Automatic Transmission Torque Converter problems of the 2001 Honda Civic - part 2

My 2001 Honda Civic recently died on me on a major highway. My 6 year daughter was a passenger as well. As I drove down the highway the car's engine revved up but the speed declined. This almost caused a serious accident. I have been informed by my mechanic it was my torque converter that failed. I have been looking online and I see that several if not all 2001 Honda Civic owners have had the same issue. Had I not been able to maneuver as quickly as I did at a decreasing speed me and my daughter could have been killed! Honda needs to make a recall on the 2001 Honda Civic transmission immediately; before someone is seriously injured. With all the complaints filed about this car and this issue Honda should make a recall order. My estimated price for repair is $2000 for a new transmission. My car has 118k miles.

Transmission failure on 2001 Honda Civic. It failed for me around 30k once and again around 58k. The first time I was asked to change the torque converter and the next time I was asked to change the transmission. When I researched the web it was a very common failure for transmission on this model with transmission failing at low mileage. No recall was issued by Honda.

On 3/21/07 my 2001 Honda Civic ex with 109k miles displayed on engine light reporting a p0740 torque converter failure. This was diagnosed by willet Honda in morrow, GA and two other independent shops. A transmission repair/replacement of $2400 was the recommendation. The car was running fine then and now, 35k miles and two yrs later, the car is still running fine with the engine light on. American Honda has offered no help. I cannot pass an emission test with the light on and I am very confident something else is wrong like a sensor. A research of this problem shows it is quite common among Civics and other may have paid for unnecessary transmission repairs.

To start off this car was bought with a salvaged title, however all work was done by a shop to make it new again. I have owned the car for almost 2 years and have not had any problems until this spring. I was pulling out of the parking spot at my bank and got half way into the lane when all of a sudden my transmission just let go and started making a real bad grinding and clinking sound. I stopped immediately and the car wouldn't move. I had my car towed to a local transmission shop and they did a full diagnostic and mechanical check on the car. They told me that the differential had just fallen apart on the inside and had torn apart the passenger side axle, and the torque converter, along with leaving a lot of little pieces of metal shards and clutch material everywhere. When the grand total was figured up it was $490 labor, $2,373 parts, plus taxes which came to a grand total of $3,006. Let me explain that this is my 2nd Civic and 1 of 4 in my family. I truly believe that Honda's are very dependable cars. How ever when this happens and it is not because of anything I could control it is very disheartening. This car only has 48,000 miles on it and doesn't show any signs of wear. I have read many other complaints about the transmissions in this year and I would like to know what Honda is going to do about it. I have talked to the dealer and they said they couldn't do anything for me. So, I called the customer service for Honda USA and the lady said she couldn't do a thing because of the salvaged title, when asked to speak to her supervisor she replied, "fortunately I don't have a supervisor. " I am still in the process of talking to Honda so I can get this matter solved. I have no choice I am a college student who works full-time just to pay the bills and rent, to have this happen is a real blow.

Check engine light came on with a code of p0740. Had car checked and told nothing was wrong, reset light. Mil came on again and took car to brown's Honda in glen burnie. Charged me another $90 to tell me the light had the same code p0740 and they changed the transmission fluid. They said not sure if it is fixed. If light comes back on brown's Honda said I would either have to replace the torque converter or the transmission, they are not sure. Car drives fine but brown's Honda can't tell me if there seems to be a problem with the torque converter or transmission. They told me to wait and see if the light comes back on. Asked brown's if they have seen torque converter failures in 2001 Civics. Chris responded rudely "do you know how many Honda Civics are out there". I repeated my questions and was told "yes" she has seen torque converter failures on the 2001 Honda Civics.

Transmission would periodically stop shifting into third and fourth gears. Vehicle would not move at a speed faster than 40 mph. Dealer has advised consumer that transmission could not repaired, but must be replaced. Vehicle has been taken to dealer on three different occasions. Another dealer determined torqe convertor as a cause and replaced it. There was no transmission problem since then.