2002 Honda Civic steering problems

STEERING

HEADERS ARE CRACKED CAR LOST POWER, SUSPENSION IS NOT DURABLE. STEERING COMPONENTS NOT DURABLE

NHTSA complaint #10820130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10680591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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I WAS DRIVING TODAY AND SUDDENLY THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON. THE RADIO SHUT OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS WHILE THE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN THE SRS LIGHT SHUT OFF, THE RADIO WENT BACK TO WORKING PROPERLY. A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN WHEN I WAS AT A RED LIGHT AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC WHO RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. HE STATED THAT THE PROBLEM I HAD EXPERIENCED DID NOT REGISTER; THUS, HE COULDN'T FIND AN UNDERLYING CAUSE. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS TOPIC FURTHER ON GOOGLE.COM, I DISCOVERED THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL.

NHTSA complaint #10507273 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THE POWER STEERING HOSE WAS DEFECTIVE AND LEAKED POWER STEERING FLUID. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DOING A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON HIS VEHICLE HE NOTICED A THE HOSE WAS VERY DIRTY AND A PUDDLE OF FLUID UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PARTS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE REPAIRS WERE ON BACKORDER AND WOULD TAKE SOME TIME BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

NHTSA complaint #10494691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE ACCELERATING, THE CONTACT HEARS A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. HE ALSO EXPERIENCES DIFFICULTY STEERING WHEN TURNING THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING UNIT FELT LOOSE. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY A DEALER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA complaint #10245592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:COLUMN

ON NOVEMBER 4, 2006, I WAS TURNING THE CORNER GOING UP A RAMP WHEN MY 2002 HONDA CIVIC EX STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP IN THE RIGHT TURN POSITION. I WAS HEADING OFF OF THE RAMP TO THE RIGHT WHEN I JERKED THE STEERING WHEEL BACK STRAIGHT TO FIND THAT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND MY OTHER CAR KEY ON THE SAME RING WERE BENT TERRIBLY AND UNUSABLE. IT APPEARED TO ME THAT THE OTHER CAR KEY HAD SOMEHOW GOTTEN LODGED IN THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSING THE WHEEL TO LOCK UP AND, AFTER A JERK FROM ME, BENT AND FREED THE WHEEL. UPON LOOKING AT THE COLUMN, THERE ARE 2 HOLES IN THE COLUMN ITSELF, AND 2 HOLES IN THE CRUISE CONTROL CONSOLE ON THE STEERING WHEEL THAT IT APPEARED TO ME THE KEY COULD HAVE GOTTEN LODGED IN. I STARTED THINKING OF THE MORE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES SUCH AS IF I HAD HIT SOMEONE OR MY WIFE OR DAUGHTER WERE TRAVELING WITH ME. SO I CALLED AMERICAN HONDA AND SPOKE WITH KENITRA. SHE SUGGESTED THAT I TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL HONDA DEALER, WHICH I DID, AND SHE WOULD FOLLOW UP. WE THEN SPOKE AGAIN AND SHE SAID THERE WAS NO RECORD OF ANYTHING LIKE THIS EVER HAPPENING TO THIS VEHICLE. SHE SAID SHE HERSELF WENT OUT AND LOOKED AT HER FRIENDS 2002 CIVIC TO TRY AND UNDERSTAND WHERE THE KEY COULD HAVE GOTTEN LODGED AND COULDN'T FIND ANY CONCEIVABLE PLACE. SHE SAID THAT THE BEST SHE COULD FIGURE IS THAT MY KNEE EITHER BUMPED THE KEY OR THAT I HAD TOO LONG OF A KEYCHAIN, OR TOO MANY KEYS ON THE RING. I TOLD HER THAT MY KNEE DID NOT BUMP THE KEY AND THAT THE KEYRING WAS AN AVERAGE LENGTH AND I HAD OWNED AND USED IT FOR A VERY LONG TIME WITHOUT INCIDENT. I DIDN'T FEEL THAT HONDA TOOK MY CONCERN SERIOUSLY OR REALLY CHECKED INTO THIS. IT REALLY HAPPENED AND WAS TERRIFYING. I AM AFRAID IT MAY HAPPEN AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10178817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

TL* - THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 10 MPH WHEN SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE STEERING FAILED. SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE CONTACT HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE HONDA DEALER (SOUTH MOTORS HONDA), AND THEY TOLD HER THAT SHE HAD A RACK AND PINION FAILURE. THE CONTACT SAID THAT SHE CAN HAVE DEALER SAVE THE PART WITH THE REPAID ORDER. THE CONTACT SAID THAT SHE HAD TAKEN THE CAR TO SERVICE THE STEERING BECAUSE SHE FELT A LOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING; SHE WILL ALSO TRY TO GET THE REPAIR ORDER FOR THAT AS WELL.

