2001 Honda Civic Problems: 11 Known Issues
2001 model year · NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports · Updated September 2026
2001 · All trims · All engines
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2001 model year · NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports · Updated September 2026
2001 · All trims · All engines
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According to Au7o's research across NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports, the 2001 Honda Civic has 11 documented known issues, with 3 rated critical. The most serious are Radiator Internal Transmission-Cooler Failure — ATF/Coolant Cross-Contamination ('Strawberry Milkshake') ($400-$3,500 repair), PGM-FI Main Relay Heat-Soak No-Start and Random Stalling (Cracked Solder Joints) ($30-$180 repair) and 7th-Gen Automatic Transmission Failure — Slipping, No Engagement, and Premature Failure ($1,800-$3,500 repair). Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $20 to $3,500. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.
PARKING BRAKE
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 Honda Civic two door and four door 1.5L turbo and 2.0L vehicles. The electric parking brake (EPB) may not engage if it is applied immediately after turning the ignition off.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2016 Civic 2-Door vehicles manufactured February 23, 2016, through May 20, 2016. The affected vehicles may have a damaged LED side marker light circuit board inside the taillight assembly, making the marker light inoperable. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Assoc. Equipment."
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 Civic vehicles manufactured September 22, 2015, to February 3, 2016 and equipped with 2.0L engines. The affected vehicles have engines with piston assemblies that may have been manufactured without a piston wrist pin circlip or with an incorrectly installed piston wrist pin circlip.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.
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According to Au7o's research across NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports, the 2001 Honda Civic has 11 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: Radiator Internal Transmission-Cooler Failure — ATF/Coolant Cross-Contamination ('Strawberry Milkshake'), PGM-FI Main Relay Heat-Soak No-Start and Random Stalling (Cracked Solder Joints), 7th-Gen Automatic Transmission Failure — Slipping, No Engagement, and Premature Failure. Of these, 3 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
The 2001 Honda Civic has 11 known issues compiled from NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports. 3 issues are rated critical: Radiator Internal Transmission-Cooler Failure — ATF/Coolant Cross-Contamination ('Strawberry Milkshake') and PGM-FI Main Relay Heat-Soak No-Start and Random Stalling (Cracked Solder Joints) and 7th-Gen Automatic Transmission Failure — Slipping, No Engagement, and Premature Failure. Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
Repair costs for known Honda Civic issues range from $20 to $3,500, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, Radiator Internal Transmission-Cooler Failure — ATF/Coolant Cross-Contamination ('Strawberry Milkshake'), typically costs $400-$3,500 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
On automatic-transmission Civics the ATF cooler is integrated inside the radiator's end tank. As the radiator ages the internal cooler wall corrodes/breaches, letting engine coolant and transmission fluid mix. The result is a pink, milky emulsion (a 'strawberry milkshake') visibl… Repairs typically run $400-$3,500. Severity: high.
The PGM-FI main relay (mounted under the dash on the driver's side kick panel or behind the glovebox) supplies power to the fuel pump and fuel-injection computer. Underdash heat causes the internal solder joints to crack over time, breaking the circuit intermittently. The classic… Repairs typically run $30-$180. Severity: high.
The 2001-2005 (7th generation) Civic automatic transmission is widely documented as failing prematurely, often before 90,000 miles. Owners report harsh/abrupt shifting, the engine revving without the car moving, slipping, or no engagement in drive — typically from torque-converte… Repairs typically run $1,800-$3,500. Severity: high.
The idle air control valve (IACV) on the throttle body meters the air that bypasses the closed throttle at idle. On D-series Civics it fouls with carbon and the pintle sticks, so the ECU can no longer stabilize idle. Symptoms are a hunting/surging idle, abnormally high idle, or t… Repairs typically run $50-$300. Severity: medium.
P0741 sets when the PCM commands the torque converter clutch (TCC) to lock up but the measured engine-vs-input RPM slip (greater than ~200 RPM) shows it is not engaging (stuck off) or slipping. It applies only to automatic/CVT-transmission Civics. This is a well-known Honda autom… Repairs typically run $150-$2,500. Severity: medium.
On the D17 the EGR passages inside the intake manifold pack with carbon over time. Restricted flow sets P0401 (insufficient EGR flow), while a stuck/dirty valve can set P0402 (excessive flow). Owners chase this because a new EGR valve alone rarely fixes it — the manifold ports th… Repairs typically run $100-$450. Severity: medium.
The clockspring (cable reel) is the coiled ribbon conductor in the steering column that keeps the driver airbag, horn, cruise and steering-wheel controls connected while the wheel turns. Its fine wires fatigue and break, setting a latching SRS code (Honda 10-2, driver's airbag) t… Repairs typically run $100-$350. Severity: medium.
On 7th-gen (and adjacent-era) Civics the heater/AC blower motor resistor (power transistor) and its wiring connector overheat and melt, causing loss of some or all fan speeds, intermittent blower operation, and a burning-plastic smell from the vents. The melted connector commonly… Repairs typically run $30-$250. Severity: low.
The plastic sliders, cable/track and motor of the power window regulators wear out, most often on the driver's door which sees the most cycles. The window slows, moves unevenly, binds off-track, or drops into the door and won't come back up. It is a high-volume search item on bot… Repairs typically run $90-$350. Severity: low.
The VTEC spool valve (solenoid) bolts to the side of the cylinder head and uses oil pressure to actuate variable valve timing. Its rubber sealing gasket hardens and shrinks with age and heat, letting engine oil seep out the side of the head/block. The oil often drips onto the exh… Repairs typically run $20-$150. Severity: low.
The valve cover gasket (and the round spark-plug tube seals) harden and shrink with age on D17 and R18 engines, letting oil weep onto the block and exhaust manifold. Oil dripping onto the hot manifold produces a burning-oil smell and light smoke; oil pooling in the spark-plug wel… Repairs typically run $90-$350. Severity: low.
Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.