There are 17 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2004 Honda Civic Hybridin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR, THE CVT TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO "LAG" OR DELY TO ENGAGE AND ACCELERATE. RECENTLY WHEN AT A LEFT TURN AT AN INTERSECTION, I APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR AND CAR JUDDERED, WAS VIBRATING THE WHOLE CAR, AND ALMOST GOT ME T-BONED. I KNOW THIS IS NOT A SPORTS CAR BUT WOULD LIKE TO DRIVE CONFIDENTLY TO WORK WITHOUT THE WORRY OF GETTING IN AN ACCIDENT. EVERY TIME I ACCELERATE NOW, THE RPM'S RAISE TO 1,500-2,000 RPM BEFORE THE CVT STARTER CLUTCH ENGAGES AND JERKS THE CAR FORWARD. THERE IS ALSO A WHINE COMING FROM THE CVT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THE CAR HAS 62,000 MILES CURRENTLY WHICH IS NOT A LOT. I JUST HAD HIGHER STANDARDS AND EXPECTATIONS FROM SUCH A REPUTABLE CAR MANUFACTURER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION LOOKING OVER THIS COMPLAINT AND HOPEFULLY TO HELP ME GET MY CAR SAFELY BACK ON THE ROAD.
TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE AND ULTIMATE FAILURE.
HELLO, WE HAVE THIS HONDA CIVIC 2004 HYBRID WITH CVT TRANSMISSION. THE CAR HAS AROUND 68K. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS TYPE OF ISSUES BUT HONDA SAYS THERE THEY ARE NOT LONGER ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT. THE REPAIR NOW COST MORE THAN THE VEHICLE. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN HELP ME WITH ABOUT THIS ISSUE?
WHILE DRIVING CAR JERKS AND JUMPS FROM START. CAR HAS STOPPED IN PLACE AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED. CAR IS DANGEROUS TO OPERATE. CVT TRANSMISSION HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PROBLEM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT 10 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN ACCELERATING OVER 10 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BURNED OIL AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.
THE CAR WAS SHUDDERING WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER A STOP. IT NEEDED THE CVT CLUTCH IN THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT MANY OWNERS OF 2004 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID HAVE REPORTED AND HONDA REFUSES TO RECALL THE PART. THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE BUILDING OF THE CVT TRANSMISSIONS AND HONDA WON'T ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. *TR
TRANSMISSION JUDDERS/SLIPS WHEN ACCELERATING. HAD CLUTCH KIT REPLACED LESS THAN 2 YEARS AGO AND 20,000 MILES AND SAME PROBLEM IS BACK. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN SLIPPAGE OCCURS, AS CAR DOESN'T ALWAYS MOVE WHEN ACCELERATOR IS PUSHED. *TR
MY CAR SUDDENLY MADE A LOUD NOISE WHEN MAKING A STOP ON A BUSY INTERSECTION. I COULD MANAGE TO DRIVE IT TO A SAFE SPOT BEFORE THE CAR FAILED COMPLETELY.THE REGULAR MAINTENANCE HAD BEEN DONE IN MY CAR BUT I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE TRANSMISSIONS FAILURES OF THE HONDA HYBRIDS UNTIL NOW. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
THE TRANSMISSION IN MY HONDA CIVIC HYBRID HAS HAD THE SAME SHUDDER/JUDDER ISSUE THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED. YOU HAVE TO TAKE OFF EXTREMELY SLOW TO KEEP IT TO A MINIMUM AND IT STILL SHAKES AND JUDDERS. IT IS OBVIOUS THERE IS A SEVER ISSUE WITH THESE CVT TRANSMISSIONS AND MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. MY CIVIC HYBRID STARTED THIS ISSUE A LONG TIME AGO AND HONDA SAID JUST CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID BUT THAT ONLY HELPS FOR A SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME. VERY DANGEROUS GOING THROUGH INTERSECTIONS. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A LOUD BANGING SOUND AS IT ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
THE TRANSMISSION IS "FAILING" ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. IT COULD FAIL THIS WEEK, OR NEXT MONTH. EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE ONLY 126,000 MILES ON IT, AND I HAVE DONE ALL THE REQUIRED TIMELY MAINTENANCE ON THE CAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW, THE DEALER SAID THIS JUST "HAPPENS" SOMETIMES TO THESE CARS. IN SEARCHING FOR INFORMATION I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL FORUMS WITH OTHER HONDA CIVIC HYBRID OWNERS DISCUSSING THE FAILING TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND THE FACT THAT HONDA WILL NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE. OR ADMIT FAULT. HTTP://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/HONDA/CIVICHYBRID/TRANSMISSION-FAILURE-PROBLEMS.PHP HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F0B3259/0. *TR
