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Comments
Today it's at about 75,000 miles and haven't had the jerkyness since. CVT fluid was also changed at its regular 60K interval as well.
If you have the ability to clean it seems to be the way to go.
Guess I'm lucky. At 75,000 miles still no problem with that.
-Steve
Thanks!
I don't think this is a chronic transmission problem.
The title of this thread is to post transmission problems and so here they are.
I work resolving troubles with DSL inter networks and all the troubles I see would be easy for the same conclusion.
But considering the millions and millions of subscribers isn't really widespread.
I'd bet among all the CVT equipped HCH's Honda produced would be minuscule. Many of the bucking problems owners experience can be resolved with the fluid change which comes with regular scheduled maintenance (as in my own case).
Many other bucking problems aren't even transmission troubles but an EGR valve which likes to malfunction.
-Steve
I also believe that more people will post their dissatisfaction with a product than those that will post their satisfaction, so we need to keep in mind that what we read here could in fact be a very small sample of the whole.
They called me this afternoon and said that they flushed the tranny and replaced the EGR valve, but the problem is still there. I'll need a whole new tranny. And my warranty is expired. ***BUT*** they said they'll do it free anyway, and give me a loaner car for the couple days it will take them to install it.
I'm guessing that:
a) I found the nicest dealer in the country (Cambridge, MA),
b) Honda is fighting a slump, and knows that with a 4 year old car I'm about to be a repeat buyer, (or not)
c) there's about to be a major tranny recall, and they're paying for mine now rather than fight with/reimburse me later, or
d) I'm dreaming.
Regardless, from their handling of this with me so far, I'm pretty sure my next car will be from this dealership.
What you are describing I think is more about the fact that the main reason our cars get such good mileage is that they have tiny little engines. When coupled with the CVT, particularly when using cruise control, the engines rev high in order to move into the peak power band. This is particularly true going up a hill; the engine must really work to keep up speed.
Despite my concerns about my slipping problem returning at some point, I must say that I really like the car. Well, at least when my wife lets me drive it.
I agree that having the extended warranty is a comfort to me.
A couple of weeks after I bought it I started hearing and feeling a shudder when starting from stop at any but a very slow acceleration. It got progressively worse so that I took it into the local Honda dealership (Goodson Honda West, in Houston, Texas) who charged me $200 for the transmission fluid 'transfusion', which lessened the affect a little, but not much. Their next solution is to replace the transmission at a cost of $3000.
Since the affect is only happening at medium to heavy acceleration from stop, I'm not about to lay that kind of money down, especially after reading how common this problem is. It is a design problem that Honda needs to correct through recall.
We bought a 2002 Prius with 85K miles at the same time as the Civic, and it drives like a dream (although with a bit less pep than the Civic) and gets much better milage (44mpg vs 35mpg, another disappointment with the Civic).
Any other 2004 Civic owners who have had the problem fixed without a new tranny?
My dealer called me last week and said they had something new to try on my HCH-paulsy. They flushed the transmission while doing a specific break-stand combo (on jacks, in neutral, 10 pumps of specific duration, left right left right B A start).
It triggered some sort of reset, and now the shudder is gone. No EGR Valve replacement, no new tranny. Just fixed.
My dealer said to keep an eye on it, and if I have any problems for the next 10k or so, they'll fix em.
I'm buying a new car for my wife soon. Guess which dealer I'm going to first.
Just last month I started hearing the noise again. I figured that a fluid flush was all that was needed and my 60,000 maintenance was due. So I took it into the local Honda dealer. Now I'm told that the flush won't fix the issue. That the start clutch has failed and I will have to replace the entire transmission (rebuilt) for $3,322. I didn't buy the extended warranty so I'm looking at other options for repair.
When I bought the car it was a long tough decision should I spend a little extra for doing my part to help stop dependance on oil, now I have a black hole, slip shot, shoddy design and a Manufacturer that could care less. I have a '93 Subaru wagon with over 250,000 mile that has had no transmission issues.
I guess the more high tech things become the less reliable they are.
** Note to self-don't buy the lasted thing, you will only pay for it. **
My question is, should I run like hell away from this car that is already having so many problems? I want reliability and if I"m already dealing with huge issues at 130 miles, what's to come? Anyone else having serious hybrid issues related to the Civics? Any advice? Anyone ever tried to fight for getting a refund on a car?
Thanks!
