2002 Honda Civic Engine
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
NUMEROUS OIL LEAKS ALL HAPPENING SIMULTANEOUSLY - SOLENOID SEAL, FRONT CRANKSHAFT SEAL, VALVE COVER, TIMING COVER , REAR MAIN SEAL, AND OTHERS UNIDENTIFIED YET -- I CANNOT AFFORD ALL OF THESE REPAIRS
I KEEP HAVING OIL SEEPAGE -- REPLACED GASKET COVER, MAIN OIL SEAL, OIL PAN, ETC IS THERE A RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETIN ON MY 2002 HONDA CIVIC DX
DURING SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE ON MARCH 26, 2009, A HONDA SERVICE TECHNICIAN DETECTED AN OIL LEAK. THE HEAD COVER GASKET WAS REPLACED. DURING SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE ON JANUARY 24, 2013, A HONDA SERVICE TECHNICIAN DETECTED AN OIL LEAK. THE HEAD COVER GASKET WAS REPLACED. DURING SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE ON APRIL 19, 2014, A HONDA SERVICE TECHNICIAN DETECTED AN OIL LEAK. THE RECOMMENDATION WAS TO REPLACE HEAD COVER GASKET. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED OVER 3000 UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED BUT THE RESULTS WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE AIR CLEANER ASSEMBLY COULD CAUSE PROBLEMS WITH THE THROTTLE BODY AND PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM SLOWING DOWN. THE DEALER STATED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V329000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE), WHICH WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE, BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000. UPDATED 06/03/11 *B UPDATED 07/08/11
I OWN A 2002 HONDA CIVIC SI AND WAS CHECKING ON THE VALVE ADJUSTMENT IN MY ENGINE TODAY. I NOTICED ONE OF THE CAM LOBES (CYLINDER #3 ON THE EXHAUST SIDE) HAD SOME SEVERE GALLING AND PITTING. ALL OF THE OTHER CAM LOBES WERE IN PERFECT CONDITION. AFTER DOING SOME SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET (SEARCH FOR "CAM GALLING" OR "HONDA GALLING" OR SOMETHING SIMILAR) I HAVE FOUND THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE TO MANY WHO OWN THIS YEAR CIVIC SI. I ALSO FOUND SOME SITES STATING IT IS ALSO A PROBLEM IN OTHER K SERIES ENGINES (MY CAR HAS A K20A3 ENGINE) AND POSSIBLY A PROBLEM IN OTHER HONDA CARS/SUVS. MY FEAR IS THAT THE LOBE COULD DISINTEGRATE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS AND CAUSE TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE AND POSSIBLY INJURY OR AN ACCIDENT. I PLAN ON TAKING PICTURES TOMORROW AND SEEING WHAT HONDA RECOMMENDS. SINCE THE MAINTENANCE INTERVAL ON ADJUSTING VALVES IS 110,000 MILES ON MY HONDA, IT'S DIFFICULT TO CATCH A PROBLEM LIKE THIS BEFORE THE WARRANTY IS UP SINCE REMOVING A VALVE COVER IS NOT A STANDARD PROCEDURE...ALTHOUGH I WOULD VENTURE TO GUESS THE PROBLEM HAD BEGUN DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. AND, LOOKING AT THE NUMBER OF POSTS ON THE ISSUE, SOMETHING HONDA SHOULD BE RECALLING OR HELPING WITH. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC LX. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 80 MPH, HE HEARD AN UNUSUAL NOISE AND SHIFTED INTO THIRD GEAR. HE THEN ENGAGED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND AS HE SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, THE ENGINE EXPLODED AND FLAMES WERE UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE ROAD AND EXIT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INCIDENT. HE THEN OBSERVED FLUIDS LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 133,000.
