1998 Honda Civic Power Train:automatic Transmission Problems
NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · data through 07/14/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
How power train:automatic transmission ranks on this vehicle
Share of the 435 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 1998 Honda Civic overview page.
What owners report
“DUE TO A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SLIPS WHILE DRIVING WHICH CAUSES RPMS TO GO UP. THIS MAY CAUSE A CRASH. DEALER SAID THEY NEED…”NHTSA complaint 870786 — filed 09/18/2000
“I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE ROLLING BACK ON INCLINES. NOW MY TRANSMISSION MUST BE REPLACED.”NHTSA complaint 722230 — filed 05/03/2000
“TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY SLIPS,IN MOTION AND IDLE POSITION--IDLE SPEED IS ERRATIC--IN REVERSE,CAR MAKES A WHINING NOISE-WINDOWS DON'T ALWAYS WORK”NHTSA complaint 720247 — filed 03/17/2000
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 1998 Honda Civic have power train:automatic transmission problems?
Power Train:automatic Transmission is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 1998 Honda Civic: 40 of 435 complaints on file (9.2%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.
How many complaints does the 1998 Honda Civic have in total?
435 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 81 involved a crash, 3 involved a fire, 55 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.
What does NHTSA's power train:automatic transmission category include?
NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.
