Used 2001 Honda Civic Sedan Consumer Reviews

Wouldn't trade it for the world.

I bought my Civic back in 2005 with roughly 55,000 miles on it. It currently has 165,000 miles. Up until 150,000 there were rarely any problems aside from the general maintenance and the airbag/seatbelt recalls. Around 150,000 I had to change the driver side CV axle assembly as the boots were leaking lubricant. The worst thing about the interior is that the headliner is drooping which started about four years ago. The car is currently running well and I look forward to the next 100,000 miles.

Served me well for 15 years!

2016: Time for a new car, but the 2001 Honda Civic LX was great for me. It had very little problems during the time that I owned it, except for the "check engine" light, which seemed to go on and off like a bad light bulb. Having driven it for so long, I knew exactly what conditions would cause the light to go on (it had nothing to do with a "tight" gas cap). Driving the car for a couple of days would always cause the light to go back off. Other than that, I gave it regular oil changes, tire rotations, scheduled maintenance, etc. I never had any serious issues. I ran it for 145,000, but a trusted mechanic said it could easily pass 200K.

Honda Civic 2001 - Driving for the long haul

My 2001 Honda Civic LX 4-Dr has gotten as high as 40 mpg driving to MN from IA. My 1st year, a rubber piece on the front of the car fell off after 2000 miles (threw it out). Brand new tires would slip on damp pavement (got rid of original Firestones within weeks of purchasing). By year two, the transmission was shifting roughly and my mechanic used white grease to improve the action. Headlights burn out frequently (replaced 6-8 times). After 5 years, the electronics for the windows blew and had that fixed (not just a simple fuse problem). The struts & bushings failed. Besides all this, I have rolled over 180,000 miles & it has been reliable on many road trips.

Best bang for your buck!

I purchased this car almost 4 years ago, after heavily researching it. It had 120k miles on it when I got it, now it has 208k. It consistently gets 34mpg city/hwy, and 36 all hwy. Get the 5 spd manual, I hear the auto is gutless. The front seat is ok, but for a 6'3" tall man, i'm basically in the back seat. The engine purrs and has been 100% trouble free. Kinda loud at 75mph, this is basically a tin can on wheels. It's a great commuter car but as far as road trips forget it. I just took a 3k mile road trip and my wife and I were very uncomfortable. I'd buy another one in a second for commuting. Honda cars are the best for reliability and fuel mileage.

Would by this car again.

Good gas mileage.

Love this car!

I bought this car in 2003 at a Ford Dealership. It was so cute. It is fun to drive, and have had NO mechanical failures. The only thing is that it goes through headlights about 4 times a year. Also, other vehicles have no respect for this little beauty. Every day, some one is cutting me off. Best car I have ever owned, I will definitely buy another Honda. My VIN begins with a 1, so it was made in America, my friend's Ford was made in Canada...go figure. Husband prefers driving it just because of the gas mileage.

No worries

I bought this car new in 2001 and have only changed tires, oil and wipers. Not a single thing has needed repair on this car. I wrecked a civic SI and bought this car with the insurance check. I drive it very hard and it just won't break. Great car.

Really Can't Complain!

