There are 38 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2001 Honda Civicin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Changed entire braking system Booster, ABS Main, Calipers, ABS Module, rooters, pads and STILL BRAKES LOCK. Brakes get hot and car stops any where on the Road, until it COOLS down the BRAKES UNLOCK. 201 466 6198 Angelica
WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC THE BRAKE LINE BLEW WHILE STOPPING FOR A RED LIGHT. A PANIC MANEUVER WAS MADE AND ACCIDENT WAS AVOIDED. A REPLACEMENT LINE WAS INSTALLED AND WHILE AGAIN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC A CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, ANOTHER LINE BLEW. THIS TIME I HAD TO DIVE INTO THE SHOULDER AND APPLY THE E-BRAKE.
BRAKE FAILURE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED AND FLIPPED OVER. DURING THE CRASH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. DURING THE CRASH, THE DRIVER SUSTAINED LACERATIONS AND BRUISES TO THE LEFT ARM THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,975. UPDATED 11/08/16*LJ UPDATED 11/17/16.*JB
I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED 3 MONTHS AGO, HAD A CERTIFIED MECHANIC INSPECT IT AND DO ALL THAT WAS NECESSARY TO MAKE IT ROAD WORTHY AND SAFE. NEW TIMING BELT, HEAD GASKET, BRAKES, ENGINE MOUNTS, BUSHINGS, TIRES, AC COMPRESSOR, BELTS, ETC. ETC. SO AFTER SPENDING OVER $2500.00 IN REPAIRS I THOUGHT I HAD A PERFECTLY RUNNING SAFE VEHICLE. AND IT DID RUN BEAUTIFULLY UNTIL 2 DAYS AGO WHEN DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT AROUND 45 MPH WITHOUT ANY SIGN OR INDICATION OF TROUBLE I HEARD A LOUD CLUNK FROM UNDER THE CAR AND BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. LUCKILY, WITH ALL THE TRAFFIC AROUND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND FOUND TRANSMISSION FLUID PORING OUT FROM BELOW. I HAD AAA TOW THE CAR TO A RELIABLE SHOP AND WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. ROUGH ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR $2000. - $2600. NEEDLESS TO SAY I WAS SHOCKED AND ANGRY. AND NOW I FIND OUT THAT I'M NOT ALONE. THERE ARE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS, PROBABLY THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE OF THE 2001 HONDA CIVIC. HONDA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS DESIGN FLAW FOR YEARS AND MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR LEAVING IT'S CUSTOMERS IN DANGER WITH A FAULTY TRANSMISSION.. *TR
I WAS DRIVING HOME, BACK COUNTRY ROADS, WHEN SUDDENLY MY VEHICLE REVVED UP TO OVER 5000RPM WHILE MAKING A VERY SLOW TURN. I BRAKE, IT STOPPED REVVING UP, BUT WHEN I STARTED AGAIN IT SHUDDERED AND THEN COMPLETELY STOPPED MOVING. I COULD NOT GO IN ANY GEAR, I TRIED WAITING A WHILE, CAR RUNS FINE BUT WON'T MOVE. SAT BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WAITING FOR A TOW, HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDS REPLACED. OF COURSE, THIS WILL COST ALMOST THE VALUE OF THE CARE, BUT THAT'S NOT MY MAIN CONCERN. WHILE THIS DID NOT CAUSE ME PHYSICAL HARM, I WAS PLANNING ON LEAVING FOR BALTIMORE WITHIN THE HOUR. HAD THIS CAR WAITED 50 MORE MILES TO GIVE OUT I WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED ON 695S ALONG WITH MANY OTHER FRIDAY NIGHT COMMUTERS AND COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND WHO KNOWS HOW MANY PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED, MYSELF INCLUDED? THIS CAR SIMPLY STOPPED MOVING WITHIN 1 MINUTE - NO LIGHTS ON THE DASH, NO PRIOR NOTICE OF ANYTHING WRONG. I KEEP THIS CAR MAINTAINED PER THE MANUAL AND WAS PLANNING ON KEEPING IT FOR SEVERAL MORE YEARS. I HAVE NOW FOUND THAT THIS HAS BEEN A WELL KNOWN ISSUE FOR HONDA FOR MANY YEARS AND STILL NOTHING IS BEING DONE. THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS BY SO MANY CONSUMERS I CAN HARDLY BELIEVE THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THIS. HOW MANY DOES IT TAKE? HOW MANY WILL NEED TO DIE IN ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY THIS BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE? *TR
