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1998 Honda Civic transmission complaints

Page 2 of 3: complaints 11 to 40 of 48, newest first, as owners wrote them.

See the summary of 1998 Honda Civic transmission problems: which part fails, at what mileage and related recalls.

Filed Apr 21, 2004 · Transmission · 59,010 miles · OH

Honda, civic lx, 1998, transmission problems. Transmission refuses to smoothly operate sometimes when you are shifting from first gear over to second to third, and to fourth, the rpms's speed up between gears. Sometimes it will go completely out of gear. If I drive very cautiously and carefully this most of the time will not happen. It started happening a few days after buying the car. I'm a senior citizen, that checked consumer reports and thought this was a reliable car. I'm now receiving all sorts of estimates such as completely replacing at $2500 . Any guidance on this matter would be greatly appreciated. This is happening in city driving, only once on freeway. Thank you.

Filed Feb 20, 2004 · Transmission · 48,900 miles · CA

I have a 1998 hondo civic with 50, 000 miles. It has recently developed a jerk when shifting from gear to gear and from gear to gear and also when down shifting. I have conducted all manufacturer's recommended services which include transmission flushes. However, even my preventively measures could not save this obvious manufacturer's defect. The car is no longer under warranty and has not been through any abuse. There are other complaints of this nature involving the same vehicle throughout the internet. Please consider a recall for this is an expansive defect that has coasted this consumer over $1000 to fix.

Filed Feb 19, 2004 · Transmission · 53,000 miles · AZ

While driving it was hard for consumer to shift gears, and the transmission intermittently slipped gears. The dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak when the vehicle was stopped at a traffic signal, it would have to be placed in park while waiting for the signal to change.

Filed Jan 29, 2004 · Transmission · 53,000 miles · GA

1998 honda civic ex w/ 55,000 miles. Vehicle began shifting harshly @ 53k. Brought to dealership, reported dtc p0730. Dealer recommended replacing automatic transmission for over $4000. Found tsb 00-012 which recommended flushing transmission & replacing linear solenoid. Followed tsb recommendation. Helped for 2 days but problem returned. Tsb 00-012 suggested honda might offer goodwill consideration for cars out of warranty. I asked dealer to split the cost with me which I have heard has worked for some other people with this same problem. They referred me to centralized honda cust srv which denied my request. Meanwhile I have found the following information on several transmission rebuilder sites regarding my transmission model (b4ra): "common complaints in the a4ra, b4ra, and m4ra transmissions are harsh upshifts, downshifts and forward engagements, while reverse engagement is fine. These problems can be caused by a broken cpc (clutch pressure control) valve spring. The spring is located in the secondary valve body, and not available from honda. Sonnax has developed a replacement spring 88894 that has a wire diameter larger than the oem design. This significantly reduces the stress on the spring, preventing future breakage." to me, this suggests that this model of honda transmissions contains a faulty part, resulting in much higher than normal transmission failures. I believe that honda should stand behind their products & extend the warranty for the automatic transmissions affected by this problem & not just provide random goodwill assistance to a select few who complain the loudest. Honda's denial that this is even a problem (even though there is a tsb identifying a huge group of potentially affected cars & transmission rebuilders have seen the problem so often that another company has actually seen fit to create a better replacement part) has turned me from a virtual honda evangelist to a very dissatisfied customer who would be hard-pressed to purchase another honda.

Filed Nov 4, 2003 · Transmission · FL

One week after having car into dealer for the 52,500 check up it started jerking violently between gears as I accelerated and decelerated. Took car back to dealer to have them look at it and was told that it needed a new transmission.

Filed Oct 2, 2003 · Transmission · MS

Transmission doesn't shift properly vehicle slips while driving causing the rpms to go up. Dealer said nothing wrong would not put on computer went to them 3 times same complaint same reply went to aamco transmission they put on computer said there was a problem, went to auto repair shop they found a code bad solenoid took to dealer 4th visit they replaced a solenoid problem still there. Cant sell car driver too bad so im stuck. All this occurred before warranty ran out now warranty is out. Transmission does this every time it gets driven.

Filed Aug 12, 2003 · Transmission · 70,000 miles · TX

I have a cluth problem with my automatic transmission. I was told that this is unusual at 70,000 miles. I have seen similar complaints about this. The check engine light came on a few months after I bought the car and I was told by the dealer that nothing was wrong. I now wonder if that might have been an error.

Filed Feb 19, 2003 · Transmission · 78,000 miles · LA

My 1998 honda civic ex (80,000 miles) is having tranmission troubles. It will rev up but the car will not speed up very well, when it shifts into 2nd gear the car shakes and abruptly shifts into 2nd gear. I had the fluid changed at the end of december and it seemed to fix the problem but a week later it was back and getting worst fast. The dealer told me I needed a whole new transmission and it would cost $3600 plus labor. I took the car back without the service down and searched the internet and have come across hundreds of people posting complaints of the exact same problems, some of them have 2002 with 10,000 miles and have these problems. I find it hard to believe that this is not a factory defect.