Bought the car new, off the lot, in 2001. It has been a great car, up until about a couple years ago when, at 165,000-plus miles, the clutch gave out. I still have my questions about that, but I no longer frequent that mechanic. That was my first major repair. The original battery lasted 11 years!! Gotta agree on the headliner; several years ago it started drooping and I just used clear packing tape, and it's pretty bad now, but I'm not forking out $$ to fix it (the car is aging and is less than nice looking anymore). Upon going to a dealer for a recall fix, the service tech told me they see a lot of that. Made me wonder if it was some sort of defect. And the headlights - the last few years they seemed to go out quite frequently - annoying! I also had the SRS light go on and didn't want to bother with it, but, again, upon the recall for the airbags a couple years ago, the dealer checked it out (I didn't ask nor mention it) and it was the seat belt buckle - they told me Honda has a lifetime warranty on the seat belts so they fixed it free! I've gotten 39-40 mpg on the freeway (I stay at a steady speed) and roughly 34-35 in town. That has started to decrease a little in the last six or so months to maybe 36 hwy and 33-34 in town. And the dashboard lights, about a year ago, went out partially (the right side of the speedometer and the gas gauge), but, again, with the age and condition of the vehicle - not gonna fix it. It also started using oil a couple years ago, but the usage has remained roughly unchanged so far and, oddly, is better when I get an oil change/filter. I now have managed to get it to 189,000 and don't know how much longer I have. It has to be smogged very soon (I'm in California) and I don't know if it will pass this time (California gets more strict with older cars). I passed two years ago with flying colors, but now not so sure. If it passes, I'll be happy and keep going as long as the car doesn't $200 me to death. If it doesn't pass, whether I keep it will depend on what's wrong and how much $$. **An update. I passed the smog. My new mechanic, I noticed, now uses 5-30 synthetic blend oil for my oil changes (it had always been 5-20 regular oil), and my oil consumption has decreased. Go figure. I'm hanging in there! ***Another update. I finally had to give up the car. The mileage was still good, but starting to develop more problems. Took it to my mechanic and he pretty much told me to start looking around for something else. The latest problem would not recreate when he would drive it (nor would it recreate for another mechanic I took it to). I took that as a sign. The second mechanic actually wanted to buy it - he buys them cheap, fixes them up, and sells them - and he told me there are people who want them. My regular mechanic told me in so many words, I could put $$$$ into it but it would still have problems. I had 202,800-plus miles. I wasn't ready to give it up, but, again, the signs were pointing to it being time. I now have a Toyota Corolla - 2017. We'll see; I hear they're good, but I've had Hondas the last two cars - hoping it goes like my old 2001 Honda Civic, RIP. ****Yet another update. Don't know why I keep getting msgs to update when I no longer have the Civic. That said, it was a great car, still good mileage up until I finally had to let go, I do miss a manual transmission, and it was relatively problem-free until age starting taking a toll - sorta like us humans! Again, miss having a Civic and a manual transmission, but things change. It is nice to have a good car and not worry about what might go wrong next. I guess I'll have to now supply updates on my Toyota Corolla! Ha!

Money pit

I got the car 3 years ago with 115K on the odometer. Instantly invested 2000$ and replaced almost all suspension, motor mounts, power steering pump, timing belt, water pump. At 120K the transmission suddenly died. I replaced it. Now car has 180K. Water pump replaced, wheel studs replaced on 3 wheels. Having electric problems now. This car has good MPG, but requires constant repair.

worst civic ever made

I was very excited to buy and own this car brand new from dealer. it wasn't until about 85000 miles the problem started. I started to lose the overdrive over a period of 5 to 10 thousand miles. The transmission would shudder while transfering gears from 4th to overdrive lockup. The check engine light then appeared with 2 codes, 0740 tcc circuit lock up solenoid and a honda specific code related to the ELD unit in the fuse box. I brought to the dealer, after auto shop said they can't repair that trouble code. The dealer plainly says that i need a new transmission even though the car drove fine, outside of the overdrive failure. I waited 2 years trying to decide if i should spend 3000 dollars on something that honda should repair, or take a loss and trade or sell it. Just when i decided to have them replace the transmission because the car was still in great condition and low mileage another problem, which i found is another common problem occured. The instrument panel now fails and find out that it will cost about a 700 to 1000 or more to repair. After researching online about honda's since 2000, that they have become one of the top ten worst cars to own. I will never again buy a honda

It's great.......but

Yes, it's fun to drive and the gas mileage is wonderful, BUT I've had to replace the radio twice and now my air conditioning in not working. Shouldn't happen to a car that's just one year old! I won't buy another Honda.

Excellent value for the $

A very good car in it's class. Engine and transmission are smooth and so far flawless on my car, power is quite good considering the car class. Ride is a little stiff,the road handling is excellent despite the mediocre stock firestone tires. My a/c works very well even on the hottest days. Interior finish and trim is also very good. Reliability to date is excellent. My driver door needed a very minor adjustment, it was not aligned perfectly (I am very demanding). At 15000km had no other problems at all! For those complaining about honda quality, apart from the Corolla other choices are much worse look at the horror stories with Focus or Cavalier...

Nightmare car

I've had one before and literally every week or two I had to see a mechanic due to different problems thay kept coming up. I've had 6 or 7 different cars in my lifetime and this was the worst one. Stay away from 2001 Civic.

Do some of you test drive first???

I was just curious to know if the people who wrote about how much noise the civic makes ever test drove the car before buying???? It only makes sense that you would, and then to not notice that it supposedly has horrible noise issues???? I suspect some posts may be from the same people.

