Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Honda Civic owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I am going down the road at 65mph and car loses all power, compression, speed... Starts shuttering, stuttering & shaking the car then it dies... It doesn't matter the conditions, whether I'm in city or on road... It does it anywhere and unexpectedly, never know when it's going to do it but it's dangerous it's not just once, it's every time I drive the car! Not just once but several times!
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Honda Civic. After the contact removed his foot from the brake pedal, the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The driver lost control of the vehicle, crashed into the rear of a second vehicle, and drove through a wired fence. The air bags failed to deploy. The driver suffered an injured neck and back that did not require medical attention. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 151,000.
On June 2, 2018, I was pulling into my space at my apartment with my friend in the passenger seat. The car suddenly and uxpectantly acceralted and jumped the curb and hit a tree which stopped the car. The airbags did not employ.both of us were sore for the next few days but no major injuries.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Honda Civic. The contact attempted to brake from unknown speeds but to no avail. The brakes would not engage and the vehicle proceeded through the traffic stop, crashing into the side of another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to the contacts residence. The vehicle was not repaired however, the air bags were previously serviced under NHTSA campaign id number: 09V259000 (air bags). The failure and current mileages were 76,300.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Honda Civic. While driving approximately 3 MPH in reverse, the vehicle abnormally accelerated at an unusually high rate of speed. The vehicle then crashed into an unknown object. The vehicle suffered major damage but was not destroyed. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The vehicle was inoperable. The VIN was not available at the time of the complaint. The failure mileage was 82,000 and the current mileage was 82,000. Updated 05/13/10.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while reversing at an unknown speed, the vehicle accelerated without warning and crashed into another vehicle. There were no injuries reported and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was not taken for diagnosis or repair. The contact had not notified the manufacturer of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 135,000.
From a dead stop the car uncontrollably accelerated. The foot brake would not slow the vehicle. Somehow the car wound up doing a 180 on the road and slammed into a snow bank. I was able to jam the transmission into park and slow the car with the hand brake.
Unintended acceleration. Engine rev went to 3000 RPM while stopped at a traffic light. Kept car stationary by pressing hard on the break. First and only occurrence; also almost the first and only day the car was driven with cruise control operational.
Was driving on the freeway when my 2001 Honda Civic jumped gears and shifted to a lower gear the check engine light came on and drastically reduced my speed had to maneuver off the freeway exit out as soon as possible and managed to drive it to a mechanic nearby which said I would have to take it to a dealer to fix it. When I took it to the dealer they told me I would have to wait until the light came back on so driving on the freeway it happened again this time took it to the dealer and received the code po740. Doing research online I found out this was common in civics and some accords and that 2001 was the worst. Honda has been using faulty transmission and solenoid parts and has caused problems for many owner that seems to cause problems and not allowing to shift into third gear and allows it to redline. …
Left front headlight first failed on 01/30/2009. Electrical wiring to front low beam headlight overheated causing melting of headlight connector to electrical harnesst. . A succession of another 4 headlight connectors have melted between o8/08/2009 to December 14, 2010. First 4 headlight connector replacements completed by Honda dealer. Prior to jan 30th 2009 headlight connector failure,a different Honda dealer completed NHTSA 304v86000 recall work for headlight electrical overheating recall in 2006 during regular maintenance appointment. Failure #5 happened on dec14, 2010 just 6 days after melted connector #4 was replaced on December 8th 2010. Dealer found cruise control unit inoperable due to electrical melt down. Original air conditioner compressor replaced in 2009 due to melt down. …
Acceleration complaints in other Civic years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2001 Honda Civic?
NHTSA has 30 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2001 Honda Civic, 3% of the model year's 1,079 complaints. The component named most often is cruise control (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Honda Civic acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2001 Honda Civic, though it has 14 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 2001 Honda Civic acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 104,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 8 crashes, 0 fires and 4 injuries to speed control & acceleration 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.