There are 46 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2001 Honda Civicin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The car set on fire causing by airbags explosion and electrical issues and I got myself burned trying to stop the fire
PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL PART OF THE IGNITION, CAUSING MY CAR TO CUT OFF, OR IT LEAVES ME AND MY KIDS STRANDED!!! EVEN THE SRS LIGHT IS ON, AND WHEN I LOOKED UP THE RECALL INFORMATION, THERES RECALLS ON BOTH AND THE DEALERSHIP IS DECLINING TO SERVICE MY VEHICLE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFTEY ISSUE, I CANT AFFORD TO PUT MY KIDS LIFE IN JEOPARDY, NOR CAN I AFFORD ANOTHER CAR RIGHT NOW. PLEASE HELP ME !!!
IT HAS A KILL SWITCH AND CAUGHT FIRE
STALLS OUT / LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING, CANNOT MAINTAIN SPEED EVEN WHEN FLOORED, WORSE ON HOT DAYS, DOESN'T HAPPEN IN THE WINTER, THE MAIN FUEL RELAY GETS REAL HOT AND CAR WILL NOT RUN UNTIL IT SITS FOR ABOUT 5 OR 10 MINUTES, THEN SOMETIMES (WHEN 90+ DEGREES OUT) WILL ONLY RUN FOR A FEW MINUTES BEFORE IT HAPPENS AGAIN, I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE RELAY AND ITS STILL HAPPENING.
TAKATA RECALL. MY 2001 HONDA CIVIC HAS BEEN SITTING MY MY DRIVE FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND IS NOT BEING USED AS MY PRIMARY VEHICLE. YESTERDAY THE CAR SEEMED FINE; WINDOWS CLEAR, NO SMELL, ETC. HOWEVER, WHEN RETURNING TODAY THE CAR HAD THE SMELL OF BURNT PLASTIC WHICH WAS OVERPOWERING AND WENT TO SEE WHY IT SMELLED AND THEN NOTICED THAT THE WINDOWS WERE COVERED IN SOOT. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS OPENED AND THE SMELL WAS 100% STRONGER AND YOU COULD SEE THAT THE PLASTIC ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DASH WAS BURNT AND MELTING RIGHT AROUND WHERE THE AIRBAG; I WILL SEND PICTURES. IT LOOKED LIKE THE DASH HAD MELTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND BESIDES THE CAR COVERED IN SOOT THE DAMAGE IS LOCATED SPECIFICALLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AROUND THE AIRBAG AND GLOVE COMPARTMENT. IN WORKING TO COMPLETE THIS REPORT I NOTICED HOW IT ASKS HOW MANY MILES ARE ON THE CAR, BUT THE ONLY WAY TO SEE THE NUMBER OF MILES IS BY TURNING THE CAR ON. I AM HESITIANT TO TURN THE CAR ON SINCE I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED AND DON'T THINK IT IS SAFE. HOWEVER, I KNOW THE CAR HAS OVER 200,000 MILES BUT I AM NOT SURE AS THE EXACT NUMBER OF MILES.
AN ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL WHILE DRIVING APPROX 45 MPH TURNED OUT TO BE THE MASTER POWER WINDOW REGULATOR AND THE FUSE. I HAVE READ SEVERAL FORUMS ONLINE STATING THE SAME ISSUES, BUT NO ONE KNOWS THE CAUSE. VERY SCARY.
ON APRIL 8 2015 WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO MY HOUSE, I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE DASHBOARD SO I HAD TO DESPERATELY STOP THE CAR I RUN. MY CAR WAS CALL FOR RECALL AND I WHEN TO HONDA SERVICES IN HILLSIDE, NEW JERSEY WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD TO FIX SOMETHING FROM THE AIR BAG IN THE DASH BOARD THEY TOLD ME THEY HAVE TO ORDER SOME PARTS AND THEY WILL CALL ME TO COMEBACK SO I WAIEDT FOR ONE MONTH AND TWO MONTH AND THEY NEVER CALL ME I CALLED TO FIND OUT ABOUT THOSE PARTS AND I WAS TOLD THE SAME THING, THAT THEY ARE GOING TO CALL ME I BELIEVE MY CAR WAS TOTAL DESTROY IN FIRE BECAUSE THEY DID NOT FIX MY CAR ON TIME. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT THAT CAUSED THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS TO FAIL. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE HIGH BEAMS DUE TO THE FAILURE, WHICH WAS PROGRESSING. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V086000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). PRIOR TO THE CONTACT OWNING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.
