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2002 Honda Civic Common Problems & Recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration holds for the 2002 Honda Civic. Nothing on this page is written from memory — it is all imported from NHTSA's public database.

Safety recall campaigns

11 recall campaigns filed by Honda for the 2002 Civic, newest first.

CampaignComponentWhat the recall says
19V182000
2019-03-06
Air Bags
Frontal
Driver Side › Inflator Module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014…

Risk: An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is O41. Acura owners may contact customer…
19V501000
2019-06-27
Air Bags
Frontal
Passenger Side › Inflator Module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement…

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are E5D and X5C.
19V499000
2019-06-27
Air Bags
Frontal
Driver Side › Inflator Module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service…

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are Q5A and Y58.
14V700000
2014-11-04
Air Bags American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic, 2003-2004 Civic CNG and Element, 2002-2005 CR-V, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2005 Accord, Pilot, Civic Hybrid, and Acura MDX, 2005 Acura RL and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in geographic locations associated with high absolute humidity. Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in…

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger’s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
18V268000
2018-04-26
Air Bags
Frontal
Passenger Side › Inflator Module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 Honda Accord and Pilot, 2010 Accord Crosstour, 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 Element, 2007 and 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2012 Insight, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2012 Ridgeline vehicles. The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.

Risk: An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are K1P, and M1O.
15V320000
2015-05-28
Air Bags
Frontal
Driver Side › Inflator Module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2007 Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2006 Ridgeline, 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2003-2006 Acura MDX, and 2002-2003 Acura 3.2TL vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible…

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1-800-382-2238, select option 4. Note: Vehicles…
15V370000
2015-06-15
Air Bags
Frontal
Passenger Side › Inflator Module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic vehicles manufactured March 21, 2000, to January 20, 2005, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX vehicles manufactured June 14, 2000, to August 19, 2004, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid vehicles manufactured February 24, 2002, to January 18, 2005, 2003-2007 Honda Accord vehicles manufactured February 21, 2002, to August 28, 2007, 2002-2004 Honda…

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the passenger seat occupant or other occupants possibly causing serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are JU4, JU5, JU6, and JU7. Note: Vehicles that have already received…
12V136000
2012-03-30
Exterior Lighting
Headlights
Switch
HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002 THROUGH 2004 CR-V; MODEL YEAR 2003 THROUGH 2005 PILOT; AND MODEL YEAR 2002 AND 2003 CIVIC VEHICLES. IN MARCH 2012, HONDA FILED A DEFECT REPORT TO RECALL CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002 THROUGH 2004 CR-V AND CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003 PILOT VEHICLES. IN AUGUST 2012, HONDA INFORMED THE AGENCY THAT IT WAS INCLUDING AN ADDITIONAL 820,789 VEHICLES INCLUDING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AND…

Risk: IF THE TERMINAL ENDS MELT WITHIN THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE, REDUCING DRIVER VISIBILITY AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: HONDA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE LOW BEAM TERMINAL HARNESS OR REPLACE THE LIGHTING SWITCH AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE ORIGINAL RECALL BEGAN IN APRIL 2012. OWNERS OF VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THE SEPTEMBER 2012 EXPANSION WILL BE NOTIFIED IN SEPTEMBER 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT…
07V512000
2007-11-01
Fuel System, Other
Storage
Tank Assembly
ON CERTAIN COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG) VEHICLES, IN THE EVENT OF A SEVERE INTERIOR FIRE IN THE AREA OF THE REAR SEAT, THE CNG TANK MAY BE HEATED UNEVENLY, PREVENTING THE PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICE FROM VENTING THE CONTENTS OF THE TANK AS DESIGNED.

Risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN A TANK RUPTURE, EXPLOSION, AND EJECTION OF THE TANK FROM THE VEHICLE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEAT INSULATOR MATERIAL TO THE REAR SEAT BACK. AN INTERIM OWNER LETTER WAS MAILED TO OWNERS BEGINNING NOVEMBER 26, 2007. WHEN PARTS ARE AVAILABLE, OWNERS WILL BE RENOTIFIED ASKING THEM TO BRING IN THEIR VEHICLE FOR REPAIR. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.
04V086000
2004-02-24
Exterior Lighting
Headlights
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE LOW-BEAM TERMINAL ON THE HEAD LIGHT WIRE HARNESS CAN OVERHEAT AND COULD CAUSE THE LOW BEAMS TO FAIL WITHOUT WARNING.

Risk: AN UNEXPECTED LOSS OF LOW BEAMS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH AND COUPLER FOR SIGNS OF HEAT DAMAGE. IF HEAT DAMAGE IS PRESENT, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE SWITCH AND COUPLER. IF NO HEAT DAMAGE IS PRESENT, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH AND ONE MATING PIN IN THE COUPLER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON…
01V329000
2001-10-22
Engine And Engine Cooling
Engine
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. DURING THE ASSEMBLY PROCESS, THE AIR CLEANER BOX COVER MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED, AND A BROKEN PLASTIC PIECE COULD TRAVEL INTO THE INTAKE CHAMBER.

Risk: IF THE PLASTIC PIECE LODGES IN THE THROTTLE BODY, THE THROTTLE COULD STICK IN A PARTIALLY OPEN POSITION. ALTHOUGH THE DRIVER CAN ALWAYS STOP THE CAR BY APPLYING ADDITIONAL BRAKE FORCE, OR BY TAKING OTHER ACTIONS (I.E., SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, TURN OFF THE IGNITION KEY, ETC.), IF THE CAR CONTINUES TO…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE AIR CLEANER BOX FOR DAMAGE. IF DAMAGE IS FOUND, THE DEALER WILL LOCATE AND REMOVE THE BROKEN PLASTIC PIECE, AND REPLACE THE AIR CLEANER BOX LID. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON OCTOBER 25, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE…

Summaries are quoted verbatim from NHTSA's official campaign records. A single campaign often covers dozens of model years and several nameplates, so a summary may name vehicles other than the 2002 Civic — that is normal. Every record listed here carries this vehicle's own make, model and model year in NHTSA's database. Whether a recall is still open on a particular car can only be determined by VIN.

Owner complaints by component

717 owner complaints on file with NHTSA for the 2002 Civic, grouped by the component owners reported. Counts reflect how many owners complained, not how often the fault actually occurs.

Reported componentComplaints
Air Bags
63 crash, 3 fire, 57 injured, 4 fatal
191
Power Train
1 fire, 2 injured
167
Exterior Lighting
5 fire
39
Air Bags,Seat Belts
6 crash, 9 injured
24
Suspension
3 crash, 6 injured
24
Engine And Engine Cooling
2 crash, 3 fire, 1 injured
21
Seat Belts
3 crash, 2 injured
17
Vehicle Speed Control
7 crash, 1 injured
17
Electrical System
1 crash, 1 fire
16
Structure
3 crash, 3 injured
15
Tires
1 crash
15
Unknown Or Other
4 crash, 2 injured
14

A complaint is an unverified owner report. It is a signal about where to look, not proof of a defect.

What owners actually wrote

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaint filings on this model year. These are the owners' own words, not our diagnosis, and each one is a single unverified report.

Air Bags (191 complaints)

The contact owns a 2002 Honda Civic. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V501000(Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were contacted.
filed 04/04/2025 · ODI 11652851
The death investigator's decedent owned a 2002 Honda Civic. The contact stated that after the decedent stopped at a stop sign, they attempted to make a left turn and struck another vehicle on the passenger side. The decedent's air bag was deployed which caused trauma to the decedent's neck. The decedent's vehicle caught fire shortly after impact. The other driver attempted to remove the decedent from the vehicle as authorities were called to the scene. The decedent received medical treatment at the scene and was later transported to the hospital. The decedent was pronounced deceased approximat Crash reported Fire reported
filed 02/28/2025 · ODI 11645529