Filed Oct 15, 2002 · Transmission · 67,200 miles · CT · crash · 1 injury

The owner is having problems with hesitation with possible cause being the automatic transmission. The owner did keep the car serviced/maintenance with the last item being a tune-up. Liberty honda has been performing any and all maintenance on the vehicle. The vehicle is not being driven due to the transmissions' performance. Mr consumer felt dealership used dirty transmission fluid which may have ruined the transmission and caused hesitation and wanted to charge consumer $4000 to replace transmission. However, dealership claimed that the 2 accidents vehicle was involved in caused the hesitation. Vehicle's transmission was replaced at another dealership at a lower cost to consumer.

Filed Oct 7, 2002 · Transmission · DE

Transmission was replaced on 2000 + failed again (internal failure) on 2002. Mr

Filed Oct 4, 2002 · Transmission · MA

Consumer states that the transmission does not shift properly. Took to dealer and dealer stated there is a defect in transmission.

Filed Jun 27, 2002 · Transmission · MA

Transmission will grind when putting it into reverse and at times will slip. Contacted dealer.

Filed Apr 11, 2002 · Transmission · MA

Gears were not shifting properly. Dealer refusedto look at vehicle. Please add VIN.

Filed Mar 26, 2002 · Transmission · WA

While traveling, consumer applied the gear and the vehicle wouldn't move. The mechanic stated that the first drum had to be replaced on the transmission. Nlm

Filed Feb 8, 2002 · Transmission · LA

Clutch slipped, causing 2nd gear to grind.

Filed Jan 30, 2002 · Transmission · NY

Two screws loosened, allowing the handle used to shift between park, reverse, n, drive, etc. To come off while driving on interstate highway 490. I drove to a gas station, applied the parking brake, and reattached the handle myself. However, if this happened while the vehicle was backing out of a driveway, it would have been difficult or impossible to get into "drive" and traffic would be blocked or an accident would have happened. If vehicle was in "drive" in an urban area where only parallel parking (no lots) exists, shifting into reverse (to properly back into space) would have been difficult or impossible and vehicle might have to stop in a traffic lane for to be repaired in the street or to be towed.

Filed Apr 9, 2001 · Transmission · CA

While shifting gear shift spring popped out. Dealer has been notified.

Filed Jan 31, 2001 · Transmission · FL

Vehicle has experienced major transmission problems. Cj

Filed Jan 22, 2001 · Transmission, Visibility · OH

While driving driver noticed pieces of metal coming from car. Took vehicle to dealer, and was told that front wheel bearings went out.*ak blower motor for ventilation fan has failed twice in the past year . Consumer replaced two blower units at his cost.

Filed Jan 21, 2001 · Transmission · OH

This and other hondas I own consistently misrepresent the speed at which the car is actually travelling. I used to be inadvertently caught in the passing lane going what I thought was the legal speed limit, only to have other drivers ride on my rear bumper. I finally had the speedometer checked on this car when I took it in for an emissions test. I feel this is a safety issue; in addition it smacks of outright fraud since it appears that hondas get better gasoline mileage than they do, and they run out of warranty several thousand miles sooner than they should. It also causes extra mileage fees to kick in sooner for those who lease.

Filed Dec 28, 2000 · Transmission · FL

Clutch in automatic transmission burnt out and transmission needs to be completely replaced.

Filed Sep 18, 2000 · Acceleration, Transmission · CA

Due to a defective transmission system, vehicle slips while driving which causes rpms to go up. This may cause a crash. Dealer said they need to replace transmission. Please provide further information.

Filed May 3, 2000 · Suspension, Transmission · CA

I have had problems with my vehicle rolling back on inclines. Now my transmission must be replaced.

Filed Mar 17, 2000 · Acceleration, Transmission · CA

Transmission intermittently slips,in motion and idle position--idle speed is erratic--in reverse,car makes a whining noise-windows don't always work

Filed Mar 14, 2000 · Transmission · AR

No summary listed for above vehicle.

Filed Dec 16, 1999 · Transmission · CA

Transmission continually experiences slippage when trying to accelerate, unable to be fixed by dealership at this time until honda can find resolution. Mjs

Filed Dec 8, 1999 · Steering, Transmission · IL

In the first incident the steering hose and rack were leaking (at 10,000 miles). I was told at my appt. For an oil change and steering inspection that they didn't have time to do both, so they wanted to change the oil and look at the steering later. I insisted they do the opposite and half an hour later I was told that I could not safely drive my car home. Currently, my transmission computer was found to be faulty after I reported a severe vibration accompanied by a constant sound. This too was shrugged off over the phone as being typical of the CVT automobiles. Twenty minutes after I had picked the car up after it was "repaired" I returned it to the dealer as it was shuddering and idling down to 0 RPM's, almost dying at stoplights. This has yet to be resolved as they don't seem to know what to do in regard to these transmissions.

Filed Nov 16, 1999 · Transmission · PA

While in drive on a slight incline car will roll backwards. Same with reverse. Dealer says that theres nothing wrong with the car.

Filed Oct 20, 1999 · Acceleration, Transmission · IL

While driving the vehicle at 60mph in march, the vehicle would not decelerate after brakes were applied. Checked cruise control which was not on. Checked gas pedal to see if stuck. Had guided vehicle to off ramp & manged to turn it off. Shifted into neutral & nothing worked. Took vehicle to dealer & mechanic could not duplicate problem. Vehicle is now jerking also, 6 months later.

Filed Jun 14, 1999 · Electrical, Transmission · DC

Intermittent problems, with centeral computer contorl, battery sometimes completely drains, sometimes does not, transmission does not engage sometimes , dealer uncooperative.

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