STARTED CAR DROVE IT TO WORK, ABOUT A MILE INTO DRIVE ENGINE STALLED, CAR STARTED TO SPUTTER, THEN STALL AGAIN. TOOK TO MECHANIC, IT WAS A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. 1997-2000 HONDA CIVIC MODELS WERE INVOLVED IN A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH RECALL, I WONDER IF 2001 SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED AS WELL. *TR
OWN A 2001 HONDA CIVIC LX CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ONCE UP WITH CODE P0740. HAD THE CODE READ AT AUTOZONE WENT OUT. NOW IT HAS COME BACK. *TR
THE VEHICLE GAUGE CLUSTER READS THE WRONG INFORMATION. IT CAUSED ME TO STALL ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING 65 MPH. I COMPLETELY RAN OUT OF FUEL AND THE GAUGE READ THAT I HAD 1/4 OF A TANK LEFT. OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET. THE FUEL, MPH, AND TEMPERATURE READINGS ARE ALL OFF. *TR
I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED, AND YOU CANNOT SEE THE SPEEDOMETER OR ANY GAUGE WHEN THE SUN HITS THE PLASTIC COVERING THEM. IT IS A SERIOUS ISSUE. I CANNOT BELIEVE HONDA HASN'T RECALLED THE PLASTIC OR AT LEAST PUT SOMETHING ON IT. THIS HAS TO BE ADDRESSED. I OWNED A 2002 HONDA CIVIC BEFORE THIS AND IT DID NOT HAVE THE SAME ANGLE ON THE DASH SO THERE WAS NEVER AN ISSUE. *TR
SRS LIGHT ON MY 2001 HONDA CIVIC IS ON AND THE PROBLEM, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER IS A CODE 15-3 FOR OPDS UNIT FAILURE. WITH THIS LIGHT ON THE AIR BAGS IN MY CAR WILL NOT FUNCTION IN A CRASH. HONDA HAD EXTENDED THE COVERAGE FOR THIS REPAIR FOR 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES. THE PROBLEM IS THAT I MISSED THE CUT OFF FOR A COVERED REPAIR BY 11 MONTHS. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS LESS THAN 85,000 MILES ON IT. THE DEALERSHIP, VALLEY HONDA OF MONROVILLE PA, WANTS TO CHARGE 325 DOLLARS FOR THE REPAIR THAT I FEEL SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE CAR COMPANY BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS IN THEIR EQUIPMENT. *KB
WE WERE DRIVING AROUND RUNNING ERRANDS ON A 75 DEGREE WEATHER. WE WERE ON THE ROAD WHEN THE CAR JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN DOWNSHIFTED. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SO, WE WENT TO MCDONALDS TO LET THE CAR COOL DOWN, LIFTING THE HOOD. AN ADVANCED AUTO ZONE WAS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET. AFTER A BIT, WE TOOK IT OVER, THERE. THEY TESTED IT AND SAID IT WASN'T THE ENGINE AT ALL; BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, ETC. THEY THEN TOLD US TO TAKE IT THE AUTO PARTS STORE AND HAVE THEM TEST IT WITH THEIR TOOLS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE CORRECT TOOL NEEDED TO DO THE PARTICULAR TEST NEEDED DONE. SO, WE LIMPED THE CAR DOWN THE ROAD. WE EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM, THEY GOT THEIR COMPUTER TESTER OUT AND CAME UP WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT CODES. THE FUNNY THING IS, AFTER ABOUT 1/2 AN HOUR, AFTER THE CODES WERE TESTED, THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF. WE CALLED OUR MECHANIC AND GOT AN APPOINTMENT FOR HIM TO TEST IT AND SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. HE FOUND A USED EMC COMPUTER CHIP/COMPONENT AND REPLACED THE OLD ONE. WHEN WE GOT THE CAR BACK, WE HEARD THIS AWFUL NOISE THAT WE HADN'T HEARD. WE WERE TOLD IT WAS THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, THAT IT WOULD BE NOISY AND WOULD GET WORSE OVER TIME. NOW, WE CAN'T DRIVE IT TOO FAR WITHOUT IT DOWNSHIFTING. THE HOT AIR JUST GETS TO IT. WE ARE ON A VERY FIXED INCOME. THIS IS MY HUSBAND'S CAR. HE IS DISABLED. ALL WE HAVE IS HIS DISABILITY. WE ALSO HAVE 3 1/2 YEAR OLD SON. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT WITH MY SON IN THE CAR BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN HOT OVER THE SUMMER WE CAN'T RUN THE A/C BECAUSE THAT JUST EXACERBATES THE SITUATION. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE MY HUSBAND BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE HE THOUGHT IT WAS A RELIABLE CAR. WE HAVE SPOKEN TO THE HONDA DEALER ABOUT IT. THEY DON'T SEEM TO CARE. WE HAVE HAD TO USE MY '97 PONTIAC GRAND AM. IT HAS HAD ISSUES TOO. OUR MECHANIC SAID THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL AS OF YET. WE HAVE CALLED JUNK YARDS AND LOOKED ON LINE. WHO CAN AFFORD SOMETHING LIKE THIS? WELL, HIS SISTER HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH HERS. *TR
WINDOWS REGULATOR BURNT OUT WHILE DRIVING CAR. NO SIGN OF MOISTURE OR ANYTHING. LOW QUALITY SWITCH. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THE KEY WOULD EXTRACT FROM THE IGNITION WITHOUT THE VEHICLE BEING IN PARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING OVER A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND WOULD OFFER NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000.
