Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Honda Civic owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The owner is having problems with hesitation with possible cause being the automatic transmission. The owner did keep the car serviced/maintenance with the last item being a tune-up. Liberty Honda has been performing any and all maintenance on the vehicle. The vehicle is not being driven due to the transmissions' performance. Mr consumer felt dealership used dirty transmission fluid which May have ruined the transmission and caused hesitation and wanted to charge consumer $4000 to replace transmission. However, dealership claimed that the 2 accidents vehicle was involved in caused the hesitation. Vehicle's transmission was replaced at another dealership at a lower cost to consumer.
98 Honda Civic dx transmission slippage my car has been having this transmission slippage problem intermittently for about 4 years. It recently started doing it for about 2 weeks straight so I tried to go online and find out if there was some type of solution. I found other complaints about transmission problems in Honda accords/civics/odyssey's and even acuras. I called Honda corp. And their only response was you're not on the recall list so you'll have to go to the dealer and get it repaired. I did that and they told me I needed to get a refurbished trans at 5K a pop! That's a rip off. So I researched it some more and found out on about.com that you can basically just drain the transmission fluid and replace it with Honda atp fluid and replace a piece called the solenoid assembly and a washer. …
Going off the Honda brand name, we purchased a 1998 Honda accord in November of 2004. At the time, the vehicle had 101,000 miles on it. Less than a week after purchasing the vehicle, my wife noticed that it hesitated and then shifted hard into second gear. She aslo noticed that there was a severe hesitation when accelerating after slowing down for a turn or when trying to merge into traffic. This causes an unsafe condition of a vehicle trying to get into the flow of traffic and being unable to accelerate; she's almost been hit several times. We've been on the phone with Honda, and been told that they won't pay for anything. I don't have an estimate yet, but, after doing some research, this problem seems to cost anywhere from $2000-4000 to fix. …
My 1998 Honda Civic ex (80,000 miles) is having tranmission troubles. It will rev up but the car will not speed up very well, when it shifts into 2nd gear the car shakes and abruptly shifts into 2nd gear. I had the fluid changed at the end of December and it seemed to fix the problem but a week later it was back and getting worst fast. The dealer told me I needed a whole new transmission and it would cost $3600 plus labor. I took the car back without the service down and searched the internet and have come across hundreds of people posting complaints of the exact same problems, some of them have 2002 with 10,000 miles and have these problems. I find it hard to believe that this is not a factory defect.
Honda, Civic lx, 1998, transmission problems. Transmission refuses to smoothly operate sometimes when you are shifting from first gear over to second to third, and to fourth, the rpms's speed up between gears. Sometimes it will go completely out of gear. If I drive very cautiously and carefully this most of the time will not happen. It started happening a few days after buying the car. I'm a senior citizen, that checked consumer reports and thought this was a reliable car. I'm now receiving all sorts of estimates such as completely replacing at $2500 . Any guidance on this matter would be greatly appreciated. This is happening in city driving, only once on freeway. Thank you.
I have a 1998 hondo Civic with 50, 000 miles. It has recently developed a jerk when shifting from gear to gear and from gear to gear and also when down shifting. I have conducted all manufacturer's recommended services which include transmission flushes. However, even my preventively measures could not save this obvious manufacturer's defect. The car is no longer under warranty and has not been through any abuse. There are other complaints of this nature involving the same vehicle throughout the internet. Please consider a recall for this is an expansive defect that has coasted this consumer over $1000 to fix.
I have a cluth problem with my automatic transmission. I was told that this is unusual at 70,000 miles. I have seen similar complaints about this. The check engine light came on a few months after I bought the car and I was told by the dealer that nothing was wrong. I now wonder if that might have been an error.
While driving it was hard for consumer to shift gears, and the transmission intermittently slipped gears. The dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. When the vehicle was stopped at a traffic signal, it would have to be placed in park while waiting for the signal to change.
I have a Honda Civic dx 1998, with 60000 miles now presenting with a failed transmission. Several trips to the dealership for that very same complaint resulted in no problems detected with the transmission. The problem began two days after the manufacturers warranty expired.
Honda, Civic dx, 1998, transmission problems. Transmission refuses to smoothly operate. When the transmission is shifting from first gear over to second to third, and to fourth, the rpms's revs up/speed up between gears and then slams into gear. Have 120,000 miles on car.
Transmission complaints in other Civic years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 1998 Honda Civic?
NHTSA has 49 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 1998 Honda Civic, 11% of the model year's 435 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (40 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Honda Civic transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 1998 Honda Civic, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1998 Honda Civic transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 67,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 1 injury to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.