BRAKES NEVER WORKED RIGHT, FELT LIKE NOT STOPPING QUICK ENOUGH, HAD REPLACED 3 OR 4 TIMES SINCE 2001, BUT TO THIS DAY, WHEN STOPPING SUDDENLY WITH BRAKE PEDAL FULLY TO FLOOR, CAR DOESN'T WANT TO STOP & IS SCARY. WAS REAR ENDED,RADIO & SPEAKERS QUIT WORKING, REPLACED & ALARM QUIT WORKING, HAD TO HAVE IT COMPLETELY REMOVED & HAD DAMAGED FLY WHEEL. ALARM MALFUNCTION WAS CAUSING CAR TO RUN IN "SAFE MODE" AND CAR WAS USING TOO MUCH GAS. THE GAS INDICATOR IS NOT ACCURATE, AND SLOW TO ADJUST TO EMPTY OR FULL LEVELS, EVEN WHEN IN PERFECT WEATHER. EVEN NOW I AM CERTAIN THAT I DO NOT GET GOOD GAS MILEAGE IN CITY OR HIGHWAY DRIVING & FEEL THIS CAR IS VASTLY OVERRATED IN EVERY WAY! SRS INDICATOR LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON FOR 3 YEARS NOW, RED IN COLOR, I NEVER KNEW THIS WAS A PROBLEM BEFORE READING BULLETINS ( BUT DO NOW). RIGHT FRONT WINDOW WAS SLOW TO ROLL DOWN FOR MONTHS, THEN WOULDN'T ROLL UP IN COLD WEATHER, AND NOW WON'T WORK AT ALL REGARDLESS OF WEATHER CONDITIONS. IS STUCK, AND WHERE I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A SIMPLE FUSE ISSUE, NOW WE'RE FINDING OUT IT WILL BE A $600 WINDOW MOTOR ISSUE. NOT A VERY HAPPY HONDA CUSTOMER RIGHT NOW. IRONICALLY, I BOUGHT THIS CIVIC BECAUSE OF A PRIOR POSITIVE EXPERIENCE OWNING A HONDA CRX, WHICH WAS WONDERFUL. THIS HONDA CIVIC 2001 HAS CHANGED THE WAY I VIEW HONDA'S IN GENERAL, UNFORTUNATELY. *JB
DT: THE CALLER STATED THAT RUST HAS BUILT UP ON THE FRONT ROTORS AND SHE HAD TO HAVE IT REMOVED. THERE WAS A NOISE WHEN TURNING AT SLOW SPEEDS. THE DEALER SAID THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT AND REMOVE THE RUST. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. *AK *NM
DT: CONSUMER WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, SWERVED ,AND SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING THE OTHER VEHICLE. WHEN CONSUMER TURNED TO CHECK ON CHILD AFTER NEAR ACCIDENT HE FOUND THAT THE HARNESS THAT HELD THE CHILD IN THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT WAS NOT BUCKLED. CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND CHILD SAFETY SEAT WAS REAR FACING CHILD SEAT. IT WAS CONVERTIBLE. CHILD SAFETY SEAT WAS LOCATED IN REAR MIDDLE SEAT OF 2001, HONDA, CIVIC. *AK
2001 HONDA CIVIC BRAKES WENT OUT ON VEHICLE RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.*MR THE INCIDENT HAPPENED 1 DAY AFTER THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. *JB
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES AND THEY LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO SKID AND REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK AND NECK INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO HOSPITAL. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
I HAVE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT BRAKES. AFTER GOING IN REVERSE, AND THEN PROCEEDING FORWARD, AT THE FIRST APPLICATION OF BRAKES THERE IS A POPPING NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE METAL SHIFTING OR BINDING. IT WILL NOT MAKE THE NOISE AGAIN UNTIL THE NEXT OCCURRENCE OF GOING INTO REVERSE AND THEN COMING TO THE FIRST STOP. AFTER BEING TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THE NOISE WILL DIMINSH FOR A DAY OR TWO, AND THEN RESUME AS NORMAL. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THEY ARE NOT ADJUSTING ANYTHING ON THE BRAKES. THE DEALER ALSO INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A CHANGE IN THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKES FOR THE 2001 MODEL YEAR THAT CAUSES THIS NOISE. IT SOUNDS BAD, AND I'M AFRAID IT WILL LEAD TO A BRAKE COMPONENT FAILING.*AK
ON 5/29/2003 THE DRIVER APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED LAST YEAR WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
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 BOOSTED. THEN ALL OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE FLASHING CRAZY. ON ONE OF THOSE OCCASIONS, IT DIED RIGHT IN FRONT OF HONDA, AFTER THEY ASSURED ME THAT MY CAR WAS FINE. