failed and the cost of the repair was $4,400. The dealership told me it was due to abuse of the clutch and clutches are considered wear and tear items so I would be responsible for the entire repair. …”
NHTSA complaint #11519835, filed 2023-05“I turn my car on To go to work realized I didn’t have my phone. Car was in park. I hadn’t touch the gearshift at all I get out of the car. Approximate 20 seconds after I walk away from the car, my home security camera shows the car creeping extremely slowly backwards up into my driveway going up across the crown of the road… across the street and falls into a 10 foot deep ditch. I am 100% certain that Car was in Park… There were no sounds when I open the door to alert me that it would be anything other than park.. …”
NHTSA complaint #11606960, filed 2024-08Related service bulletins
- 10219641Sep 5, 2022Service bulletin - Customer complains that the manual transmission will not shift, the clutch is slipping, or the vehicle wonâÃÂÃÂt move when in gear. Due to supplier…
- 10171739Feb 20, 2020Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is investigating certain 2020 Civic Si's with a customer complaint of clutch judder on take off under 1,000 RPM. To better…
- 10171040Jan 31, 2020Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is investigating certain 2020 Civic Si's with a customer complaint of clutch judder on take off under 1,000 RPM. To better…
- 10170614Jan 16, 2020Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is investigating certain 2020 Civic Si's with a customer complaint of clutch judder on take off under 1,000 RPM. To better…
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 2020 Honda Civic
38 complaintsElectrical system
37 complaintsSteering
32 complaintsFuel system
31 complaintsAir bags
29 complaintsForward collision avoidance
24 complaintsBrakes
17 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
14 complaintsEngine
13 complaintsWheels
7 complaintsBody and structure
6 complaintsSuspension
6 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2020 Honda Civic
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 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