Disappointed customer
Honda appears to be in the top tier of manufacturers in having fewer problems per vehicle, so don't give up yet.
Best of luck to you.
1) flush tranny fluid
2) Refill with Honda brand CVT fluid
3) put car on a lift and accelerate to 4k rpm while in drive. Hold for ten seconds. Repeat several times at 2 minute intervals.
4) flush tranny fluid
5) Refill with Honda brand CVT fluid
I've had my transmission fluid "burnished" twice now a la the service bulletin's directions with only temporary relief from the shutter problem (about 3k to 4k miles). I'll be interested to see if Kidcisco is back in a few thousand miles to report that the problem has returned.
:sick: Last Wed, transmission totally failed, no warning, suddenly acted like it was in neutral. Towed to nearest dealer (50 miles away). First told it was a faulty Cut Input Speed Sensor ($210), replaced, didn't fix it. After tearing apart transmission ($200), they now say the flywheel needs replaced ($?) and won't have part until Friday. I've been in a rental car at my own expense for a week.
:confuse: Has anyone else had this sort of problem? It "bucked" a little at high speeds early on, but that quit, and it didn't have any discernable problems prior to this failure. This "let's patch it together" repair scares me, I don't feel like I can really trust the car any more.
Following advice in these posts, called HondaCares last Wednesday. Today I finally get a return call, NO offers of help, just "sorry you're outside the 36,000 warranty". :mad: Honda "Cares"? Ha. I only got the Hybrid BECAUSE it was a Honda. My mistake. My fourth (and last) Honda will hit the resale lot, and I'll go look at Toyotas.
All auto manufacturers occasionally have some issues with some of their vehicles. Honda has historically been one of the better ones. Driving a vehicle without a warranty is a risk, and one that is usually an acceptable one for vehicles from certain manufacturers; but, there is still a bit of a risk regardless.
But, good luck on whatever you decide.
By Phone
Call the DOT Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 and a NHTSA representative will record your complaint information.
General Information
Your complaint information will be entered into NHTSA's vehicle owner's complaint database and used with other complaints to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists.
If a safety-related defect exists in a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment, the manufacturer must fix it at no cost to the owner. Your complaint is the first step in the process.
Government engineers analyze the problem. If warranted, the manufacturer is asked to conduct a recall. If the manufacturer does not initiate a recall, the government can order the manufacturer to initiate a recall.
We do not have to receive a specific number of complaints before we look into a problem. We gather all available information on a problem. Your complaint is important to us.
I am so much happier with this car! It gets better mileage (52 MPG, average vs. 48 for the '03 HCH), is a LOT roomier (fits 4 comfortably and 5 very tolerably - great legroom in the back), and in general feels like a much larger car than it is. I also love the hatchback - much more useful than the Civic trunk. Rear seats fold down to create quite a large load space. My only criticism is the rather poor visibility out the rear window. Now the Prius is more available at dealerships than it had been previously, too. At about the same price as the HCH, I can't see going with Honda unless one is a staunch Honda loyalist.
I have never been a fan of the CVT with belts, preferring the Toyota design. I think they would be better off with a 5 speed. Honda usually stresses reliability, and to me the belt design is just not up to standards.
However, maybe they have gotten it right for the 2007 models...
BTW, I drive a 2006 Ford Freestyle, with a CVT (but it has a high strength German manufactured steel CVT chain).
I believe Honda knows the '03-'04 CVT in the Hybrid is not up to standards. Read the linked document below, and note the last Section under "Why US Vehicles Not (Recalled) Affected". Too bad US regulations aren't as tough as Japans', then these would be recalled. Your comments please.
http://199.79.180.163/prepos/files/Artemis/Public/Foreign%20Campaigns/2005/F-Cam- paigns/FRCL-05F063-4277.PDF
My VIN number includes both letters & numbers AFTER the "ES", so I'm not sure that Honda included any Hybrids sold in the US on that particular document. That document may only address the Hybrids sold inside Japan.
I had my car towed to the nearest Honda dealer, who said I had to replace the start clutch pressure control valve for $550.