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH HONDA. THEY FAIL TO FIND ANY OF THE SERIOUS PROBLEMS THAT ARE CONTINUING. THE CAR MAKES ALL KIND OF RATTLING AND CLICKING NOISES WHEN DRIVING, HONDA FINDS NOTHING. THE WINDOWS/WINDSHIELD FOG UP, DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK WELL, HONDA FINDS NOTHING. ALL FOUR TIRES ARE LEAKING, HONDA AT FIRST FIND NOTHING WRONG, NOW SAY I HAVE TO REPLACE TIRES. THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS LOOSE AND ROCKING, HONDA REPLACED SEAT TRACK TWICE, PROBLEM CONTINUES, TOOK CAR IN AGAIN FOR SEAT, HONDA FINDS NOTHING WRONG. SEAT ROCKING GETS WORSE, MAKING LOAD NOISE WHEN DRIVING, AFRAID FOR SAFETY. NOW THE CAR IS GETTING WORSE, CAR BRAKES WITHOUT PUTTING FOOT ON BRAKE, CAR IS SLUGGISH, DRIVING FUNNY. I THINK THIS IS THE TRANSMISSION THAT IS GOING TO GO BAD. IT STALLS TO START VERY OFTEN, THEN COMPLETELY FAILED TWICE, NEEDING BOOST. IM VERY CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AT THIS POINT. I EVEN REACHED OUT TO HONDA CONSUMER AFFAIRS IN CALIFORNIA, THEY DID NOT HELP AT ALL, IN FACT THEY WERE RUDE AND EVEN THREATENED ME, WHILE I HAD THE RENTAL, TO REPORT THE RENTAL STOLEN BECAUSE I ASKED IF I COULD HOLD THE RENTAL UNTIL HONDA FIXED MY CAR (ESPECIALLY SINCE THE CAR HAD DIED RIGHT IN FRONT OF HONDA, AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, MY CAR WAS DENTED, TWICE, WHILE BEING "FIXED" BY HONDA THAT DAY AS WELL) I AM COMPLETELY DISGUSTED WITH THE CAR AND THE SERVICE IVE GOTTEN. THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS I DIDN'T LIST HERE, TOO MANY TO LIST. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP IN THIS MATTER, THANK YOU. *NLM
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON. CONSUMER HAD AN EXPERIENCE WHEN APPLIED THE BRAKE, THE PEDAL GOES HALF TO THE FLOOR RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
1) NO ACCIDENT YET, BUT FREQUENTLY THE SIDE OF MY RIGHT FOOT HITS THE ACCELERATOR WHILE PUTTING THE BRAKES ON; PART OF MY LARGE FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE - PART LANDS ON THE ACCELERATOR. (I AM 6' 1" TALL). DEALER HAS SAID THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT. I DO FEEL THIS REPRESENTS A HAZARD TO MY CAR AND OCCUPANTS, AS WELL AS TO OTHERS. MY ONLY SOLUTION IS TO GET RID OF THE CAR TO A SHORT PERSON. (THE REQUIRED DATE BELOW IS INVALID AND IRRELEVANT.)*AK
WHEN CONSUMER SHIFTED THE GEARS, THE ENGINE SURGED AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, RESULTING IN A COLLISION, CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES HARD, BUT CAR WOULD NOT STOP. RELATED RECALL 01V329000, CONSUMER'S V.I.N. NOT INCLUDED. TS UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IT IS ALSO NOTED THAT THE TECHNICAN EXPERIENCED THE SAME CONDITION WHEN ENTERING THE VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND THERE WAS FRONT END DAMAGE. *TT...*AK
CONSUMER STATES HE WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT HIS BRAKES ARE NOT FITTING TIGHT TO THE CALIBER, WHICH CAUSES HIS BRAKES TO MAKE A NOISE IN SHAFTING BEFORE IT CAN MAKE A STOP. HE WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THERE IS NO FIX FOR IT. TS IT HAS BEEN ADVISED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD THE FRONT BRAKE PADS BECOME LOOSE CAUSING THE BRAKE PADS TO SHIFT/NOISY WHILE COMING TO A STOP. *TT
ROTORS RESURFACED AND MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED AT 20,000 MILES IN OCT 2002. ROTORS RESURFACED AGAIN IN APRIL 2003 AT 32,000. NOW ROTORS AND MASTER CYLINDER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT 42,000 MILES. HONDA REFUSES TO REPLACE STATING THAT THE WARRANTY WAS UP AT 36,000 MILES. THEY HAVE BLAMED ME FOR RIDING MY BRAKES WHICH I DONT... I PUT 24,000 MILES ON THE CAR A YEAR AND USE MY CRUISE CONTROL 90% OF THE TIME. THEY BLAMED PEOPLE WHO ROTATE THE TIRES FOR TIGHTENING THE LUG NUTS TOO TIGHT... I HAVE NEVER ROTATED MY TIRES SO THAT IS NILL. THEN THEY ASKED IF THE CAR IS PARKED NEAR A SPRINKLER BECAUSE IF THE ROTORS GET WET THEY WILL RUST. THEY ARE BLAMING ANYTHING THEY CAN SO THEY DONT HAVE TO PAY. WELL.. THE LEMON LAW IS ON MY SIDE AND THEY WILL PAY. THIS IS MY 5TH BRAND NEW HONDA AND WILL BE MY LAST. ATLEAST KIA STANDS BY THEIR VEHICLES.
ROTORS RESURFACED AND MASTER CYLINDER REPLACE AT 20,000 MILES, ROTORS RESURFACED AGAIN AT 32,000, NOW NEED TO BE REPLACED AND MASTER CYLINDER GOING OUT AGAIN. HONDA REFUSES TO FIX BECAUSE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. BLAMED EVERYTHING FROM ME, TO TIRE ROTATIONS, TO GETTING THE ROTORS WET. WILL BE FILING A LEMON LAW SUIT. ROTORS AND MASTER CYLINDERS DO NOT WEAR OUT 3 TIMES IN 42,000 UNLESS THERE IS A DEFECT. I DON'T RIDE MY BRAKES AND I DON'T EVEN ROTATE MY TIRES SO THOSE CAUSES ARE NILL. *LA
Showing 1–20 of 38 complaints
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 25, 2026