Power Train (167 complaints)

I recently purchased the car . I see on several forums , the transmission in this car for this year is prone to leaks and failures and Honda is aware . I’m having that issue .
filed 02/10/2025 · ODI 11641805
I bought this vehicle with only ~74,000 miles yet the transmission slips 100% of the time when the automatic transmission shifts from first to second gear, and also second to third gear.
filed 06/23/2024 · ODI 11595963

Exterior Lighting (39 complaints)

Automatic high beams, etc. Potentially very dangerous to other drivers. Place a limit on the intensity of headlights. Ultra bright lights tend to interfere with me knowing where my own vehicle is on the road.It's getting to be almost a constant anxiety attack driving at night with both on coming and following vehicles with ultra bright lights, including low beams. And if the offending vehicle is a SUV or a pickup it feels like I'm flirting with the distinct possibility of an accident and or injury.
filed 03/29/2023 · ODI 11514431
WHILE DRIVING THE LOW BEAMS CUT OUT AND THE SWITCH HARNESS PROVED TO BE FAULTY. OTHER HONDA CIVICS OF THAT YEAR HAD THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH RECALLED BUT MY VIN DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL. THE RECALL IT SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN BUT IT DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR WAS NHTSARECALL NUMBER:12V-136
filed 03/12/2021 · ODI 11402539

Air Bags,Seat Belts (24 complaints)

AIRBAG (SRS) LIGHT CONSTANTLY APPEARS FOR FAULTY SEATBELT SENSOR. THE SEATBELT SENSOR IS CONSTANTLY FAILING DISPUTE GETTING IT SERVICED. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS AS IT COULD RESULT IN THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING.
filed 09/30/2018 · ODI 11132328
TAKATA RECALL: I ROLLED MY CAR ON MY WAY TO WORK IN AUGUST OF 2015. I HAD GOTTEN A LETTER 2 WEEKS PRIOR OF AN AIRBAG RECALL. I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIPS BUT DUE TO HIGH VOLUME I WAS PUT ON A WAITING LIST. MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND MY DRIVER'S SEATBELT DIDN'T LOCK. I SUFFERED A FRACTURE TO THE BASE OF MY SKULL AND A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY. I COULDN'T WORK AT ALL FOR 9 MONTHS AND COULD ONLY WORK 10-15 HOURS A WEEK FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER THAT. A WEEK AFTER THE CAR ACCIDENT I WAS FIRED FROM MY JOB WITHOUT SEVERANCE PAY AND I CALLED HONDA HEADQUARTERS AND THEY TOLD ME TO KEEP CHECKING FOR C
filed 01/31/2018 · ODI 11065988

Check your own VIN

A recall only matters if it is open on your car. The lists above are for the model year as a whole; the free official lookup below tells you what applies to your specific 17-character VIN.

NHTSA recall lookup by VIN

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05Common questions

Does the 2002 Honda Civic have any safety recalls?

Yes. NHTSA records 11 recall campaigns filed by Honda for the 2002 Civic. The most recent is campaign 19V182000, filed 2019-03-06, covering Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module.

Was the 2002 Honda Civic affected by an airbag inflator recall?

Yes. 7 of the 11 campaigns on record for this model year involve the airbag system. The fix is a free inflator replacement at an authorised dealer.

What do owners complain about most on the 2002 Honda Civic?

The most-reported component is Air Bags with 191 of the 717 owner complaints on file, including 63 reports involving a crash. Complaint counts show where owners report trouble; they are not proof of a defect.

How many owner complaints are on file for the 2002 Honda Civic?

717 complaints with NHTSA for the 2002 Civic, spread across 98 reported component groups.

How do I check if my 2002 Honda Civic has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA's free recall lookup. Recalls are applied per vehicle, so the model-year lists above cannot tell you whether your particular car is covered.

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