Diagsheet

2015 Honda Civic · symptom sheet

Engine stalls or loses power while driving

  • 32owner reports
  • 88,000median miles
  • $5,000median quote
  • 0involved a crash

Newest report May 6, 2024 · checked Sep 9, 2026

223 of the 379 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 32 of those describe stalling.

Tick what matches of 32 reports

8
8
16
4
1

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the battery (4 reports).

Recalls and investigations

One recall on the transmission and drivetrain covers the 2015 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

15V-574Sep 15, 2015
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm)

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Civic vehicles manufactured January 16, 2014, to November 6, 2014 and 2015 Fit vehicles manufactured March 12, 2014, to May 12, 2015. The software settings that control the transmission operation may result in damage to the transmission drive pulley shaft.

Risk and remedy
Risk: If the transmission drive pulley shaft is damaged, it may break, and the vehicle may lose acceleration or the front wheels may lock up while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the transmission, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin October 30, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are JU2 (Civic) and JU3(Fit).

NHTSA investigations into the transmission and drivetrain on the Civic

EA11-012opened Sep 12, 2011
Electrical · model years 2002 to 2003

Low beam headlights stop illuminating. Closed sep 17, 2012, led to recall 12V-136.

NHTSA summary
This investigation was prompted by Preliminary Evaluation (PE) 11-017, and was based on reports from consumers alleging that both low beam headlights stopped illuminating simultaneously.Some complainants also reported that the combination switch (switch) that controls the headlights and turn signals, and/or its electrical wiring harness connector were damaged by overheating.ODI's PE information request letter asked Honda for certain data on model years (MY) 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2003-2008 Element, 2001-2005 Civic, and 2000-2001 S 2000 vehicles.Analysis of complaint and Honda data show that a complete low beam headlight circuit failure occurs in models with 2-bulb headlight systems (i.e., a single bulb on each side for high and low beam).Models with 2-bulb systems include MY 2002-2004 CR-V, 2003-2005 Pilot, 2001-2003 Civic, and 2003-2008 Element.Models with 4-bulb headlight systems (i.e., two bulbs on each side, one for high and one for low beam) have different electrical circuits for the headlights and do not experience the same failure mechanism as the 2-bulb system.MY 2000-2001 S 2000 models with 2-bulb high intensity discharge headlights also have different electrical circuits for the headlights and do not experience the same failure mechanism.Honda introduced the 4-bulb headlight system in CR-V in MY 2005, in Pilot in MY 2006, and in Civic in MY 2004.On March 29, 2012 Honda submitted a defect information report (DIR) to recall 554,428 vehicles, including MY 200
EA09-001opened Jan 5, 2009
Electrical · model years 2003

Ignition shift interlock. Closed oct 14, 2010, led to recall 10V-364.

NHTSA summary
On August 4, 2010, American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA regarding a ignition interlock defect in approximately 384,220 model year (MY) 2003 Honda Accord and Civic and MY 2003 and 2004 Honda Element vehicles with automatic transmissions (Recall 10V-364).In a September 22, 2010 supplemental DIR, Honda expanded the scope of the recall population based on manufacturing and complaint data.The total population for the complete recall is approximately 551,498 vehicles.The information listed in this closing report refers only to the subject vehicles, MY 2003 Accords with automatic transmissions.According to Honda's DIR, Under certain conditions the interlock lever of the ignition switch may unexpectedly deform, which can allow the interlock function of a vehicle with an automatic transmission to be defeated if the driver does not follow the typical shut-down procedure of shifting the gear selector to the Park position before rotating the ignition key to the off position. Removal of the ignition key when the gear selector of a vehicle with an automatic transmission has not been shifted to the Park position can allow the vehicle to roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.Honda's dealers will be instructed to inspect the ignition interlock switch and, if necessary, replace the original interlock pin and lever within the ignition switch and replace them with new, redesigned parts.This investigation is closed.
PE07-028opened Jun 11, 2007
Fuel System, Other · model years 2003

Cng tank exploding in a fire. Closed nov 20, 2007.