Too many problems @ 144K miles

Bought used almost 10 years ago and it has ~144K miles. I did rev-up quite a lot to its readline (6800rpm) - most of ~144K miles are highway except for the last couple years which I put maybe ~5K miles during 3 year period. I started to have lots of issues for the last year or two: - has crack in exhaust header - gears are slippery above 3000 rpm Good thing about the car is that: - engine is still strong - brakes are really good (haven't replaced, yet no sign of wear) - pretty good gas mileage

Worst Car I've Owned

Maybe I was one of the unlucky few who got a lemon, but this is by far the worst vehicle I've ever owned. I'm currently driving a Toyota and would never go back to a Honda out of pure fear. We purchased this car used in 2014- we had to have it rewired immediately after purchase. $200. 2000 miles later all the valves bent while driving on the 101 and stalled in the middle of the freeway. $500. 2000 miles later the spark plugs went out. Began overheating. $75 3000 miles later the transmission started slipping and going out. The Engine light turned on. Read as a misfire to cylinders. Over heating was off/on. 500 miles later head gasket blew. Overheated stopped. $500. 500 miles later began over heating again. 200 miles later head gasket blew again and the radiator, fan, and switch needed to be replaced $400. 2000 miles later the radiator began to leak and we had to fill the car up with water up to three times a day. The car had been maintenance by my mechanic: oil changes every 3k miles, tire rotation every 6k miles, topped off fluids after every oil change, etc. The car broke this fast after so little use. We did end up selling it after only driving it 10,000 miles. The appearance of the car, however, was spotless! Easy to clean and maintain- the car looked brand new up until the day we sold it. This car and I had a love/hate relationship. I loved it when it worked- when it didn't I hated it. Will personally stick with my Toyota! I'm sure Honda Civics are lovely cars, but I would personally stay away from the 2001 model.

Never by an Civic

Straight off the lot this car gave me problems, stalling in the street, radio scanning on its own. Finally that got fixed after less than 2 years somthing on the car is clunking. I never had any of these experiences with my Nissan Sentra. Honda's in my opinion are OVER- RATED. I'm not the only one in the VI having HONDA problems. Is it the car or the dealer?

2001 Transmissions Have Ruined Honda

I received this car willed from my great-uncle and have treated it well for 6.5 years. I've been diligent in regular maintenance. Then, out of the veritable blue, my transmission suffered a catastrophic failure en route to work two days ago. The auto tranny would not engage into gear and the engine would simply tach up with no acceleration when I hit the gas. I called Honda USA to get them to extend a goodwill repair to me, but they are refusing. I'm looking at a $2000 repair for a manufacturing defect...and Honda's not willing to admit the mistake or provide the customer support to alleviate the cost to me. 2001 transmissions across every model have been notorious for this sudden failure.

Great Car

I was planning to buy a Jetta, but always liked the fact that my friends who drove Civics thought the world of them. There just happened to be a Honda dealer next to the VW one I was at, so I figured, "why not check it out"? I am so happy I bought the Civic - it's fun to drive, gets great mileage, and is surprisingly roomy inside for a smaller sedan. My only complaint about its performance is the transmission sometimes "catches" as I'm accelerating (I drive an automatic).

Durable and Reliable

I got this car in 08 with 120k on it. It's now at 180k and it's still running without having done any major work on it. Just oil changes, a few batteries, and a new set of tires. Every year I spray the metal parts down with lube, and so far, I've had some issues with the axle rusting, the muffler completely rusted off, and someone was able to use a crowbar to just pry off my passenger door handle to get into my car. Overall, it's been a good first car, but I'm excited to upgrade to a new Civic.

Hate to let her go

Buyers should know that the HONDA is the car to buy. My low ratings are based upon 18 years of usage and me getting old. The automatic window has not been working on the passengers side, but I choose to spend the repair money on my new car. Also, this car had great tires. Breaks failed once in 18 years and were on their way out a second time, but I got them fixed.

Nice Car

Hey, it's a Honda. It works and works well. The only problem that I had was the radio frequently forgetting its anti- theft code. Honda then replaced the radio/CD player under warrantee.

Gets better and better

This is my 3rd Civic, I still have my 1992 with 150,000 miles on it, these are the best cars on the road.

Best car ever

My wife bought this car new back in 2001, it now has 136K miles, never any repairs just regular service like, spark plugs, timing belt, trans service, brake pads and regular oil change every 3-4K miles, great car for the money. Great gas mileage. It still fills like the fist day.

It's Good

Roomy for a compact car. Family of four (two car seats) fit just fine. I was a former Nissan Sentra Driver and the Honda blows it away.

Honda failure

I've owned 4 honda's prior to this vehicle, so when I was in the market for an inexpensive reliable commuter car, I was confident with buying the Civic. WHAT A MISTAKE! Here is a list of my cars problems: Gas gauge not close to being correct, transmission never seems to know what gear to be in especially after taking a turn. Huge hesitation when reapplying the gas pedal after making a turn. AC system struggles to get the car cool. AC vents extremely loose. I now have folds of paper jammed in the side of each vent to keep it from pointing straight up. I could go on but I'm running out of space. Stick with an older model.