NHTSA complaint #10176565 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE STEERING TOTALLY WENT OUT. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNALS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINE THE RACK AND PINION BOLTS CORRODED DUE TO THE USE OF ROAD SALT IN WISCONSIN.

NHTSA complaint #10174542 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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I BOUGHT THE 2002 HONDA CIVIC NEW IN OCTOBER. THE FIRST WEEK I HAD IT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING RACK AS THE CAR WAS MAKING A HORRIBLE NOISE AND WAS HARD TO TURN. THEN, ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THE CAR SIMPLY WOULD NOT START. IT WAS PARKED ALL THREE TIMES, I WOULD GET INTO THE CAR AND IT WOULD TURN BUT NOT START. AFTER SITTING IDLE FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES, IT WOULD FINALLY START. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NEVER DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, SO CONSEQUENTLY IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THEN THE CAR STARTING HAVING PROBLEMS WITH WHAT I THOUGHT WERE THE BRAKES. WHEN I WOULD SLOW DOWN, THE BRAKES WOULD GRAB AND I COULD FEEL A JOLT. THE BRAKES ALSO FELT SPONGY. I TOOK THE CAR IN, AND AGAIN, THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I FINALLY INSISTED THE DEALERSHIP KEEP THE CAR FOR A FEW DAYS AND DRIVE IT. AS THEY WERE DRIVING IT OUT OF THEIR GARAGE, THE BRAKES TOTALLY FAILED. THEY REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER 2 TIMES. THE BRAKES STILL GRABBED, SO HARD IN FACT, THAT BOTH MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE HAD DRINKS IN OUR HANDS WHILE DRIVING AND THE DRINKS SPILLED ON US. THE DEALERSHIP DECIDED THE GRABBING WAS AN ERRATIC DOWNSHIFT OF THE TRANSMISSION. HONDA SAID AND I QUOTE: THIS IS A NORMAL PROBLEM WITH THE HONDA 2002 CIVICS. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT FIX THE CAR SINCE IT WAS A NORMAL PROBLEM. I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT A NORMAL PROBLEM IS! DURING THIS TIME, I BEGAN PURSING THE OKLAHOMA LEMON LAW. I TRIED TO HAVE THE DEALERSHIP BUY MY CAR BACK AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T BECAUSE IT HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS AND THEY COULDN'T SELL IT AS A CERTIFIED USED HONDA. SO, I HAVE A NEW CAR THAT WAS A LEMON FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT IT AND THE DEALERSHIP NOR HONDA WILL BUY IT BACK!!!!!!!! HONDA DID GIVE ME THEIR 100,000 MILE WARRANTY FOR FREE. TODAY, I TOOK THE CAR BACK IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AS THE BRAKES ARE GRABBING HARDER. TONDA L. AMES, APR BARTLESVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS COMMUNITY RELATIONS SUPERVISOR 1100 S. JENNINGS BARTLESVILLE, OK 74003 918-336-8600

