NHTSA Complaint #10305389 — 2003 HONDA CIVIC

HONDA CIVIC HYBRIDS WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION DEVELOP WHAT HONDA REFERS TO AS A JUDDER. WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING IS THE "START CLUTCH" IN THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS DURING TAKE OFF FROM A STOP AND CAUSES THE CAR TO JUDDER OR SHAKE. WHEN THIS HAPPENS IN ANY CONDITION OTHER THAN PERFECTLY DRY ROADS YOU CAN TEMPORARILY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS FRONT WHEEL DRIVE AND THE FRONT WHEELS CAN LOSE TRACTION AND SPIN. I HAVE EVEN HAD THIS HAPPEN WHEN THE FRONT TIRES ARE SITTING ON THE PAINTED WHITE LINE FOUND AT MOST INTERSECTIONS. HONDA IS VERY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS DOCUMENTED ONLINE, YET HONDA HAS BEEN VERY RELUCTANT TO PROPERLY ADDRESS THE SITUATION. HONDA CLAIMS THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT I HAVE TEMPORARILY LOST CONTROL OF MY CAR ON WET ROADS SEVERAL TIMES. I CAN'T IMAGINE TRYING TO DRIVE ONE IN THE SNOW. HERE ARE A COUPLE OF LINKS THAT WILL TAKE YOU TO DISCUSSION GROUPS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/ VIEW/.F0B3259/262 HTTP://WWW.CNGCHAT.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP? 266-2001-2005-CVT-TRANSMISSION-WARRANTY-EXTENSION-FOR-SLIP-JUDDER HONDA HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY PERIOD FOR THIS PROBLEM. IN MY SPECIFIC CASE THEY KEPT IGNORING MY REQUEST TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION UNTIL I WAS BEYOND THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. IN MY CASE I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH HONDA AMERICAN AND NEGOTIATED TO SPLIT THE COST WITH THEM. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN SO LUCKY AND HAVE HAD TO PAY IN FULL FOR THE REPAIRS. *TR