I OWN A 2001 HONDA CIVIC LX. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE OVERSEAS FROM A CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY. THIS PERSON HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. ON OR ABOUT 12 JULY 2009 MY WIFE AND I WERE IN THE VEHICLE WHEN I NOTICED THE DISTINCT ODOR OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE NEXT DAY, MY WIFE SAW PUFFS OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND A MUCH STRONGER ODOR ASSOCIATED WITH AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED BY A LOCAL GARAGE IN SCHERTZ, TX AND EXACTLY MATCHES THE SYMPTOMS OF THE FOLLOWING RECALL FEB 24, 2004 | RECALL ID# 75776. THE COMPLAINT GOES BEYOND THE INITIAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AS MY WIFE ATTEMPTED TO BRING THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF BOTH A LOCAL HONDA DEALER, GILMAN HONDA IN SELMA, TX AND TO HONDA.COM VIA THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE HOTLINE. BOTH ENTITIES STATED WORDS TO THE AFFECT OF "THAT VIN DOESN'T EXIST." THROUGH INVESTIGATION, WE DISCOVERED THAT HONDA DROPPED THE VIN ONCE THE VEHICLE SHIPPED OVERSEAS AS PART OF THE MILITARY NEW CAR SALES PROGRAM. NEITHER ENTITY, EITHER THE LOCAL DEALER OR HONDA USA MADE ANY ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE THIS VERY SERIOUS SAFETY MATTER. THIS IS A POTENTIAL PROBLEM FOR ANY MILITARY SERVICE MEMBER THAT PURCHASES AN AMERICAN CAR WHILE STATIONED OVERSEAS AND NEEDS SOME REGULATORY AGENCY TO MANDATE A FIX. *TR
LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT FIRST FAILED ON 01/30/2009. ELECTRICAL WIRING TO FRONT LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT OVERHEATED CAUSING MELTING OF HEADLIGHT CONNECTOR TO ELECTRICAL HARNESST. . A SUCCESSION OF ANOTHER 4 HEADLIGHT CONNECTORS HAVE MELTED BETWEEN O8/08/2009 TO DECEMBER 14, 2010. FIRST 4 HEADLIGHT CONNECTOR REPLACEMENTS COMPLETED BY HONDA DEALER. PRIOR TO JAN 30TH 2009 HEADLIGHT CONNECTOR FAILURE,A DIFFERENT HONDA DEALER COMPLETED NHTSA 304V86000 RECALL WORK FOR HEADLIGHT ELECTRICAL OVERHEATING RECALL IN 2006 DURING REGULAR MAINTENANCE APPOINTMENT. FAILURE #5 HAPPENED ON DEC14, 2010 JUST 6 DAYS AFTER MELTED CONNECTOR #4 WAS REPLACED ON DECEMBER 8TH 2010. DEALER FOUND CRUISE CONTROL UNIT INOPERABLE DUE TO ELECTRICAL MELT DOWN. ORIGINAL AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR REPLACED IN 2009 DUE TO MELT DOWN. SAFETY AND POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD DUE TO CHRONIC OVERHEATING OF ORIGINAL ELECTRICAL HARNESS & MULTI-PLEX UNIT. HONDA DEALER UNABLE SOLVE PROBLEM OF REPEATED MELTING HEADLIGHT CONNECTORS. ALL CONNECTORS ARE HONDA DEALER PARTS. TOTAL OF 4 LEFT HEADLIGHT CONNECTORS AND 1 RIGHT HEADLIGHT CONNECTOR HAVE MELTED. 5TH MELTED HEADLIGHT CONNECTOR HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. USING THE HIGH-BEAMS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT SINCE 4 PREVIOUS HONDA DEALER REPLACEMENT CONNECTORS HAVE MELTED. TIME INTERVALS BETWEEN CONNECTOR FAILURE KEEPS GETTING SHORTER AND SHORTER. DUE TO CHRONIC UNSOLVED ELECTRICAL OVERHEATING PROBLEM, THE SAFETY OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS COMPROMISED.
THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON MY 2001 HONDA CIVIC LX PROGRESSIVELY UNDERWENT FAILURE FROM INTERMITTENT TO HIGHLY UNRELIABLE OVER A PERIOD OF 6-8 MONTHS. AT TIMES I WAS DRIVING WITH NO INSTRUMENT DISPLAY. REPAIRS ARE BEING PERFORMED BY A HONDA DEALER. *TR
BUZZING SOUND COMING FROM IGNITION SWITCH WHEN TURNED MOSTLY TO THE OFF POSITION. OTHERWISE NO ISSUES. *TR
Showing 1–20 of 46 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 26, 2026