NHTSA complaint #10070069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW ON APRIL 20, 2002. SINCE THE VERY FIRST DAY SEVERAL PROBLEMS WERE DISCOVERED WHICH HONDA HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RESOLVE. ONE ONGOING PROBLEM IS A VIBRATION AT 55 MPH IN THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH HONDA HAS ATTRIBUTED TO A WHEEL BALANCE PROBLEM AND TIRE PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED 14 TIMES BY HONDA AND FIRESTONE (TIRE MANUFACTURER) AND MERCHANT TIRE (BALANCE). HONDA TRIED TO BALANCE THE WHEELS AND AFTER SEVERAL FAILED ATTEMPTS TOLD ME IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH FAULTY TIRES (OEM). HONDA TOLD ME THEY COULD DO NOTHING FURTHER ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND TOLD ME I HAD TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM ON MY OWN WITH THE TIRE MANUFACTURER DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE CAR WAS OBVIOUSLY STILL UNDER HONDA WARRANTY. NONE OF THE BALANCING SOLVED THE PROBLEM AND HONDA TOLD ME IT MUST BE DEFECTIVE (ORIGINAL) TIRES. FIRESTONE THEM REPLACED 3 TIRES UNDER WARRANTY AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTED. THEY ATTEMPTED TO BALANCE THE WHEELS 2 MORE TIMES. I WENT BACK TO HONDA AND THEY BALANCED THE WHEELS AGAIN WITH NO SUCCESS AND THEY WOULD NOT INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM FURTHER. THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS. ONE IS A PROBLEM WITH HISSING AND STATIC IN THE RADIO RECEPTION WHEN THE REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER IS ON (SINCE NEW). HONDA REPLACED THE RADIO AND DEFOGGER SWITCH BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS A VISIBILITY PROBLEM IN THE REAR WINDOW (SINCE NEW). A HAZY STICKY FILM DEVELOPS ON THE REAR WINDOW. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CLEAN WITH HOUSEHOLD GLASS CLEANER. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THAT THE ORIGINAL HONDA FLOOR MAT WORE RIGHT THROUGH WHEN THE CAR WAS NOT EVEN A YEAR OLD. I HAD TO PURCHASE A WHOLE SET FOR ABOUT $90. THE DRIVERS SEAT UPHOLSTERY ALSO BEGAN TO WEAR PREMATURELY. ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT DEVELOPED OVER THE PAST YEAR IS A DAMP MOLDY MUSTY ODOR COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER/HEATER VENTS. THE ODOR IS SOMETIMES STRONG AND WHEN I TURN ON THE AC OR HEATER IT MAKES ME COUGH AND FEEL ILL. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE QUALITY OF THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10070627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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AFTER THE FIRST YEARS MAINTENANCE TIRES WERE ROTATED. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS STEERING PROBLEMS. I DO NOT FEEL I HAVE SAFE CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND SERVICE AS DONE AGAIN FOR FREE. DEALERSHIP STATED A WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS NEEDED. THIS STILL DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I STILL HAVE STEERING PROBLEMS AND IT FEELS UNSAFE AT TIMES I AM NERVOUS DURING TURNS. AT ONE POINT WHEN I'M AT A LIGHT AND PRESS GAS WHEELS STEER OFF WITHOUT CONTROL. THIS HAS HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIMES. AT ONE POINT ANOTHER DRIVER TOLD ME SMOKE WAS COMING FROM MY WHEEL I LOOKED AND SAW NO PROBLEM SINCE IT HASN'T OCCURRED BUT STEERING IS STILL AN ISSUE. DATE BELOW IS MOST RECENT ISSUE. I AM NOTIFYING BEFORE A ACCIDENT OCCURS. DEALERSHIP TESTED AND STATED THERE IS NO MORE PROBLEM BUT YET I FEEL UNSAFE SINCE FIRST MAINTENANCE AT DEALERSHIP. BEFORE THEN CAR WAS EXCELLENT. DEALERSHIP ALSO STATED ROTATION MAY TAKE A WHILE TO ADJUST. IT HAS NOT YET. THEY WOULD LIKE TO JUST ROTATE TIRES BACK TO ORIGINAL I DON'T WANT THAT. DEALERSHIP STATED IT HELPS WEAR ON TIRES BY ROTATING.

NHTSA complaint #10051094 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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THE SUSPENSION OF THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN LOWERED BY DEALERSHIP,RESULTING IN STEERING PROBLEMS. THE ABILITY TO MAKE TURNS WERE MORE DIFFICULT THAN NORMAL. TIRES SQUEALED WHEN TURNING CORNERS. ALSO, ALTERED HEADLIGHTS, WHICH CAUSED BULBS TO BREAK.

NHTSA complaint #10044046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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THE VEHICLE SWAYED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #10014712 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. CONSUMER STATES' VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN. TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER STATES IT WAS NORMAL OPERATION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA complaint #8024128 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THERE IS A TERRIBLE GLARE COMING FORM THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT IS DISTRACTING THE CONSUMER VIEW OF SEEING. DEALER NOTIFIED

NHTSA complaint #8019546 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A TURN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING PULLED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AT TURN. 185/70R14, DOT# W2RVS9H, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, 622 MILES, HONDA, CIVIC 2002. *AK TIRES WERE VERY NOISY. DEALER STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER CHANGED THE SUSPENSION AND MAYBE THIS IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #8018657 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH A NOISE WAS HEARD, FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF STEERING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THE LEFT FRONT TIE ROD BROKE. *AK

NHTSA complaint #8011009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.