Problems · by component
2002 Honda Civic electrical system problems
51 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Honda Civic cite electrical system, 7% of all 717 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
51
7% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the electrical system
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“SRS Light on for a while in Honda Civic, Contacted Dealer as this car was messed with by another dealership last year during light swsitch recall, so wanted only other Dealership to diagnose the issue with SRS but diagnosis alone is $157 and since my auto mechanic cannot read the diagnosis Honda has put or installed this restricted setting on the car. Seat belts and seat bekt sensors may be bad and seat belt cant stick on driver;s side, indicating a safety issue, Transmission exhibiting trouble and revs up when shifting, hard to shift gears with automatic gear shift problems. This should not be happening and brand new engine had to be competely installed with new engine blocks, and new radiator and watter pump need due to failing.”
“PROGRESSIVE FAILING OF THE MULTIPLEX CONTROL UNIT, PART # 38200-S5P-A11, FOR MY 2002 HONDA CIVIC HX 5SP HAS RESULTED IN VARIOUS PROBLEMS THAT CAN PROVE TO BE VERY DANGEROUS SUCH AS FAILURE OF TURN SIGNALS, TAIL LIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR, DASHBOARD LIGHTS, DOME LIGHT, POWER DOOR LOCKS, ETC. EXACTLY WHEN THESE FAILURES OCCURRED ARE HARD TO PIN POINT BUT SO FAR I HAVE AVOIDED PROPERTY AND BODILY HARM BUT NOT GREAT INCONVENIENCE AND REPAIR COST. PLEASE ACT TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM FROM CAUSING HARM OR LOSS OF LIFE.”
“MY 2002 HONDA CIVIC IS HAVING AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM TO WHERE MY BRAN NEW JUST BOUGHT BATTERY IS DRAINING WITHING 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR JUST TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND CAUSE IT TO WHERE IT IS HARD TO STEAR AND EVEN TO WHERE I CANT GET OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF DEAD TRAFFIC. THE WHOLE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF AND WON'T LET ME START IT AGAIN. THIS HAS NOW HAPPEND TO ME ON THE FREEWAY AND ON A 55MPH STREET AS WELL.”
“MY CAR SHOULDN'T CAR WITH AN UNPROGRAMMED KEY. MEANING THE CHOP IS NOT PROGRAMMED AND IT STARTS ANYWAY. WITHOUT AN PROPERLY CODED KEY IT SHOULDN'T START PERIOD. BUT YET I CAN'T USE A DUMMY KEY WHICH ALSO DEFECTS THE PURPOSE. MEANING ANYONE CAN TAKE MY KEY. TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND MAKE A CUT AND THAT'S HOW CARS GET STOLEN. I STILL HAVE THE CAR. ALSO GOT TO START IT IN THE ON POSITION IN THE IGNITION IN ORDER TO START IT. IF YOU DON'T AND IT'S STILL WARM. IT'LL KEEP CRANKING FOR A WHILE THAN FIRE RIGHT UP. IT TAKES LONGER TO CRANK WHEN IT'S WARM AND WHEN YOU TURNING IT FROM ZERO TO THREE AND IT'LL CRANK LONGER BUT IT WON'T IF I START IT IN THE ON POSITION. *TR”
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE SERVICED AT LOCAL DEALER AUTONATION HONDA 104 LOCATED AT 2999 W 104TH AVE, WESTMINSTER, CO 80234, (303) 578-6112 FOR UNKNOWN AIR BAG RECALL AND SINCE THEN THE AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V501000 AND 19V182000 (AIR BAGS) AND WAS BEING SERVICE FOR REPAIRS AT DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
“SRS LIGHT STAYS ON CAR DASH. AIR BAGS IN VEHICAL WILL NOT DEPLOY IF INVOLVED IN CAR ACCIDENT. DEALERS SAID IT IS SRS CODE #15-3 OPDS CONTROL UNIT A. ELECTRICAL PROBLEM UNDERNETH PASSANGER SEAT THAT SETS OFF SRS LIGHT IS WHAT I WAS TOLD. THIS IS VERY EXPENSIVE SAFETY PART TO REPAIR.”
Showing 6 of 51 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 6, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.