Honda Civic 2001–2005
7th generation · ES (sedan) / EM2 (coupe) / EP3 (Si hatchback)
NHTSA data through 12 August 20263,672 complaints, 2,436 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 49,000 and 127,300 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 102 complaints (4.2%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 13,000
- 25%
- 49,000
- Median
- 86,030
- 75%
- 127,300
- 90%
- 166,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 161 | 6.6% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 50 | 2.1% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 44 | 1.8% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 42 | 1.7% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 59 | 2.4% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 43 | 1.8% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 54 | 2.2% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 54 | 2.2% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 51 | 2.1% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 59 | 2.4% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 67 | 2.8% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 68 | 2.8% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 92 | 3.8% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 79 | 3.2% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 70 | 2.9% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 78 | 3.2% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 107 | 4.4% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 96 | 3.9% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 82 | 3.4% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 73 | 3.0% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 106 | 4.4% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 66 | 2.7% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 60 | 2.5% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 50 | 2.1% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 81 | 3.3% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 67 | 2.8% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 78 | 3.2% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 29 | 1.2% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 65 | 2.7% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 36 | 1.5% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 45 | 1.8% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 31 | 1.3% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 40 | 1.6% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 27 | 1.1% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 32 | 1.3% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 28 | 1.1% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 25 | 1.0% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 15 | 0.6% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 15 | 0.6% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 9 | 0.4% |
| 200,000+ | 102 | 4.2% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 3,672 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001–2005 Honda Civic, and 2,436 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 49,000 and 127,300 miles. The median is 86,030 miles.
The most-reported areas are the airbag system (26.6% of complaints, typically around 85,000 miles), the transmission and driveline (21.6% of complaints, typically around 94,000 miles), the electrical system (6.0% of complaints, typically around 95,000 miles).
10 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Airbag system85,000median 84,907 miles, middle half 47,000 to 131,000
- Transmission and driveline94,000median 93,899 miles, middle half 69,000 to 123,000
- Electrical system95,000median 95,000 miles, middle half 57,000 to 140,000
- Engine and its cooling system70,000median 70,000 miles, middle half 26,000 to 101,000
- Exterior lighting115,000median 115,000 miles, middle half 73,000 to 162,000
- Seat belts79,000median 78,999 miles, middle half 52,000 to 109,000
- Throttle and speed control71,000median 71,000 miles, middle half 12,000 to 118,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag system | 977 | 26.6% | 85,000 | 47,000–131,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 792 | 21.6% | 94,000 | 69,000–123,000 |
| Electrical system | 219 | 6.0% | 95,000 | 57,000–140,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 173 | 4.7% | 70,000 | 26,000–101,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 161 | 4.4% | 115,000 | 73,000–162,000 |
| Seat belts | 151 | 4.1% | 79,000 | 52,000–109,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 139 | 3.8% | 71,000 | 12,000–118,000 |
| Suspension | 129 | 3.5% | 28,000 | 14,000–68,000 |
| Body structure | 118 | 3.2% | 120,000 | 60,000–160,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 100 | 2.7% | 20,000 | 3,500–42,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 86,030 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The airbag system accounts for 26.6% of complaints (977 reports, 556 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 84,907 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 47,000 and 131,000 miles.
A single system taking 26.6% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 21.6% of complaints (792 reports, 685 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 93,899 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 68,895 and 122,899 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 6.0% of complaints (219 reports, 152 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 95,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 57,330 and 140,000 miles.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 4.7% of complaints (173 reports, 113 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 70,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 26,450 and 101,000 miles.
The exterior lighting accounts for 4.4% of complaints (161 reports, 115 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 115,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 73,190 and 162,000 miles.
The seat belts account for 4.1% of complaints (151 reports, 97 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 78,999 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 52,000 and 108,537 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2001 model year drew the most — 1,357 complaints — while 2005 drew the fewest at 396. The median year sits at 619.
That makes 2001 an outlier: roughly 2.2 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 10 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (8), the exterior lighting (1), the electrical system (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
Of the 3,672 complaints filed against this generation, 627 reported a crash; 62 reported a fire; 573 reported an injury; 27 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 17.1% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 49,000 and 127,300 miles, with a median of 86,030. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the airbag system and the transmission and driveline are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The airbag system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 84,907, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Transmission 2001–2005 (extended coverage on 2001–2002)
Automatic transmission failure - torque converter lock-up clutch judder progressing to slipping and complete loss of drive. Honda extended the automatic transmission warranty on affected 2001-2002 Civics to 7 years / 100,000 miles.
Airbags (takata Inflator) 2001–2005 (2001–2003 highest risk)
Takata ammonium-nitrate inflators on 2001-2003 Civics are among the highest-risk 'Alpha' population, with a documented rupture rate high enough that NHTSA and Honda issued do-not-drive advisories. Inflator rupture propels metal fragments into the cabin.
Engine Mounts 2001–2005
Front and rear engine mount collapse causing vibration at idle and driveline clunk; a routine failure item on this generation.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1,357 | 812 |
| 2002 | 876 | 598 |
| 2003 | 619 | 463 |
| 2004 | 424 | 288 |
| 2005 | 396 | 275 |
Recalls (10)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 19V501000 | 2019-08-12 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 19V499000 | 2019-08-12 | Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module |
| 19V182000 | 2019-04-10 | Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module |
| 18V268000 | 2018-06-22 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 15V370000 | 2015-07-01 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 15V320000 | 2015-07-01 | Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module |
| 14V700000 | 2015-01-26 | Air Bags |
| 14V353000 | 2014-09-12 | Air Bags |
| 12V136000 | 2012-04-27 | Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch |
| 10V364000 | 2010-10-07 | Electrical System:ignition |
What owners reported
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…
2001 · 23 miles · Hydraulic brake circuit
Tl* the contact owned a 2001 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the front driver's side air bag failed. While driving 35 MPH, a vehicle failed to yield the right of way and crashed into the front end of the contact's vehicle. The front driver's side air bag deployed; however, the air bag failed to inflate. The…
2001 · 30 miles · Airbag system
Sudden transmission failure on my Honda Civic ex (2001) on the freeway. Was barely able to get car out of traffic lanes during early morning traffic. Towed by aaa to mechanic and had to have transmission replaced at cost of $1500. Still have problems with leak of transmission fluid. Transmission failure could have…
2001 · 75 miles · Transmission and driveline
Built from 2,436 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page