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Research · Subcompact Cars

2001 Honda CivicRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 27 safety recalls and 1,089 owner complaints for the 2001 Honda Civic. Most complaints involve power train (405) and air bags (313). The EPA rates it 28–34 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
28–34mpg
EPA · 7 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
27campaigns
Latest Jun 2019
Owner complaints
1,089
Top: power train
Fuel cost / yr
$1,650est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

27 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jun 27, 2019NHTSA 19V499000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jun 27, 2019NHTSA 19V501000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.

Air bagsReported Mar 6, 2019NHTSA 19V182000
See all 27 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 5, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

1,089 complaints filed with NHTSA · Nov 2000 – Mar 2026
  1. Power train405
  2. Air bags313
  3. Engine and engine cooling64
  4. Exterior lighting62
  5. Electrical system59
  6. Suspension52
  7. Seat belts41
  8. Service brakes, hydraulic36
  9. Fuel system, gasoline31

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Civic model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1996314
1997383
1998450
1999348
2000297
20011,089
2002717
2003525
2004351
2005316
20061,411
20071,212
2008923
2009398
2010400
2011170
2012462
2013320
2014293
2015389
20161,083
2017608
2018602
2019460
2020240
2021162
2022962
2023338
2024144
202588
202632
Crashes reported
149
Fires reported
15
Injuries reported
133
Deaths reported
6
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 5, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Power train

405 reports6 crashes1 fire
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 21, 2026Power trainODI 11726092

Air bags

313 reports119 crashes3 fires
“The contact owns a 2001 Honda Civic. The vehicle was included in a manufacturer recall 19/076 (NHTSA Campaign Number was unknown) regarding the Takata Air Bag, and the remedy was completed on March 28, 2025. When the vehicle was being repaired, the contact stated that they used their personal diagnosis machine and received the code FF510001. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, they fell asleep, causing them to rear-end a vehicle in front. The air bags did not deploy, and the seat belt failed to retract. There were no injuries, and no medical attention was needed. The vehicle was not towed. The rear vehicle- ended was damaged and towed. A police report was filed. The dealer was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 186,689.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 8, 2026Air bags, Seat beltsCrash reportedODI 11709583

Engine and engine cooling

64 reports5 crashes
“WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, THE CAR WAS NO LONGER ACCELERATING. WHILE STEPPING ON THE GAS THE ENGINE WAS REVVING BUT THE SPEED WOULD NOT INCREASE. AS I WAS ONLY A SHORT WAY FROM AN EXIT, I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF OF THE INTERSTATE, DOWN THE EXIT RAMP, AND TO THE STOP LIGHT PRIOR TO THE LOCAL ROADS AS THE CAR WOULD STILL DRIVE BUT ONLY LESS THAN 40 MPH. UPON GETTING TO THE STOP LIGHT, THE CAR NO LONGER RESPONDED TO THE GAS PEDAL GOING FORWARD, I WAS ABLE TO BACK UP TO A SPACE IN BETWEEN TURN LANES. I PLACED MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON AND CALLED TRIPLE A FOR A TOW TRUCK. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL AUTO BODY WHERE I WAS INFORMED THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION HAD GONE, TO THEIR SURPRISE AS THE CAR IS IN "GREAT CONDITION". *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 8, 2014Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Vehicle speed controlODI 10662755
All 2001 Civic problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 5, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

7 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Subcompact Cars, Compact Cars
Engines
1.7L 4-cyl · 1.7L 4-cyl cng
Transmissions
Manual 5-spd · Automatic (variable gear ratios) · Automatic 4-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline · Natural Gas

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 5, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Civic HX
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.7 L · Front-Wheel Drive
313934$1,900261
Civic HX
Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.7 L · Front-Wheel Drive
303632$2,000278
Civic
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.7 L · Front-Wheel Drive
283531$2,050287
Civic
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.7 L, SOHC-VTEC · Front-Wheel Drive
273330$2,150296
Civic
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 1.7 L, SOHC-VTEC · Front-Wheel Drive
263429$2,200306
Civic
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 1.7 L · Front-Wheel Drive
263429$2,200306
Civic CNG
Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.7 L · Front-Wheel Drive
263128$1,650251
  • Civic HX
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.7 L
    31 city · 39 hwy · $1,900/yr
    34
    mpg comb.
  • Civic HX
    Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.7 L
    30 city · 36 hwy · $2,000/yr
    32
    mpg comb.
  • Civic
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.7 L
    28 city · 35 hwy · $2,050/yr
    31
    mpg comb.
  • Civic
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.7 L, SOHC-VTEC
    27 city · 33 hwy · $2,150/yr
    30
    mpg comb.
  • Civic
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 1.7 L, SOHC-VTEC
    26 city · 34 hwy · $2,200/yr
    29
    mpg comb.
  • Civic
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 1.7 L
    26 city · 34 hwy · $2,200/yr
    29
    mpg comb.
  • Civic CNG
    Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.7 L
    26 city · 31 hwy · $1,650/yr
    28
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 5, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

4 tested variants
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2001 Honda Civic as of Nov 5, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 5, 2026Vehicle 4331Vehicle 4195Vehicle 4189
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2001 Civic questions

How many recalls does the 2001 Honda Civic have?

27 safety recalls as of Nov 5, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2001 Honda Civic problems?

Owners filed 1,089 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are power train (405), air bags (313), engine and engine cooling (64). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2001 Honda Civic get?

The EPA rates the 2001 Honda Civic at 28–34 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (7 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 5, 2026