HAD BELTS AND WATER PUMP CHANGED. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC. HE SAID IT WAS MY ELECTRONIC LOAD DETECTOR. SO I PAID AROUND $400.00 IN REPLACEMENT PARTS AND THE CAR WILL NOT PASS EMISSION TEST. NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. *TR
HEATING- OUTSIDE WINDSHIELD FREEZES WITH CHUNKS OF ICE AFTER DEFROSTING. INSIDE WINDSHIELD FOGS UP ALL THE TIME MEANING YOU NEED TO KEEP ADJUSTING KNOBS AND TURNING DEFROSTERS AND AIR CONDITIONER BACK ON AND THEN OFF TO GET SOME HEAT BACK. REAR DEFOGGER LEAVE CHUNKS OF ICE ON REAR BACK WINDOW . VISION SAFETY CONCERNS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL BRAKING AND STEERING POWER. THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART, BUT WOULD SHUT OFF IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. THE DEALER PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH ERROR CODE P0341. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY ECM, WHICH THE DEALER THEN UPDATED. HE WAS CONCERNED THAT HE WAS SOLD A VEHICLE WITHOUT BEING INFORMED OF THE ECM UPGRADE. HONDA OFFERED TO PAY 50% OF THE LABOR COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,960.
MOTOR MOUNT FAILURE PRIOR TO 60,000 MILES; TIMING BELT SIDE/LEFT MOTOR MOUNT BROKEN CAUSING ENGINE VIBRATION AT SPEED AND IDLE; CAUSE WAS DETERMINED DURING TIMING BELT CHANGE. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS AN UNUSUAL NOISE WAS HEARD DERIVED FROM THE ENGINE HOWEVER AT HIGHER SPEEDS WAS NOT NOTICEABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT HONDA CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER DAMAGED. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THE WARRANTY SHOULD COVER THE PARTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP.
DT: 2002, HONDA CIVIC LX, WAS INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT WHEN SLOWING FOR TRAFFIC. THE CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER MOTORIST WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN. THE CONSUMER HIT THE MEDIAN, THEN, WENT ACROSS 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC AND HIT A MOUNTAIN. THIS RESULTED IN A MAJOR CAR CRASH. OWNER SUSTAINED 2 BROKEN BONES IN THE LOWER RIGHT LEG, AIR BAG BURNED. AFTER THE CAR WENT HOOD FIRST INTO THE MOUNTAIN THE CAR WAS REVVING, AND GAS WAS STILL FLOWING, THEN , VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED PRIOR TO THE WRECK. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY WERE THE ONLY ONES TO WORK ON THE VEHICLE. IT WAS ALWAYS REGULARLY MAINTAINED, AND THE OWNER SAW NO RECORD OF ANY WORK DONE CONCERNING A RECALL. THE ACCIDENT WAS ON THE FREEWAY INSTEAD OF SURFACE ROAD.*AK THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT RECALL 01V329000 MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF HIS ACCIDENT. *JB
I BOUGHT A 2002 CIVIC SI BRAND NEW. THE SHIFT LINKAGE WAS GRINDING AT 3000 MI. I WENT TO THE DEALER BUT NEVER HAD IT FIXED. AT ABOUT 16000 MILES IT WAS RUNNING FUNNY SO I TOOK IT TO BURNE HONDA AND THEY SAID IT WAS OVER-REVVED. THE 2002-2005 HONDA CIVIC SI AND 2002-2005 ACURA RSX K SERIES ENGINE IS SERIOUSLY DEFECTED. THE RSX WAS 6TH ON THE LEMON LAW LIST. HONDA HAS THUS FAR REFUSED TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE. THERE ARE CASES OF THE CONNECTING RODS BLOWING THROUGH THE MOTOR AND SPILLING OIL ON THE EXHAUST RESULTING IN FIRES. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THIS IS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF THE OWNERS OF K-SERIES POWERED VEHICLES AND IS DANGEROUS IF A ROD BENDS ON THE HIGHWAY AND THERE IS NO PLACE TO PULL OVER. HONDA IS COVERING UP A DEFECTIVE ENGINE DESIGN. *JB