CAR WAS WORKING FINE 5 RECALL PERFORM SECOND TIME TRANSMISSION FAIL AFTER RECALL PERFORM , IMA FAILS, MISS OIL, THREE TIME VISIT , 2 TIME TOWED, VEHICLE IN SHOP FOR 22 DAYS, PROBLEM CONTINUE, REPAIR BILL $4322 WARRANTY BILL 3896.00 25% WARRANTY COVER , DEALER WANTED TO BUY CAR AT $2500 BEFORE REPAIR WE PAID 34000 FOR PURCHASE CALL 9734329040, PROBLEM REPORTED TO HONDA NO RESOLUTION PROVIDED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND THEN RESTARTED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FUNCTION AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. ON ANOTHER OCCASION WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND IT RESUMED TO NORMAL HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE MOUNT WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED, HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS TOLD TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE FLUID WAS CHANGED, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
MY VEHICLE WHEN STARTING FROM A DEAD STOP SHUDDERS FOR JITTERS WHEN YOU GO. THIS SEEMS TO SLOWLY BE GETTING WORSE. I HAVE CHANGED TRANSMISSION FLUID ON REGULAR INTERVALS WITH HONDA CVT OEM TRANSMISSION FLUID. ALSO MY AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT FOR THE DRIVERS SIDE IS CONSTANTLY ON. THIS HAS BEEN ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I HAVE JUST NEVER BOTHERED TO TAKE IT IN FOR FEAR THAT THERE WOULD BE A CHARGE TO FIX AN ITEM THAT I FEEL FOR SAFETY REASONS HONDA SHOULD TAKE CARE OF. *TR
FROM MY DRIVEWAY, I SHIFTED FROM PARK INTO DRIVE, AND HEARD A LOUD WHIRRING SIMILAR TO A METAL BELT FALLING APART. IT HAS CONTINUED TO GET WORSE OF THE YEAR, AND ONLY SHOWS UP WHEN IN DRIVE AND NOW A BIT IN REVERSE. IT IS NOT PRESENT IN PARK OR NEUTRAL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CLUTCH BRAKE, BUT I STILL HAVE THE SOUND. I ALSO HAVE MINOR SLIPPAGE, AND I HAVE READ SEVERAL OTHERS HAVING THE SAME COMPLAINT ABOUT THEIR SAME MODEL WITH REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN I WAS SOLD THIS CAR, A FIRST GENERATION HYBRID, I WAS TOLD IT WOULD LAST 200K MILES WITHOUT ANY MAJOR MAINTENANCE. I HAVE HAD DEGRADED FUEL ECONOMY FROM 43MPG TO 32MPG. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE 45-50 WHEN I PURCHASED IT NEW. AT 112,000 MILES, I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A LATE REACTION TO A SERIOUS DESIGN FAULT. MY MODEL WAS RECALLED IN JAPAN FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED IN THE US. I WON'T LET MY WIFE OR DAUGHTER DRIVE THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. I AM CONCERNED THAT AT ANY MINUTE, MY TRANSMISSION CAN STOP FUNCTIONING. THE DEALER SAYS THE "FIX" IS TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID MORE OFTEN THEN ORIGINALLY ADVERTISED. THIS AUGUST 2012, THE DEALER WANTS ME TO REPLACE IT FOR $5K. *TR
BEARING FAILURE IN CVT TRANSMISSION, LEADING TO SEVERE VIBRATION AND IF NOT REPAIRED TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE COST FOR REPAIRING REPLACEMENT TO CUSTOMER $1700 . IN MY VEHICLE IS BEARING HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES IN 130,000 MILES WELL FOLLOWING FACTORS RECOMMENDATIONS OF CHANGING TRANSMISSION FLUID EVERY 30,000 MILES. ALSO HUNDRED HYBRID BATTERY SYSTEM HAS A FLAW HYBRID BATTERIES ARE ONLY GUARANTEED FOR 80,000 MILES FOR THE FIRST BATTERY AND 24,000 MILES FOR REPLACEMENT BATTERIES AT THE COST OF $2700. WELL TOYOTA GUARANTEES THEIR BATTERIES FOR 150,000 MILES. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY PACKS THREE TIMES IN 130,000 MILES.
3 YEAR OLD TRANSMISSION SYSTEM BEGAN TO FAIL AT 40,000 MILES. IT WAS SERVICED WITH SERVICE BULLETIN 07-049. IT DID NOT LAST AND EVERY YEAR THEREAFTER I HAD RECURRING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE BATTERY BEGAN TO FAIL AND CAUSED INCREASING PROBLEMS FOR THE TRANSMISSION UNTIL THE BATTERY FAILED COMPLETELY AND THE TRANSMISSION THEN FAILED ALSO. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026