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Research · Subcompact Cars · 2 NHTSA variants

2002 Honda CivicRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 24 safety recalls and 717 owner complaints for the 2002 Honda Civic. Most complaints involve air bags (245) and power train (190). The EPA rates it 25–34 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
25–34mpg
EPA · 8 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
24campaigns
Latest Jun 2019
Owner complaints
717
Top: air bags
Fuel cost / yr
$1,650est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

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

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 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 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 24 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 6, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

717 complaints filed with NHTSA · Dec 2001 – Apr 2025
  1. Air bags245
  2. Power train190
  3. Exterior lighting53
  4. Seat belts51
  5. Electrical system51
  6. Suspension35
  7. Engine and engine cooling32
  8. Vehicle speed control26
  9. Steering23

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
116
Fires reported
14
Injuries reported
100
Deaths reported
4
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 6, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Air bags

245 reports80 crashes3 fires
“The contact owns a 2002 Honda Civic. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V501000(Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were contacted.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 4, 2025Air bagsODI 11652851

Power train

190 reports1 fire
“I recently purchased the car . I see on several forums , the transmission in this car for this year is prone to leaks and failures and Honda is aware . I’m having that issue .”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 10, 2025Power trainODI 11641805

Exterior lighting

53 reports2 crashes5 fires
“Automatic high beams, etc. Potentially very dangerous to other drivers. Place a limit on the intensity of headlights. Ultra bright lights tend to interfere with me knowing where my own vehicle is on the road.It's getting to be almost a constant anxiety attack driving at night with both on coming and following vehicles with ultra bright lights, including low beams. And if the offending vehicle is a SUV or a pickup it feels like I'm flirting with the distinct possibility of an accident and or injury.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 29, 2023Exterior lightingODI 11514431
All 2002 Civic problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 6, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

8 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Subcompact Cars, Compact Cars
Engines
1.7L 4-cyl · 1.7L 4-cyl cng · 2.0L 4-cyl
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 6, 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
314034$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
283631$2,050287
Civic
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 1.7 L, SOHC-VTEC · Front-Wheel Drive
263530$2,150296
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 · Front-Wheel Drive
263429$2,200306
Civic CNG
Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.7 L · Front-Wheel Drive
263128$1,650251
Civic
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
232825$2,550355
  • Civic HX
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.7 L
    31 city · 40 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 · 36 hwy · $2,050/yr
    31
    mpg comb.
  • Civic
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 1.7 L, SOHC-VTEC
    26 city · 35 hwy · $2,150/yr
    30
    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
    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.
  • Civic
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    23 city · 28 hwy · $2,550/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 6, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

5 tested variants
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2002 Honda Civic as of Nov 6, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 6, 2026Vehicle 4599Vehicle 4484Vehicle 4464
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

2002 Civic questions

How many recalls does the 2002 Honda Civic have?

24 safety recalls as of Nov 6, 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 2002 Honda Civic problems?

Owners filed 717 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are air bags (245), power train (190), exterior lighting (53). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2002 Honda Civic get?

The EPA rates the 2002 Honda Civic at 25–34 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (8 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 6, 2026