THE CONSUMER HAD THE OIL CHANGED BY THE DEALER, SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME, PARKED THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE AND LATER SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM THE GARAGE. UPON ENTERING THE GARAGE THE CONSUMER NOTICED FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THERE WAS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO THE HOME. *JB *NM
CLICKING NOISE IN 1ST, 2ND, AND 3RD GEAR. FRONT BRAKES SQUEAL
WHEN I PURCHASED MY CAR 8/02 THE AC WAS BLOWING HOT AIR..THE DEALER SAID THAT WAS NORMAL..I TOLD THEM THAT WAS NOT POSSIBLE-CARS DO NOT BLOW HOT AIR EVERYTIME YOU STOP, TURN A CORNER AND EXCELLERATE. I DEALT WITH IT UNTIL THIS SUMMER 7/03 AND TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER WHO RECHARGED THE SYSTEM. I TOLD THEM I THOPUGHT IT WAS A LEAK IN COMPRESSOR, CRAKC IN BELT OR THERMOSTATS DIDN'T WORK. THEY JUST IGNORED AND SAID ALL WAS FINE. (1) WEEK LATER I AM ONCE AGAIN AT THE DEALER BECAUSE IT IS STILL BLOWING HOT AIR. DEALER SAID THAT THE AC UNIT WAS NOT INSTALLED IN CIVICS AT FACTORY YET THEY WERE INSTALLED LATER AND ARE OBVIOUSLY CHEAPER AND THEY DON'T WORK VERY WELL. I ASKED HIM WHY THEY DON'T TELL PEOPLE THIS. HE STATED THEY DO-WHICH WE THE BUYERS KNOW THAT THEY WOULD NEVER TELL US THAT BECAUSE THEY ARE THERE TO,SELL CARS. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY WILL TELL ME THIS TIME BUT IF IT IS STILL BLOWING HOT AIR ON AND OFF I AM GOING BACK TO THE DEALER AND ASK FOR MY MONEY BACK AND WILL TAKE AN ATTORNEY. THEY SHOULD NOT PUT IN CHEAP ITEMS AND RIP OFF PEOPLE. I LIVE IN AZ WHERE IT IS 116+ DEGREES. I DROVE THE ACCORD AND HAD NO PROBLEM AND THE DELALER STATED THEY HAD A BETTER AC IN THEM FROM FACTORY. I BELIEVE THAT I AM ENTITLED TO A UPGRADE CAR THAT WORKS AT NO ADDITIONAL COST. NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO SIT AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND SWEAT OR TURN THE CORNER AND HAVE HOT AIR BLAST AT THEM. I WAS TOLD ALSO THAT THEY HAVE HAD MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE AC BUT OBVIOUSLY HAVE DONE NOTHING. I TOLD THEM I WAS GOING TO COMPLAIN TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS ETC AND WAS TOLD THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA. THEY REALLY HAD NO CONCERN. PLEASE HELP!!!! THX
CAR LEAKS OIL. *AK
THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHEN A SLOW TURN WAS MADE.*JB
THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHEN A SLOW TURN WAS MADE. *JB
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FOUR CAR COLLISION AND AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, THEN THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE WENT UP COMPLETE FLAMES. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL. TS
THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE ENGINE'S LOWER BLOCK, WHICH RESULTED IN AN OIL LEAK. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER STATEED THE REPAIR WAS FINAALY MADE AFTER 3RD VISIT.*JB
WHILE MAKING A TURN ON HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE WILL SHUTDOWN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ENGINE STALLS AFTER MAKING TURNS AND PUSHING IN CLUTCH TO DOWNSHIFT. THE ONLY WAY TO RECOVER THE OPERATION OF THE POWER BRAKES AND THE POWER STEERING IS TO ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO STALL COMPLETELY AND THEN POPPING THE CLUTCH OR CRANKING WITH THE KEY. IF THE CLUTCH IS ALLOWED OUT WHEN A STALL STARTS, THEN THE VEHICLE WILL LURCH AND SHUTTER UNTIL IT RECOVERS WELL AFTER A CORNER. THE DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL THE 1.7 L 5 SPEED CIVIC LINE. AMERICAN HONDA IS WORKING ON THE PROBLEM AND THINK IT IS IN THE PROGRAMMING OF FUEL INJECTION. *SCC
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Quick Summary
The 2002 Honda Civic has 24 Engine complaints on file. 2 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.