2001 Honda CIVIC problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,079 owner complaints analyzed
14 distinct recall campaigns
89,640 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 693 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 288 of 1,079 complaints (26.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 378 | 35.0% |
| Braking behavior | 76 | 7.0% |
| Engine operation | 54 | 5.0% |
| Steering behavior | 46 | 4.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 35 | 3.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 23 | 2.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 288 |
| Air Bags | 199 |
| Power Train | 89 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 59 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 42 |
| Exterior Lighting | 34 |
| Electrical System | 33 |
| Seat Belts | 29 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 288; Air Bags: 199; Power Train: 89; Air Bags:Frontal: 59; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 42; Exterior Lighting: 34; Electrical System: 33; Seat Belts: 29
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 59 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 65 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 131 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 140 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 208 |
| 150,000 and above | 90 |
Under 25,000: 59; 25,000 to 49,999: 65; 50,000 to 74,999: 131; 75,000 to 99,999: 140; 100,000 to 149,999: 208; 150,000 and above: 90
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (208). 386 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 6 |
| 2001 | 89 |
| 2002 | 72 |
| 2003 | 69 |
| 2004 | 87 |
| 2005 | 56 |
| 2006 | 52 |
| 2007 | 39 |
| 2008 | 82 |
| 2009 | 83 |
| 2010 | 155 |
| 2011 | 51 |
| 2012 | 26 |
| 2013 | 40 |
| 2014 | 40 |
| 2015 | 30 |
| 2016 | 26 |
| 2017 | 24 |
| 2018 | 13 |
| 2019 | 14 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2000: 6; 2001: 89; 2002: 72; 2003: 69; 2004: 87; 2005: 56; 2006: 52; 2007: 39; 2008: 82; 2009: 83; 2010: 155; 2011: 51; 2012: 26; 2013: 40; 2014: 40; 2015: 30; 2016: 26; 2017: 24; 2018: 13; 2019: 14; 2020: 6; 2021: 6; 2022: 3; 2023: 4; 2024: 2; 2025: 2; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 378 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 76 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 54 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000545 · 2003-01-06 (January 6, 2003)
WHEN I PRESS ON MY BRAKES IT MAKES A LOUD POPPING NOISE.I TOOK IT TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THERES NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT BECAUSE THERES SOME KIND OF DEFECT THAT CAUSES THE BRAKE PADS TO SHIFT.THE TECHNICIANS TOLD ME THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED BUT SINCE THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT THEY CAN NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME. SO BASICALLY I'M STUCK WITH MY CAR MAKING THE POPPING NOISE BECAUSE HONDA DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM.I AM VERY UNSATISFIED WITH HONDA AND THE PERFORMANCE OF MY CAR.MY CAR IS A 2001 HONDA CIVIC. I H…
Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000545 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002961 · 2003-01-19 (January 19, 2003)
I HAVE A 2001 HONDA CIVIC HX WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION. AT 14,533 MILES THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP WHILE ON THE FREEWAY. IT WOULD LOOSE POWER AND THE REVOLUTIONS WOULD GO WAY UP, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE "D" LIGHT ON THE SHIFT INDICATOR STARTED TO FLASH. WHEN I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER THEY DID A "3 TIME FLUSH OF THE TRANSMISSION PER BULLETIN" AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. WELL AT APPROXIMATELY 15,000 MILES IT STARTED TO MALFUNCTION AGAIN, SAME SIGNS AND SYMPTONS AS THE FIRST TIME. THE DEALERS SOLUTION WAS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002961 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000089 · 2002-12-12 (December 12, 2002)
WHEN DRIVING, GENTLE PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO PEDAL, BUT FULL FORCE IS APPLIED BY BRAKING SYSTEM, ABS ENGAGES AND CAUSES VEHICLE TO STOP SUDDENLY. COULD HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENT.
