Automatic Transmission Torque Converter problems of the 2002 Honda Civic

My 2002 Honda Civic became inoperable without any warning as I attempted to merge on a major highway in washington DC. I could not shift into gear when I pressed the accelerator; fortunately, I was able to drift to the shoulder on the highway without incident. I had the vehicle towed to a Honda dealership where it was diagnosed as an internal transmission issue and I was advised that it would have to be replaced for $4700. The cost for the transmission replacement was outrageous and after researching possible reasons for the failure, I had my vehicle towed from the Honda dealership to an independent repair shop. My vehicle was diagnosed with torque converter failure which caused metal shavings to damage clutches in the transmission. During my research, I read numerous complaints by hundreds of others who own a 2001 to 2003 Honda Civic and stated that their transmission failed when their mileage ranged from 135k to as low as 65k. Although Honda issued a 2004 recall on transmissions, it excluded the Honda Civic; I am outraged that Honda knew about the hundreds of transmission complaints from Honda Civic owners but deliberately did not issue a recall for the vehicles to ensure the safety and welfare of drivers and passengers. The large number of complaints from Honda Civic owners about the lack of reliability of their Civics automatic transmission is demonstrative of a defect. I hope the national highway traffic safety administration investigates the transmission failure complaints and forces Honda to recall and repair vehicles/compensate owners for repairs. Updated 01/23/13 updated 02/19/13 updated 08/21/13.

Without warning, transmission just failed totally. No power to drive wheels. Driving on main 4 lane street with only curb. Luckily not rear ended and just barely coasted to next street turnoff (right lane). Got off major highway. Maybe torque converter. Waiting for response from Honda America. Local dealer no help. Saw there have been recalls in past for similar issues. Always did suggested maintenance with Honda dealers.

The contact owns a 2002 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving 6 mph and attempting a turn, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was able to restart the vehicle however, the vehicle continued to stall. The contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic for diagnostic testing and the mechanic stated that the torque converter was defective and needed to be replaced. The torque converter was not replaced. The failure mileage was 138,000.

The contact owns a 2002 Honda Civic. The contact was driving approximately 30 mph when the transmission began to slip gears unintendedly with hesitation. In addition, the engine exhibited an abnormal increase in rpms to 5,000. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who advised the contact that the torque converter was completely damaged. The contact planned to take the vehicle to an auto center who specializes in transmissions. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 109,000.

This car was purchased by me brand new in September 2002 and has been maintained following manufacturers recommended schedule at Honda and at 134,000+ miles, the transmission is shot due to a bad torque converter. I want this corrected by Honda especially because I was victim to a hit and run at a red light and fixed the car out of pocket for over 5,000 and would have like to know by Honda that there was an issue with this car so I could have bought a new car rather than fix it. It is so dangerous for me as an only parent to have my transmission fail while making a left turn with oncoming traffic or while driving over train tracks!!!! this is scary to me and I want resolution for their failure to admit the torque converter lemon in my car caused the failure!!!!.

I would like to file a complaint about the 2002 Honda Civic lx model. The car started to speed up/slow down and then stopped. It was the torque converter2nd gear coming off and 3rd gear not coming in. I did some research and I've read the numerous complaints online about the 2002 Honda Civic and the transmission issues. I also found many technical service bulletins regarding transmission problems. I only copied the few that I think are specific to the issue that I had: # TSB #11012004 -- manual transmission grinds shifting to 3rd gear. Honda servicenews. (NHTSA id #10013656, November 01 2004) # TSB #204 -- 2nd to 5th or 3rd to 5th gear upshift. (NHTSA id #10014230, February 16 2004) # TSB #02012004 -- service manual fix. Manual transmission mainshaft reassembly. Correction to January '04 issue. Honda servicenews. (NHTSA id #10009134, February 01 2004) # TSB #01012004 -- manual transmission mainshaft reassembly. Service manual fix. Honda. Servicenews. (NHTSA id #10009080, January 01 2004) # TSB #10162004 -- grinds at 2-3 upshift. (NHTSA id #10014470, October 16 2004) if Honda knows of the issues why won't they recall and make necessary repairs? turns out this is a very well known problem in Honda Civic 2002 models but Honda is not doing anything about it. A complete new transmission necessary at 48,375 miles! well, we need the car. There is no bus transportation to the city. The work was done on 04/12/2010. The cost to have the transmission rebuilt: parts and accessories: $1913. 54 labor: $951. 44 tax: $68. 33 for a grand total $2933. 31. This does not include the $350. 00 to remove the transmission and diagnose the problem. And I'm not the only one to experience this? how is it possible that Honda does not recognize this as an issue.