(I already had problems 4 months earlier, when the car occasionally lurched and bucked. I had taken it to a different Honda dealer, who claimed that a $237 dollar transmission flush would solve the problem. Of course it didn't, as the car continued to lurch and slide at the stopsign nearest my house.) :lemon:
So, I wasn't willing to pay $550 when I doubted that would fix the problem. So, I called the Honda 800 service number, where the customer service representative told me that I had exceeded the warranty on the transmission, and that, quote, "there was no safety recall" and "there were no known problems on transmissions for 2003 Civic Hybrids." I asked them for the Honda factory rep in my area (Northern CA) and they said I had to call the dealer to get it.
I called the dealer again, and asked for the Honda factory rep. He declined to give me the number. Luckily, I had read this thread, and told the Honda dealer about this thread, and said I thought I needed a new transmission. I said I was not willing to pay $550 to replace one part.
Two hours later the Honda dealer called me and said they would give me a reman CVT transmission, at no charge, with a 3 year/36,000 mile warranty.
They put it in last week and I got my car back over the weekend. So far, there have been no more transmission problems.
So, thanks to this thread, Honda was pressured to help me "in the interest of customer satisfaction." Thank you whoever started this discussion so that all of us across the country can exchange information about our common problems. I can only hope that Honda acts responsibly and replaces all transmissions before someone suffers a serious accident.
joanyque
Quick question: I'm looking into buying an '03 Civic Hybrid from a Honda Dealership, and it looked like it was in great shape... however the dealer just let me know that, as part of the Honda certification process, they are going to have to fully replace the transmission (with a new one) before they sell it to me... I guess it wasn't in all that great shape!.
Do you all think this is:
A) A Good thing? (i.e. A "plus" for buying the car, as it will have a brand new transmission, warrenteed under the Honda Certified program up to 100,000, etc), or
A Bad thing? (i.e. A "minus" for buying the car, as it indicates that the car has obviously had some problems, perhaps more future problems, etc).
Thanks so much - not too knowledgable about all this - but excited about getting a civic hybrid!
-Anthony
Thanks
After 2 hours of diagnostics, I was called over to be informed that my "transmission fluid is the wrong kind. Honda has a CVT fluid that should be put in." I told them, I bought it from them IN FEBRUARY with that fluid in it. they should have changed it at that time. They said they would like $185 for a fluid flush as the transmission is failing. I said no, that the car has a warranty against such failures. I won't pay 185 to flush the problem away. If the transmission is going out (as he said it was), then let the extended warranty cover it. I then called the MPP (extended warranty people) and reported the incident to them & was advised to call American Honda, and I did so. They also advised me that "if I am told to do a procedure to the car & I choose not to, then I will void the warranty, so it may be best to do the $185 flush on the bad transmission and so keep the warranty in effect on the failing thing! I expressed that it was ironic that I should have to pay for a service that Honda should provide as part of their continued updates to their technology!
American Honda was very nice to me. Took all the information down and asked, "Why should you pay $185 for a fluid flush that will only push the situation further to the end of your warranty?" I agreed and was told I will have a person call me back in 48 hours to resolve this. I am to go get my car & enjoy it. they said it is new technology, and the bugs are still being worked out, give it time, and things will get better, meanwhile, they will take care of things! If the transmission fails, then they'll tow it in. They also advised me to ask the dealership to check a certain campaign code on an unrelated issue (air bag deployment issues). I noted it and hung up
Next, I call the dealership to advise them of the code for the side air bag. they were aware of it & it does not apply to my car until the light stays on. He then tells me that they flushed my transmission, and that it turns out the fluid "was the right kind, not to worry about it, and that it has made vast improvements in the handling of the transmission!) I am to pick it up in an hour.
So, I wanted to share with you all of this as I really appreciate the great help this site is for us owners! I'll keep you posted if the flush worked, if Honda replaces the tranny, etc.
Timothy in Phx, AZ
Larry :mad: :confuse:
I've had EGR valves replaced, engine & transmission mounts replaced, tranny flushes, you name it, nothing has cured this problem. In my opinion the design is flawed. My best guesses at the REAL problem: Torque Converter Solenoid or Linear Shift Solenoid hanging-up or possibly an incorrectly machined flywheel?? In my opinion Honda is not telling their dealers what the "real" problem is and we all get to pay for their service departments trial & error approach to our problems, without ever getting a lasting solution. I am convinced that these transmissions are defective. :lemon:
It persisted until I shut down and restarted. Of note, the battery charge was down to 2 bars-I'd never seen it that low. And I had been running AC. Anyone had this type of thing?
Thanks...I otherwise love the car-it's my 2nd, I traded in an 03