Owner-reported narrative. 21,770 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000089 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002659 · 2003-01-14 (January 14, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STALLS WHEN SLOWING- ESPECIALLY ON OFF RAMPS OR WENT ENTERING TRAFFIC AFTER TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE SOUCE OF THE PROBLEM (AS REPORTED BY MANY CONSUMERS ABOUT THE SAME VEHICLE) IS A SOFTWARE DEFECT IN THE EMISSIONS CONTROL MODULE THAT CAUSE FUEL TO BE WITHHELD FROM THE ENGINE. HONDA KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM WHEN THEY SOLD THIS DANGEROUS CAR TO ME AND DID IT ANYWAY. THEY CLAIM THAT THEY ARE NAVIGATING THE EPA TO GET APPROVAL, BUT MY DEALING HAVE BEEN CONTENTIOUS AT BEST IN GETTING INFORMATION. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUED BECA…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002659 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008057 · 2003-02-25 (February 25, 2003)
WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN A GRINDING SOUND OCCURS FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER AND CONTROL OCCURRED WHEN ON THE FREEWAY.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008057 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014597 · 2003-03-27 (March 27, 2003)
THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD, THE DEALER REPLACED THE PART, HOWEVER THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. *JB THE OCCUPANCY POSITION DETECTOR SYSTEM WAS REPLACED, THE REAR DEFROSTER AND CRUISE CONTROL WAS INOPERATIVE, THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNK NOISE WHILE DRIVING AND ON TURNS, THE RADIO WAS INOPERATIVE, THE BACK WINDOW WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE ANTENNA, THE FOG LIGHT SWITCH WAS LOOSE, THE BRAKE LIGHT HAD GONE OUT, THERE WAS A RATTLE IN THE REAR SEAT, THE FUEL CAP WAS LOOSE, THERE WAS A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THE TRUNK L…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014597 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010519 · 2003-03-15 (March 15, 2003)
I PURCHASED A 2001 HONDA CIVIC COUPE EX, IN NOVEMBER 2000. IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS EVER SINCE. IVE BEEN TO TWO DIFFERENT HONDA SERVICE CENTERS ALMOST 20 TIMES NOW. THE CAR HAS 23,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS GONE THROUGH 3 SETS OF BRAKES. THE CAR COMPLETELY DIED ON TWO OCCASIONS, BOTH NEEDING BATTERY TO BE BOOSTED. THEN ALL OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE FLASHING CRAZY. ON ONE OF THOSE OCCASIONS, IT DIED RIGHT IN FRONT OF HONDA, AFTER THEY ASSURED ME THAT MY CAR WAS FINE. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH HONDA. THEY FAIL TO FIND A…
Owner-reported narrative. 23 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010519 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015227 · 2003-04-04 (April 4, 2003)
THE DASH WIRING HARNESS SWITCH MELTED WHICH CAUSED THE HEAD LIGHTS TO FAIL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015227 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10028689 · 2003-07-21 (July 21, 2003)
IN REQUESTING A QUOTE FOR CAR INSURANCE, A LINK WAS PROVIDED TO THE NHTSA WEBSITE FOR THOSE WISHING TO SEE IF THEIR VEHICLE HAS/HAD BEEN RECALLED. FOR THE HECK OF IT, I DECIDED TO TRY IT. TO MY SHOCK, I DISCOVERED THERE HAVE BEEN 5 RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE 2001 HONDA CIVIC SINCE 2001(RE: SEAT BELTS; FUEL SYSTEM/FUEL PUMP; AND ENGINE & ENGINE COOLING). IT IS NOW 2003, AND I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ONE NOTIFICATION. THE SYSTEM DID NOT SPECIFY IF THESE RECALLS ARE RELATED TO THE EX MODEL, WHICH IS WHAT I HAVE. HOWEVER, THE THOUGHT THAT THE RECAL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10028689 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10111991 · 2005-02-22 (February 22, 2005)
I HAVE A 2001 HONDA CIVIC WITH 67,000 KM AND WHEN I DEPRESSED THE RELEASE BUTTON BY THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO OPEN THE GAS TANK COVER, IT WOULDN'T OPEN. I WAS UNABLE TO FILL THE CAR UP WITH GAS UNTIL I TOOK IT IN TO A HONDA DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS TOLD THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM AND I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE CABLE REPLACED. I AM TAKING IT IN TOMORROW AND WAS TOLD THE COST WILL BE APPROX $120.00.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10111991 at NHTSA ↗