NHTSA summary
IN MID-APRIL 2007, HONDA INFORMED ODI OF A CNG TANK EXPLOSION INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON A SUBJECT VEHICLE.THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER AN ARSONIST BROKE INTO A LOT WHERE MULTIPLE VEHICLES, INCLUDING A SUBJECT VEHICLE, WERE STORED AND SET THE VEHICLES ON FIRE.DURING THE FIRE, THE PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICE (PRD) ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLE ALLEGEDLY FAILED TO ACTIVATE AND THE COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG) TANK EXPLODED.THE EXPLOSION OCCURRED WITH FIRE FIGHTERS AT THE SCENE.NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. CNG TANKS ARE SUBJECT TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NUMBER 304 - COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS FUEL CONTAINER INTEGRITY.THIS STANDARD REQUIRES THAT EACH CNG FUEL CONTAINER SHALL COMPLETELY VENT ITS CONTENTS THROUGH A PRD OR SHALL NOT BURST WHILE RETAINING ITS ENTIRE CONTENTS WHEN TESTED ACCORDING TO THE STANDARD'S BONFIRE TEST PROCEDURE. A CNG TANK EXPLOSION RAPIDLY RELEASES A LARGE QUANTITY OF ENERGY AND COULD RESULT IN CATASTROPHIC INJURIES, DEATHS, AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. AS A RESULT OF HONDA'S TESTING AND REVIEW OF THE INVOLVED VEHICLE, HONDA HAS DEVELOPED AN INSULATOR TO INSULATE THE CNG FUEL TANK FROM A LOCALLY DIRECTED FLAME PROJECTING FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE.INSULATORS WILL BE INSTALLED BEHIND THE BACK SEAT ON SUBJECT VEHICLES TO PREVENT FUTURE FAILURES OF THIS TYPE.HONDA'S ACTION ADDRESSES THE CONCERNS OF ODI.THEREFORE, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
DP00-007opened Nov 13, 2000
Electrical · model years 1992

Ignition distributor. Closed oct 25, 2001.

NHTSA summary
THE PETITION ALLEGES THAT IGNITION DISTRIBUTOR FAILURE COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE OR A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT
PE93-082opened Sep 23, 1993
Electrical · model years 1988 to 1991

Stalling. Closed jan 31, 1994.

NHTSA summary
There is no summary currently available

None of these investigations covers the 2015 model year.

What owners paid

7 of the 32 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $462 to $5,500.

$462$5,000$5,500
$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 56,000 and 108,000 miles, from the 21 reports that gave a mileage.

115
116
218
319
620
321
822
623
224

What owners wrote

“With only 96,597 miles on the CVT transmission it failed while I was driving on [XXX] In Michigan on [XXX] causing the vehicle to immediately lose power on the Interstate and I was barely able to get the car to the shoulder where the car stalled and couldn’t be restarted. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)”

Filed Mar 1, 2024 · 96,597 miles

“After turning on to a 4 lane highway, my car lost power and would not run over 40 miles per hour. This put me into a very dangerous situation as you can imagine. I will be finding someone to look at it tomorrow, however, this exact issue is described in the recall CVT transmission recall but ironically, this car does not appear to be included in the recall. There were absolutely no warning lights when this happened.”

Filed Oct 1, 2023

“Car when Accelerator. is depressed The transmission searches bogs Down Loss of power switches gears jerks around Which makes it extremely unsafe when trying to pull out into traffic. Had a mechanic look at it and you stated. This is extremely common with this year in type of Car. Honda put a unsafe transmission in them and should replace. Especially with only 50 Thousand miles on it”

Filed Apr 4, 2023

“I am having problems with my 2015 honda civic lx , my transmission failed when my wife and grandkids were getting off freeway and car stalled. This is a serious problem that Honda needs to address for consumer safety. The cvt transmissions in these vehicles are of poor quality.”

Filed Jan 25, 2022

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 0 of 32 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.

Other problems on this car