2002 Honda CIVIC problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
702 owner complaints analyzed
11 distinct recall campaigns
90,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 483 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 176 of 702 complaints (25.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 179 | 25.5% |
| Braking behavior | 58 | 8.3% |
| Steering behavior | 42 | 6.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 34 | 4.8% |
| Engine operation | 20 | 2.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 10 | 1.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 176 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 102 |
| Power Train | 73 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 41 |
| Electrical System | 41 |
| Exterior Lighting | 35 |
| Seat Belts | 34 |
| Unknown Or Other | 26 |
Air Bags: 176; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 102; Power Train: 73; Air Bags:Frontal: 41; Electrical System: 41; Exterior Lighting: 35; Seat Belts: 34; Unknown Or Other: 26
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 62 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 48 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 73 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 88 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 137 |
| 150,000 and above | 75 |
Under 25,000: 62; 25,000 to 49,999: 48; 50,000 to 74,999: 73; 75,000 to 99,999: 88; 100,000 to 149,999: 137; 150,000 and above: 75
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (137). 219 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 47 |
| 2003 | 56 |
| 2004 | 52 |
| 2005 | 33 |
| 2006 | 37 |
| 2007 | 19 |
| 2008 | 39 |
| 2009 | 51 |
| 2010 | 69 |
| 2011 | 35 |
| 2012 | 52 |
| 2013 | 31 |
| 2014 | 27 |
| 2015 | 48 |
| 2016 | 22 |
| 2017 | 24 |
| 2018 | 17 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 4 |
2001: 2; 2002: 47; 2003: 56; 2004: 52; 2005: 33; 2006: 37; 2007: 19; 2008: 39; 2009: 51; 2010: 69; 2011: 35; 2012: 52; 2013: 31; 2014: 27; 2015: 48; 2016: 22; 2017: 24; 2018: 17; 2019: 11; 2020: 9; 2021: 9; 2022: 3; 2023: 3; 2024: 2; 2025: 4
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 179 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 58 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 42 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 10034510 · 2003-08-15 (August 15, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH 2002 HONDA CIVIC TRANSMISSION.*MR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ON A SMALL SLOP, IT MOVED FORWARD ALL THE WAY WITH THE GEAR SHIFT IN REVERSE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FACED UPHILL, THE VEHICLE ROLL BACK ALL THE WAY WITH THE GEAR SHIFT IN DRIVE, THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE VEHICLE SHOULD STAY STILL IF THE GAS WAS NOT BEING APPLIED. *PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034510 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043376 · 2003-10-22 (October 22, 2003)
ON MAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS, VEHICLE HAS BEGUN TO MAKE CLATTERING NOISES FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE DEALER, HERITAGE HONDA - TOWSON MARYLAND, HAS TOLD ME THAT IT IS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO ORDER PARTS TO REPLACE REVERSE GEAR. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 13,000 MILES ON IT. IN DECEMBER OF 2002, WITHIN 600 MILES OF PURCHASING THE CAR, THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE MAIN SHAFT BEARINGS IN THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE OF CLATTERING NOISES IN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. WHEN I HAVE ASKED FOR A VEHICLE HISTORY REPORT, I HAV…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043376 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000755 · 2003-01-07 (January 7, 2003)
I SUSPECT THE PARKING BRAKE FOR THE 02 HONDA CIVIC SI IS DEFECTIVE. WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKES BUT WITH THE PARKING BRAKE FULLY ENGAGED, THE CAR ROLLED FORWARD ON MY DRIVEWAY AND ROLLED BACKWARDS WHILE I WAS WAITING FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT CHANGEOVER. SINCE THESE 2 INCIDENTS, I'VE ALWAYS KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES WAITING FOR LIGHT CHANGEOVER AND WHEN PARKED, I PUT THE CAR IN GEAR AND USE THE PARKING BRAKE AS WELL. THE TIMES THE CAR ROLLED, I WAS ON A VERY SLIGHT INCLINE. SEVERAL PEOPLE ON EDMUNDS.COM AND EPHATCH.COM …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000755 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002094 · 2003-01-06 (January 6, 2003)
THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE HITTING A PARKED CAR. THE OCCUPANT OF THE PARKED CAR WAS NOT INJURED. *PH *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002094 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011034 · 2003-03-25 (March 25, 2003)
LOSS OF STEERING AND CONTROL WHILE DRIVING DUE TO DEFECTIVE STRUTS. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER BOTH AWARE OF PROBLEM, HOWEVER NATION-WIDE BACK ORDER ON PARTS. NO IDEA WHEN PARTS WILL BE SHIPPED. VEHICLES ABILITY TO DRIVE SAFELY DIMINISHING EACH DAY. HONDA DOES NOT SEEM TO CARE.
