2003 Honda Civic: transmission slipping

Filed Feb 22, 2013 · Seat belts, Transmission · 64,000 miles · NY

Transmission slip for 20 min when I first start the car then it shift hard after that . Seat belt light always on.

Filed Oct 24, 2011 · Transmission · 100,000 miles · TX

While attempting to enter an intersection my 2003 honda civic hybrid was unable to accelerate due to a slipping transmission. I was almost hit by another vehicle who was able to avoid me.

Filed May 10, 2011 · Transmission · 119,000 miles · RI

Have an 03 civic hybrid with CVT transmission. I got it certified used at about 36,000 miles and it was supposed to have fresh trans fluid and I believe it did. The powertrain is warranted to 100,000 miles since it was certified used. I am at 74,000 now. At about 66,000, when it should have been due for it's transmission fluid change, it was making a slipping/grinding sound when starting off, especially on a hill. It had previously been very smooth and quiet. It gradually became a problem. It was not all of a sudden. It was hard to know for sure that it was not my imagination, except for it being real obvious on an incline and it was getting worse. The dealer's mechanic heard the sound, too, and said let's start with the fluid change it was due for. The change made it great again, but only for a few thousand miles. When I went back they said they had learned about a process called burnishing the transmission band. I believe they put their foot on the brake while putting on the gas, almost to the point of stalling (I think) to clean up the band. Mine would be the 2nd car they would do it on. It also requires a change of fluid after because it is supposed to take the crud from the parts and put it into the fluid. They did it for free since I had already asked them to work on this problem, and I had paid for the fluid change to fix the same problem. Again, after their work it was nice and quiet and smooth, but about 3,000 miles later it is coming back again. I don't know if their process did anything, or if it was just the fresh fluid that helped like it did the first time. I am concerned repetitions of the process might decrease the life of the transmission. The best outcome for me would probably be a complete transmission failure at 99,000 miles because then I can get a new one. Anybody having similar problems?

Filed Mar 19, 2011 · Transmission · 42,000 miles · CA

My 2003 honda civic hybrid with CVT transmission suddenly lost all the power while I was driving and the car behind me almost crashed into my car. Soon I found out it's a common problem with the transmission slippage problem with the CVT transmission. I called two dealerships but they said since it's a 8 year old car the extended warranty has expired and they will not fix it for free. I believe it is a driving hazard as an accident almost happened to me, and honda is liable to recall theiir CVT transmission on honda civic hybrid.

Filed Jan 14, 2011 · Transmission · 85,000 miles · VA

Transmission will slip causing the car to shudder / shake, acceleration will not occur when needed. Problem is especially bad starting from 0 MPH up a hill, or when 2 or more passengers are in the car. Dealer will not offer the recall, although the same problem has been addressed in japan, as they have sent out a recall for the same issue overseas.

Filed Jan 3, 2011 · Transmission · 40,440 miles · WA

My 2003 honda civic hybrid has a history of the transmission/car shuddering and slipping during acceleration. This has been occurring regularly since july 26, 2005 at 40,440 miles. On one occasion after having the clutch replaced, transmission fluid sprayed all over the engine and manifold while traveling down the interstate which would have caused the fatality or serious injury of my son driving the car had it ignited. The spokesman at the honda dealer in portland oregon said my son was very lucky not to be engulfed in flames. Since this occurrence, the shuddering issue has continued requiring regular trips to the honda dealer. Each honda service representative I have complained to have said there is nothing they can do because honda of america has not authorized a fix to the defect other then to burnish the start cluth and change the transmission fluid. This has only been a band aid fix which hasn't worked for some time now, but originally used to work for about 2-3 thousand miles at which point the problem re-occurred. This is clearly a defective product and honda is using a band aid approach to mask this serious defect until the warranty has expired, at which point, they quickly say the transmission needs to be replaced with a new one at the owners expense (approx $3,400 to $4,000 dollars). Honda of america claims to have fixed the problem in their new transmissions but they have not been willing to use this fix on existing cars like mine until the warranty expires. I have actually been told this by honda representatives. All this is despite a safety recall for this very same problem in japan, india, and indonesia. Please investigate why honda of america has not been held accountable for this serious defect in their honda civic hybrid 2003 CVT transmissions.