Honda Civic Nothing But Trouble

I bought my Honda with 30,000 miles on it. It now has 147,000. I have never had such a disappointing car in all my life. The struts went out at 60,000. The air conditioner went out at 85,000. I had multiple oil leaks repaired. The engine burns about 1 quart between oil changes. Also had electric windows repaired and bushing replaced multiple times. But the worst problem has been replacing the transmission, it died at 130,000.

My 5 Spd 2001 DX Civic: Mixed Reviews

I've owned my '01 DX Civic for over 4 yrs & 72k miles. Almost immediately the alt pulley came off & was fixed under warranty. At about 18k mi the brakes started grinding, i was told I needed new brakes; ok. Still they were grinding. After 8 visits and 8 resurfacings they found that a badly adjusted control made the brake pedal hang down about 1/2 in, just like i described... I had a hill holder. At 30k mi they gave me a new set of pads and rotors and that was the last problem I've had. Since then, no problem.

Not all it's cracked up to be

I bought my Civic Ex in 2010 with 100k on the clock. The car I find completely uncomfortable. Visibility is good, but feel like safety scores are a joke and why wouldn't they put a 5th gear in the thing! Average about 34mpg. Replaced motor mounts within the first year. Then at 50k came the transmission repair. Even though I extensively researched this car, surprise, 2001 honda's frequent tranny problems! Had to get it rebuilt twice. Then all new rotors and wheel bearings (routine I know). Then 1200 dollars in oil leaks, and now a V-tech error and an o2 code. I use Mobile 1 and change it every 5k and always do suggested maintenance. Just feel like its a POS, "but it's a Honda!"

The Little engine that could

I brought this car brand new. Right now, this car has 132K miles. I never have any mechanical problem with this car. I usually take this car for long road trip. For instance, I would drive from Camden, Maine to Key West, Florida with this car. I usually get 42 MPG on highway (I-95). 40 MPG from Pennsylvania to Kentucky (Appalachian mountain man) No one cuts me off. I am usually the one that does that. Now, this car has really small engine, but timing is the key, you gonna know when to press the gas pedal and turn your blinker when you are doing 80 mph on the highway.

Bad

Bought the car new. Has been in the shop 16 times going on my 17th. I have never had a car with so many problems. This will be my last Honda. Trying to get Honda to buy it back b/4 going to BBB.

Honda builds LEMONS too!

car broke down 1 week after purchasing it Brand New. steering wheel fluid leaked luckily I got in time or my steering could have jammed, every peice changed with steering 3 seperate occasions . rust on car after 3 months, front shock had to be changed leak, driver door rattled tried to fic different noise now , problems with heater, and not too mention 4 seperate recalls . Suspension is garbage conpared to earlier models

My new 2001 Civic

I bought a new 4 door LX Civic with standard transmission. Gas mileage is great, but have had a continual plague of mechanical problems. Air dam fell off many times- finally left it off. Gas filler door release failed. Passenger window will not go up when it rains. Front wheel bearing failed at 45000 miles. Engine mount failed at 60000 miles. Headliner fell down in back seat at 65000. Air bag SRS light comes on, 67000 miles the front end bounces and moves on the road when you hit small bumps.Rear window defroster does not work

Horrible Honda

The only thing good about this Honda is the mileage. I bought it new in 2001, and will never buy another Honda. Air dam fell off until I finally threw it away. Gas filler mechanism fell apart within 2 weeks. Drivers power window fails to go up when it rains. replaced wheel bearing at 40,000, engine mount at 50,000, headliner fell down around 50,000, left control arm at 65,000,rear defroster doesn't work, Manual transmission needs overhauled at 90,000. Right control arm is also shot at 90,000. This car has been nothing but a mechanical money pit. Worst new car I have ever bought. Don't buy the Civic.

i love my car!!!

2001 Honda Civic LX Automatic Sedan

The Civic is overall a good car, but the 2001-2005 Civic wasn't a really a good Civic. This version was a little too boring and the 4 speed automatic in our car makes it irritatingly slow and the reliability wasn't as good as expected. It hasn't been mechanical problems, but problems with quality. The plastics felt flimsy all along and the seats got worn out and small tears. Another issue is the shocks, which wear out and make the front end bounce under braking and acceleration. The brakes aren't good either, they take a long time to stop the car and the LX doesn't have ABS. These Civics are dependable economy cars, but the 2001-2005 versions don't impress in enough other ways.

nice car, but should be better

the car has 34 km in city and hwy Toronto Driving. had to replace the windshield because of a rock left a crack half way across the window. cost us $250Can dollars. the new glass looks so clear! i would recommend looking around and consider civic as a last option. my bro bought this car because of all other people having this same car. he doesn't know much about cars. was pulled to pay more for honda's reputation. don't buy a civic cuz of looks because that's what my bro also did. and i hate him for that. if it was my choice i would be getting an hyundai elantra GT. lots of standard stuff for cheaper and i don't care if it's not a honda.

