2001 Honda Civic: grinding or squealing brakes

Filed Mar 21, 2026 · Transmission · OH

I recently bought a 2001 honda civic, 5speed. It was driving fine, until it suddenly started making grinding or weird noises. I couldn't shift and now the gears are locked up. It happened suddenly after no problems.

Filed Apr 11, 2010 · Transmission · 114,000 miles · CT

While driving my 2001 honda civic on a major highway the car started to lose speed almost resulting in an accident. I was able to reach a parking lot from which I had to have the car towed back home. This resulted in a $335 towing bill because I was nearly 70 miles away from home. The car will not shift into any forward gear and grinds when in reverse. The car has 114,000 miles and was bought new in 2001.

Filed Jan 19, 2007 · Transmission · 77,560 miles · NJ

My 2001 honda civic with about 76,000 miles was acting up for about a week. It started making a squeaking noise when cold, however once it got warmed up the noise went away. Few days ago when I shifted the automatic transmission into reverse, it barely moved. The RPM's would rev up but the vehicle was not going anywhere fast. Same happened when shifted in drive. I made it to work, and decided to take it into the shop on the way back in the evening. On the way to the shop the car stopped without much warning. At the time it died I was going over a bridge overpass and did not have any room to pull over. Luckily my wife was following me so she slowed down and allowed me to cost down the overpass on to the shoulder. Once stopped the check transmission light came on, unfortunately, too little to late. I had the car towed to a dealer who has informed me that the car needs a new transmission. This is a honda, only 5 years old with less than 80k miles. This should not happen to this car. The cost of repair is over $2k. Honda is willing to cover half the cost as a good-will gesture, but judging by the amount of complaints about the transmission on 2001 honda civics between 50-80k miles, this should be a recall. I only wonder how many people fork over $3k-$4k and do not report this issue.

Filed Apr 6, 2006 · Body, Suspension · VA

Possible suspension defect. Incident date of 04/05/2006 is date informed by dealer of problems. Noticed car squeaked/creaked a lot when turning. Brought car to dealer for 75k checkup and asked him to examine suspension. Dealer informed me that both of my front struts leaked and needed to be replaced, that one motor mount was cracked, and that both of the lower control arms needed to be replaced. Car was maintained in accordance with owner's manual and serviced almost entirely by same dealer for 5 1/2 years. No accident occurred, but all of these problems within such a short period of time (3-6 months between prior major and minor checkups and the checkup that discovered these problems and 5 1/2 years for the car age) are cause for concern, especially since they could have worked together to cause a drastic loss of control of the car. Based on my prior ownership experience with a 1992 honda civic and research on the internet, it is difficult to believe that all of these problems should have occurred. Thus, I believe that certain components of my 2001 honda civic's suspension may be defective. The assumed defect may be due to a design flaw, since 2001 was when honda stopped using double-wishbone suspension in their u.s. Civics in lieu of old suspension type.

Filed Nov 9, 2005 · Transmission · IL

Over the last four years, the manual transmission has repeatedly disengaged, popping out of gear during operation. The transmission has been repeatedly serviced, but problems continually recur. Recurring symptoms: popping out of gear into neutral,sticking when trying to put it into gear, squeaking during shift, and squeaking clutch pedal.

Filed Apr 24, 2005 · Transmission · 48,405 miles · IN

To start off this car was bought with a salvaged title, however all work was done by a shop to make it new again. I have owned the car for almost 2 years and have not had any problems until this spring. I was pulling out of the parking spot at my bank and got half way into the lane when all of a sudden my transmission just let go and started making a real bad grinding and clinking sound. I stopped immediately and the car wouldn't move. I had my car towed to a local transmission shop and they did a full diagnostic and mechanical check on the car. They told me that the differential had just fallen apart on the inside and had torn apart the passenger side axle, and the torque converter, along with leaving a lot of little pieces of metal shards and clutch material everywhere. When the grand total was figured up it was $490 labor, $2,373 parts, plus taxes which came to a grand total of $3,006. Let me explain that this is my 2nd civic and 1 of 4 in my family. I truly believe that honda's are very dependable cars. How ever when this happens and it is not because of anything I could control it is very disheartening. This car only has 48,000 miles on it and doesn't show any signs of wear. I have read many other complaints about the transmissions in this year and I would like to know what honda is going to do about it. I have talked to the dealer and they said they couldn't do anything for me. So, I called the customer service for honda USA and the lady said she couldn't do a thing because of the salvaged title, when asked to speak to her supervisor she replied, "fortunately I don't have a supervisor." I am still in the process of talking to honda so I can get this matter solved. I have no choice I am a college student who works full-time just to pay the bills and rent, to have this happen is a real blow.

Filed May 14, 2004 · Suspension · 200 miles · NJ

While driving at any speed vehicle will squeak and the struts will leak. The front struts were replaced seven times by the dealer.

Filed Feb 2, 2004 · Brakes · 35,000 miles · VA

The brakes would squeak when the pedal was depressed. Consumer thought that the pads needed to be replaced. Upon inspection of the brakes and pads by the dealership, they noticed that the calipers had locked up which caused premature wear of the brake pad and uneven wear of the right front tire. The cause of the caliper locking up has not been determined.

Filed Feb 25, 2003 · Engine · TX

When driving in the rain a grinding sound occurs from the passenger side. Temporary loss of power and control occurred when on the freeway.

Filed Sep 1, 2002 · Transmission · GA

Clutch pedal squeaks when depressed.

Filed Dec 4, 2001 · Brakes, Engine · CA · crash · 2 injuries

Consumer touched brakes to slow vehicle down, but vehicle swerved, and consumer hit another vehicle. *ak consumer stateed brakes squeaks and parking brake needs adjustment, transmission is making noise, no power on acceleration, upper windshield molding failed and reinstalled, noise is coming from right front wheel, gas gauge will fluctuate at times and front engine mount broke.

Filed Aug 15, 2001 · Body, Electrical · MD

While traveling approximately 25 to 30 MPH and making a turn, engine stalled and caused steering column to lock up. This problem did not result in a crash or injuries. Dealership examined vehicle for engine stalling, but has failed to remedy the problem. *ak while driving, consumer heard a metal to metal sound coming from right wheel well. Consumer was told computer was not set properly according to the VIN code, this was a service bulletin, dealer stated this could be why stalling was occurring, 4 fuses blew and now dealer replaced fuse box, dealer thinks this may be a reason why the vehicle stalled also, dealer also states that he does not know why the fuses blew to begin with, the blown fuse caused moonroof to be inoperable. Vents loose. Trunk release inoperable. Springs squeak and were replaced. Defective weld in the passenger side door rusted. Vehicle experiences rough idle. Driver side tweeter cracking. Driver side mud flap loose. Passenger kick panel uneven. Fuel gauge erratic.