2002 HONDA CIVIC Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2002 Honda Civic. This model year has 717 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Airbag Malfunctions.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2002 Honda Civic Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Airbag Malfunctions
Transmission / Drivetrain
Headlight/Taillight Failures
Considering a 2002 Honda Civic?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Honda Civic. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag Malfunctions | 245 | 82 | 3 | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 190 | — | 1 | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 53 | 2 | 5 | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 51 | 11 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 50 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Engine Problems | 49 | 6 | 3 | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 35 | 4 | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 26 | 6 | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 26 | 8 | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 23 | 6 | — | — | |
| Brake System | 22 | 8 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 21 | 6 | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 20 | 1 | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 18 | 6 | — | — | |
| Visibility | 16 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 10 | 2 | — | — | |
| Equipment | 9 | 2 | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 6 | — | 1 | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 5 | 2 | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
| Other | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Parking-Brake Issues | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Honda Civic. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 400 most recent complaints of 717 total. View all on NHTSA ↗
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Civic. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V501000(Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were contacted.
The death investigator's decedent owned a 2002 Honda Civic. The contact stated that after the decedent stopped at a stop sign, they attempted to make a left turn and struck another vehicle on the passenger side. The decedent's air bag was deployed which caused trauma to the deced…
I recently purchased the car . I see on several forums , the transmission in this car for this year is prone to leaks and failures and Honda is aware . I’m having that issue .
SRS light came on. Vehicle didn’t have any change in driving performance.
I bought this vehicle with only ~74,000 miles yet the transmission slips 100% of the time when the automatic transmission shifts from first to second gear, and also second to third gear.
The contact owned a 2002 Honda Civic. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 15V370000 (Air Bags) and 15V320000 (Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not contacted.
Unknown
Automatic high beams, etc. Potentially very dangerous to other drivers. Place a limit on the intensity of headlights. Ultra bright lights tend to interfere with me knowing where my own vehicle is on the road.It's getting to be almost a constant anxiety attack driving at night wit…
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Civic. The contact stated while trying to fasten the driver’s side seat belt, the seat belt failed to release, not allowing the contact to fasten the seat belt. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle neede…
For many months, I have been smelling gas inside the car even when the car has been stationary for an extended period. I recently did a Google search and found many reports and YouTube videos related to fuel leaks caused by a cracked fuel pump housing or module located under the …
SRS light is on. Upon resetting, light comes back on in a couple days. Mechanic says the airbags will not fire with the SRS light on.
The contact's friend owns a 2002 Honda Civic. The contact stated that there was fuel leaking from the fuel tank. There was fuel on the body of the vehicle. There was an abnormal odor of fuel detected. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. T…
Drove my Honda civic through town today for about 15 minutes. Came up to a stop light. When the light turned green. I took my foot off the brake and the car jerked forward real hard and then there was grinding noise coming from the transmission. The car wouldn't go into drive or…
SRS Light on for a while in Honda Civic, Contacted Dealer as this car was messed with by another dealership last year during light swsitch recall, so wanted only other Dealership to diagnose the issue with SRS but diagnosis alone is $157 and since my auto mechanic cannot read the…
TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT ALL OF A SUDDEN AT A LIGHT WITH 179,000 MILES ON IT. WHEN TRYING TO GIVE IT GAS, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD WHINE. HAD TO GET IT TOWED HOME.
ONE DAY ALL OF THE SUDDEN WITHOUT ANY PRIOR SLIPPING OR ANY NOTICE OF ALL FOR THAT MATTER I WAS PARKED SITTING IN A DRIVE THRU WHEN I WENT TO PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE IT WOULDN'T ENGAGE OR MOVE AT ALL THERE IS A COMPLAINT OF FAULTY POOR QUALITY TRANMISSONS BETWEEN 2000-2004 PLEASE HE…
SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE THE SRS WARNING LIGHT HAS CONTINUOUSLY STAYED ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD. MY FIRST THOUGHT OF COURSE WAS SOMETHING WAS EITHER WRONG WITH THE AIR BAG SYSTEM OR THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION THAT LED TO THE AIR BAGS (WHICH ONES I HAVE …
OVERHEATING, LEAKING COOLANT, WATER PUMP FAILURE. WHEN DRIVING AND AT IDLE.
WHILE DRIVING THE LOW BEAMS CUT OUT AND THE SWITCH HARNESS PROVED TO BE FAULTY. OTHER HONDA CIVICS OF THAT YEAR HAD THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH RECALLED BUT MY VIN DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL. THE RECALL IT SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN BUT IT DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR WAS NHTSARECALL NUMBER:12V-136
RECURRENT AND UNSOLVED ISSUES WITH THE SRS AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. IT WAS "REPAIRED" IN 2016, AGAIN IN FEBRUARY 2021, AND HAS RECURRED AGAIN IN MARCH 2021. I HAVE A HONDA CIVIC SI, WHICH WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE TAKATA RECALL PROGRAM. THE SI IS AN UNCOMMON MODEL OF THE CIVIC, AND I …
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2002 Honda Civic.
Recalls for 2002 Honda Civic
24 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2002 Honda Civic. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2002 Honda Civic — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2002 Honda Civic reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2002 Honda Civic has 717 NHTSA owner complaints, 118 crash-related, and 24 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Airbag Malfunctions (245 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Honda Civic?▾
#1: Airbag Malfunctions (245 complaints). #2: Transmission / Drivetrain (190 complaints). #3: Headlight/Taillight Failures (53 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2002 Honda Civic?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2002 Honda Civic?▾
The 2002 Honda Civic has 118 crash-related complaints and 14 fire reports out of 717 total NHTSA complaints. 102 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2002 Honda Civic have any recalls?▾
Yes — 24 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2002 Honda Civic. The largest issue: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2002 Honda Civic?▾
The 2002 Honda Civic has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Airbag Malfunctions issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Honda Civic reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2002 Honda Civic
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.