2004 Honda Civic: shudder or vibration when accelerating

Filed Jul 10, 2011 · Transmission · 98,776 miles · CA

When I purchased this vehicle, I changed the ownership information with american honda. I later checked if there were any open notices or recalls. Honda told me there was none. However, this vehicle had a notice alerting owners to CVT belt slippage. Honda sent this notice to the previous owner. When the owner changed, honda should have considered this notice open again. Sending a notice to a previous owner does not inform the owner and the purpose of this kind of notice is to ensure the owner has the information. This failure resulted in my vehicle's transmission failing in operation. Had I received the notice, I would have known the slight shudder was a serious transmission problem and the vehicle could have been repaired safely, rather than failing catastrophically on the road. Honda needs to fix their notification system to consider all notices (unless the problem is repaired) re-opened on change of ownership. Otherwise, the purpose of the notification system is defeated, possibly leading to catastrophic failure in the failed (as it did in my case) or worse. I discussed this issue with honda and they maintained that once a notice was sent on an issue, the notice was closed with respect to that vehicle. This makes no sense. The purpose of a notice is to alert the owner, not the vehicle.

Filed Jul 5, 2011 · Transmission · 91,000 miles · GA

We have had both the battery and the transmission fail. The battery failed at 82k miles, just past the 80k mile warranty. Now, at 91k miles, the transmission needs to be replaced. In reviewing our records, it seems that transmission problems began at 51k miles, as a "surging" when we were on the interstate such that the engine would rev while we were coasting. The dealer couldn't duplicate the issue and the stopped (for whatever reason). Transmission problems began again at 71k miles as the shuddering. Dealer burnished, and then we got the recall notices at 74k miles. It began as "surging" when we were on the interstate, the engine revving even when we weren't accelerating at 51k miles. Then the shuddering started at 71k miles. We received the recall notices at 74k miles. Shuddering started again at 91k miles & we are being told it needs a new transmission. The dealer said that honda america will pay for the recall if the car is under 100k miles, but only once. If this problem reoccurs, isn't it obvious that it's by fault of honda? And that these transmission problems occur every 20k miles? This is a common problem that seems to demand a recall on the part of honda america.

Filed Jan 31, 2011 · Transmission · 50,000 miles · AL

I have had on going problems with the transmission, started as a judder when accelerating but after the dealership burnished the transmission a few times and changed some parts as per service bulletin because this year car is know to have problems with transmission. The judder has now become a hesitation when trying to accelerate and sometimes will do it multiple times causing the car not to accelerate properly. Now that the only thing left to do is change the transmission honda says they cannot do anything because they cannot duplicate the problem. I agree that it happens only occasionally but it is still dangerous because when you expect the car to accelerate and it does not it can be dangerous. Especially since it is a know problem with this year model but honda will not do a recall, I guess so many people have to get into an accident before something is done.

Filed Aug 19, 2010 · Transmission · 65,000 miles · TX

My 2004 honda civic hybrid has 65k plus miles. The problem began with a slight hesitation upon accelerating from a stop. I chalked it up to minor wear. The hesitation has gotten progressively worse. Now it shudders (or 'judders' as I've heard it called) on a regular basis;the severity and duration have increased. It has gotten to the point where I don't feel safe pulling out into traffic without more room between cars than I've typically needed.

Filed Dec 8, 2009 · Transmission · 80,000 miles · WA

Transmission delays applying power, shudders, then engages from stop.

Filed Nov 12, 2009 · Acceleration, Engine · 92,500 miles · CA

I drive a 2004 manual honda civic. I was driving down the freeway with cruise control set at about 70 MPH. Suddenly, I felt my car speed up substantially and when I look at the speedometer I was traveling over 85 MPH. I immediately canceled cruise control but my car continued to gain speed. I hit my brakes which caused my car to shudder violently. When my foot wasn't on the brakes, my car continued to quickly gain speed. I attempted to move the car into neutral and coast to a stop, but when I put the clutch in my RPM's rose to about 8,000 and didn't go down even when the car was in neutral. The car also continued to increase in speed even when it was in neutral. I moved back into 5th gear and continued down the highway going between 85-95 MPH. I was able to maintain that speed only with my foot on the brakes. I placed a call to 911 and informed them that I couldn't stop my car. The 911 dispatcher contacted highway patrol who set out to catch me. Once a highway patrolman was behind me, I was instructed to shift into neutral, even though the RPM's would shoot up, and coast to a stop. The car shook almost uncontrollably while I was slowing down and even at a complete stop in neutral on the side of the road the RPM's were at about 8,000. We had the car towed to the honda dealership where they turned the car on and witnessed the RPM's immediately shoot up to 8,000 again. After looking under the hood they could not determine a cause for the incident. When they turned the car on again it started and ran normally. No significant damage to the car was done, and luckily the freeway was uncrowded so an accident was avoided.

Filed Sep 21, 2009 · Transmission · 88,000 miles · MD

Failure of honda america to fix a faulty transmission. Charging for diagnostics of faulty transmission, transmission slips, judders, and seems to be failing. Transmission is worst after they said it was repaired. This is not an isolated case and apparently a manufacturing defect that american honda should be required to fix regardless of mileage knowing that it is a problem which they are avoiding to fix. Maybe you should verify that the problem is fixed in there newer CVT's otherwise deaths may or will occur. The vehicle is a 2004 honda civic hybrid, searching on the internet there is thousands of complaints about the CVT transmission problems. If the refuse to fix or fail to fix, they should be held accountable and be forced to repair or replace the transmissions.

Filed May 20, 2008 · Transmission · 113,000 miles · SC

2004 honda civic hybrid CVT transmission shudder at 110,000. Had shaft burnished and fluid replaced.

Filed Feb 12, 2008 · Transmission · 65,000 miles · CA

The CVT's honda is using in its 2004 civic hybrid is defective. We are going to have to replace the transmission after only 70k miles (just out of warranty). Numerous other cici hybrid owners complaining of same problem (shuddering and sudden RPM changes).

Filed Jan 24, 2008 · Transmission · 104,600 miles · CA

Faulty CVT transmission, slipping and judder beginning and during acceleration. Sometimes engine stalls while braking to a stop. Recall only fix problem temporary,this info. Can be obtain in honda CVT forum with other customers with similar CVT issues.

Filed Oct 16, 2007 · Tires · IA

Purchased used 2004 certified honda civic on 5/26/2007. On june 12, 2007 I reported that the car had a howling noise and you tended to constantly have to adjust the steering when driving. They found nothing. Sept. 11, 2007 reported to service that very road noise very bad also power surging when doing 55 to 60 miles per hour also has shudder when accelerating from a stop. They reported that the car had the incorrect tires on the car. Should be low resistance tires and the shudder was being caused by a bad start clutch. There was apparently a recall on this part. Customer not notified regarding this. Customer would have to notify service that there was a problem regarding this matter. October 9th. Took car in to have start clutch replaced and 60,000 mile warranty work done. Picked up car on october 9th. October 12, took car to a tire installer to have tires checked to see why I had such bad road noise. Tires were worn on inside of tires and wavy. Had one front and one back tire out of line. Replaced all tires. October 13, latch to open lid for gas would not work. Had to call service dept to meet me to manually open. October 15, took car in to have cable repaired to access gas fill. Have had discussions with the finance asst. And used car manager regarding the problems. They have only agreed to pay part of the money for the tires. Still arguing over this.