Awesome first car!

Perfect Car for High School Student

I'm 16 and spent the entire summer looking at cars on TrueCar. When I turned 16, I got this car for my birthday. Honda is one of the car manufacturers that I trust. I haven't had any issues with it. It's very practical. The trunk is larger compared to some big sedans. The rear seat can seat three people comfortably. The car gets 30 MPG. I love this car!

Reliable.. what?

I have a lot of friends that have older Civics and just love them to death. So, I thought I would be safe by purchasing a newer model. Man, was I wrong. I have never seen a car that had as many problems.. Honda does have problems, maybe not as much as you hear about Ford's, but atleast Ford tells everyone something is wrong and tries/Attempts to fix it! I only need to have the civic in the shop 2 more times and it will be lemon lawed, I can't wait to get rid of it. I think I'll stick with an older Honda, or better yet, get a Ford or GM. I might be living life on the edge with it, but atleast I can get Ford or GM to admit to problems and fix them.

Excellent

I would say this is my best choice ever !

My 3rd Honda Civic

I first had a '93 Civic coupe that lasted me 8 long years, then an '04 Civic hybrid, and now I bought this one in March '07. I bought it used with 72K miles on it, and I now have about 84K. When I bought it, I put new tires on it, new alignment, new water pump, and new timing belt. It has run perfectly the entire time I've had it.

Civics rock

I think this is the best car -- by performance and looks -- for the price. Great gas mileage, gets a lot of looks, and the easiest to customize.

Decent car but safety hazard without ABS

This is an OK car but feels a little tin canny and like a go-cart (not in a good way). My major complaint is braking on wet pavement or lack thereof. This car will go into a slide every time. And this is with brand new tires. ABS is a must. No way I'm letting my kids use this car unless I know it'll be dry outside. It even spins out when accelerating lightly on wet roads. You really have to baby it. If it has to climb while doing so forget about it. Another complaint is that the headliner fell apart at about 100k.

Civic LX Sedan

The only two bad things about the civic are the back seat comfort and the wind noise. The back seat has plenty of room, but having to carpool 50 miles a day, I get plenty of comments about there not being enough support back there.

Nice Car!

This is my first Honda after having 4 Corollas and although the ride in the Corolla is a bit smoother, they all rusted out! I dont see as many rusted Hondas. I live in the North East where the winters are harsh and lots of road salt is used. When I bought this car it was between this and a 2000 Eclipse. The Eclipse is a very sporty car and it was almost the same price as the Honda but it was not certified and the warranty I got with the Honda is exceptional. I have 2 years bumper to bumper and the 7 year powertrain warranty. Can't beat it. I wanted sporty but opted for practicality. I'm old.

A So So Vehicle...

My vehicle is a 2002 EX but I wanted to post this now! Hopefully it will help someone out if you are thinking of buying a Civic for reasons of low gas mileage! This model gives me 23-25 mpg, 85% highway and 15% local. I brought it to the Dealership at Hillside Honda in NYC where I purchased the vehicle and they said that no-one is getting the 32-38 miles per gallon b/c all cars are on oxygenated gas and they won't perform a fuel consumption test. This says a lot about the service behind the name Honda doesn't it...crummy services! I will stick with Toyotas or Lexus if I have more money! I have learned my lesson!

The BEST OF THE BEST !!

Excellent car in its class or perhaps in any other class...for mere $14,000. I bought my Civic brand new in its first production year.(usually first production years are troublesome.) So far the car has given me nothing but pure happiness. I have driven a cross the country 2 times with it. I am falling in love with this car. The handling is great, the design is superb, re-sale value is topnotch, reliability is somthing to brag about..and not to mention, its safty beats Mercedes Benz C-Class sedan (Check out National Highway and Traffic Safty Association website @ www.nhtsa.dot.gov).

Nice car

Overall excellent vehicle

Best Little car ever!

I bought this car in 2001 brand new, I have taken it to a Honda dealer for all maintence. I love this car and it has never let me down. With 140,000 miles all I have done is very basic stuff and things that wear out like timing belts, brake pad, I've done my oil, brake fluid, and tranny fluid as needed and this car has never gievn me a bit of issue or trouble! It has been one very well built little car! If you follow the owners manual I think you'll be very happy with this car.