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011034 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013735 · 2003-03-31 (March 31, 2003)
I WAS HIT HEAD ON BY A DODGE DURANGO, WHO RAN A RED LIGHT. I HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL THE SHOULDER SEAT BELT SAVED ME BECAUSE THE AIRBAG DIDN'T INFLATE ON IMPACT EVEN THOUGH SENSOR IS VISIBLY SHOWING IN THE DAMAGE, THAT MAY BE CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GLENN SCHWEICKERT. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10013735 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030540 · 2003-07-31 (July 31, 2003)
MY SRS INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON WITH ERROR CODE 15-3, WHICH EFFECTIVELY TURNS OFF MY AIR-BAGS ON MY 2003 CIVIC EX. I'VE BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR WHAT IS NOW THE THIRD TIME. THE FIRST TIME THEY RESET THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OPDS UNIT. THE SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE OPDS UNIT AND NOW FOR THE THIRD TIME THEY ARE GOING TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. IN THE MEANTIME I HAVE TO DRIVE A $20,000 VEHICLE WITH AIRBAGS THAT DON'T WORK. MECHANIC BLAMED ELECTRICAL INTERFERENCE, BUT I DON'T HAVE A CELL PHONE OR LAPTOP OR ANYONE SITTING IN THE FRONT-SIDE PASSE…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030540 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030885 · 2003-08-05 (August 5, 2003)
VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL 14 SERVICE REPAIR ATTEMPTS FROM NEW MOLDY MUSTY MOLDY SMELL COMING FROM AIR CONDITIONER A/C VENTS MAKES ME COUGH .1 SERVICE REPAIR ATTEMPT HAZY, FILM ON REAR WINDOW IMPAIRS VISIBILITY. 2 SERVICE REPAIR ATTEMPTS (FROM NEW). RADIO HISSING AND STATIC WHEN REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER, IS ON 5 SERVICE ATTEMPTS (FROM NEW). *AK PREMATURE WEAR OF SEAT UPHOLSTERY LOOSE ELECTRICAL ACCESSORY OUTLET ON DASH 1 SERVICE REPAIR ATTEMPT (FROM NEW) ORIGINAL FLOOR MAT WORE THROUGH COMPLETELY IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR NOISY DRIVERS SEA…
Owner-reported narrative. 4 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030885 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10059884 · 2004-02-26 (February 26, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10059884 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10091846 · 2004-09-10 (September 10, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10091846 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10029129 · 2003-07-24 (July 24, 2003)
FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR FAULTY. SOMETIME IT SHOWS AT HALF FULL. WHEN YOU STOP THE CAR AND RESTART IT BACK AT A LATER TIME, IT SHOWS EMPTY WITH YELLOW FUEL LIGHT "ON", ALTHOUGH THERE IS STILL HALF TANK FUEL LEFT. UPON SHUTTING OFF AND RESTART AGAIN, THE FUEL GAUGE THEN SHOWS HALF FULL. WE THOUGHT THIS WAS A ONE TIME ERROR, BUT PROBLEM CONTINUE TO OCCUR FOR A MONTH. TOOK TO RIGHT HONDA SCOTTSDALE (THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR). THEY TOLD ME THAT THEIR DIAGNOSTIC CANNOT DUPLICATE ERROR AND PROBABLE CAUSE IS ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OR FUEL GAUG…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10029129 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10158906 · 2006-06-03 (June 3, 2006)
ON THE MORNING OF MARCH 1, 2005 I ATTEMPTED TO FILL MY GAS TANK. I PUSHED THE FUEL ACCESS DOOR RELEASE LEVER AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I ATTEMPTED THIS SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT SUCCESS. I CONTACTED A HONDA DEALER LATER IN THE DAY AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO HIM. HE SUGGESTED I GET ANOTHER PERSON TO JIGGLE THE DOOR WHILE I PRESSED THE LEVER AS HONDA HAD A KNOW FUEL ACCESS DOOR ALIGNMENT PROBLEM. THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I HAD TO BREAK THE DOOR OPEN SO THAT I COULD ADD FUEL TO THE VEHICLE. AFTER BREAKING OPEN THE DOOR I NOTICED THAT PRESS…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10158906 at NHTSA ↗