Filed Oct 1, 2010 · Transmission · VA

2003 civic hybrid with CVT has transmission issues. Upon accelerating from a stop (even slight acceleration), the whole car will shudder and harsh slipping feel will start until the car gets moving a bit. Far worse when starting on an incline from a stop. Honda replaced my transmission while under warranty at about 40k miles, but it quickly began having the same issue at around 70k miles and has been having the issue ever since. Getting a transmission fluid change helped a bit, but it is costly to continue changing that fluid at earlier than the manual recommended 30k mile intervals.

Filed Jun 17, 2010 · Transmission · 83,000 miles · NC

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda civic hybrid. The contact stated the vehicle was exhibiting transmission failures. The dealer was unable to duplicate or locate any failures within the transmission and advised the contact the vehicle was operable. The vehicle continued exhibiting signs of transmission slippage and was taken back to the dealer. The dealer advised the clutch was defective and causing the failure of the transmission. The clutch was replaced. The failure recurred within two years. The vehicle was not further repaired. The VIN was not accepted. The failure mileage was 83,000 and the current mileage was 110,000.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Transmission · 80,000 miles · FL

Honda civic hybrids with the CVT transmission develop what honda refers to as a judder. What is actually happening is the "start clutch" in the transmission slips during take off from a stop and causes the car to judder or shake. When this happens in any condition other than perfectly dry roads you can temporarily lose control of the vehicle because the vehicle is front wheel drive and the front wheels can lose traction and spin. I have even had this happen when the front tires are sitting on the painted white line found at most intersections. Honda is very aware of the problem. There are thousands of complaints documented online, yet honda has been very reluctant to properly address the situation. Honda claims this is not a safety issue, but I have temporarily lost control of my car on wet roads several times. I can't imagine trying to drive one in the snow. Here are a couple of links that will take you to discussion groups about this problem. Http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/ view/.f0b3259/262 http://www.cngchat.com/forum/showthread.php? 266-2001-2005-CVT-transmission-warranty-extension-for-slip-judder honda has extended the warranty period for this problem. In my specific case they kept ignoring my request to rebuild the transmission until I was beyond the extended warranty. In my case I filed a complaint with honda american and negotiated to split the cost with them. There are a lot of people out there who have not been so lucky and have had to pay in full for the repairs.

Filed Nov 13, 2009 · Transmission · 60,000 miles · MA

Honda civic hybrid 2003 transmission slippage at 60,000 and 90,000 miles. Dealer changes fluid and 'burnishes the starter clutch', but it does not solve the problem of a faulty transmission. Now they say that it is a faulty egr to deflect the heat from the faulty transmission. There are many posts that refer to other owners with this same problem. Honda needs to face the problem and deal fairly with it.

Filed Sep 2, 2009 · Transmission · 116,000 miles · NC

Transmission slipping. Lose of power on acceleration, especially quick acceleration like making a turn. This is second occurrence. In 2007 dealer "burnished" transmission. Now, says can burnish for $200 (which may resolve it temporarily) or can take care of problem, for $1200, to replace starter clutch assembly.

Filed Feb 24, 2009 · Transmission · 74,000 miles · CA

Ongoing problem with my 2003 honda civic hybrid CVT transmission. After putting in a ongoing chronic complaint to the manufacture honda assigned me a case manager who decided to replace the problem transmission and torque converter with a remanufactured one. It was then fine for 7500 miles and now has started over the same exact problem of shudder and slippage as before. The dealer is trying to say it is an egr valve and putting me through the process of running out of the warranty again as they extended the transmission warranty to 100,000 miles and I now have 97,250. Again, as I mentioned before this transmission shudder and slippage is a safety issue (check your previous complaints) and I am a public safety advocate and public safety professional.