Transmission would not shift properly then would jerk into gear. Well the transmission gave out while crossing a busy intersection and I was lucky the car made it across. Needless to say $2600 and a new transmission later, it now works fine (of course). The torque converter failed causing the front pump to fail. Personally I know 3 people with the same problem, gee you would think that Honda would realize the parts they used were crap and recall the cars to replace the torque converters. Never again!!!.

I have a 2002 Honda Civic ex auto trans. I notice the slipping of the transmission and was wondering if this was a recall. . . The car currently has 130,000 on it, and it probably has been doing this since about 60k miles. The car is flawless besides that, never a lick of trouble, just put tires and brakes and oil into it. But I'm starting to wonder about this "torque converter" issue, that many others have reported. It seems like the dealer knows about the problem but says nothing is wrong till you need a 3,000$ transmission. This is by far the best car I have owned ever! are these tranny problems in the lx? the ex and lx have different engines, and transmissions as well. . . . My sister drove a 02 ex as well, and never had any problems with it either, but hers too, has this slipping when gears shift. . . So its an apparent problem, that Honda doesn't want to acknowledge. Maybe the people having problems were peeling out, and driving it too rough. . . This isn't a truck, its not a car made to beat on, so if you want to beat a car, go buy a hummer!.

Driving in traffic, engine started to rev up but the vehicle would not shift into gear. Parked on curb, shifted to drive and seemed to shift properly, so drove back home to avoid any further problems. Noticed a burning smell from under the hood. Torque converter seems to be failing, need to bring it in to garage.

2002 Honda Civic. Within a month or so of the failure, I started to experience the trans slipping when starting. The car clicked 100,000 miles on Tuesday and on Thursday the transmission fails! I was driving and I wanted to pass a vehicle, I made a lane change and stepped on the gas. The car suddenly felt funny and wouldn't go any faster. I came to the next stop light. When starting again the engine revved up and the car would barely make it across the intersection. I pulled into a side street and called for a tow truck. Aamco transmission told me the torque converter was part of the trans failure. $3200 later I drive my car home and now the engine is idling rough. I thought Honda's were supposed to last forever?!!.

I was on my way to DE from NJ and I started to drive up the hill of the delaware memorial bridge. . . I put my foot on the gas but my car stopped accelerating, the check engine light came on and my speedometer started to decline! I was in the middle lane on the bridge so I tried my best to get over to the far right lane while I was afraid the car would stop on the bridge and someone would hit me. . I got to the top of the hill and then I was able to coast down the hill towards the toll booth where my car stopped and had to be pushed to the shoulder. I was relieved to not have stopped on the bridge where there is no shoulder. It turns out to be the transmission failed. There was no warning. No leaks, no unusual behavior. I was just driving along as normal and the transmission failed. The check engine light didn't even come on until after it happened. It was very scary b/c I t happened out of no where. Something like this is a scary and unsafe type of failure b/c it could have been potentially even more dangerous if I had not been able to get to a shoulder since I was on a bridge. My car was well maintained, had its oil changes and had been serviced with Honda transmission fuel at the appropriate times. After having it towed to my mechanic's shop, it needs a new transmission torque converter went bad according to my mechanic. The complete randomness and no warning is what has upset me the most.

After pulling out on to road after oil change, car was fine for about 100 ft and then when trying to accelerate would redline rpms. Will not go into gear, transmission failed at 61k.