NHTSA Complaint #11674373 — 2023 HONDA CIVIC

I am the owner of a 2023 Honda Civic Sport equipped with a CVT transmission (Honda M-CVT). While the transmission has not yet failed outright, I am reporting a serious safety and consumer risk created by the design and business model surrounding these units. Honda CVTs are sealed, non-serviceable by design. Dealerships and third parties are unable to replace individual internal components or inspect wear inside the CVT without replacing the entire unit. The fact that Honda refuses to sell parts for these CVTs essentially makes them disposable powertrains. This creates a dangerous precedent ans owners cannot plan for long-term ownership or safety. CVTs in these cars often fail outside of warranty with no prior warning, and consumers are left without options other than full replacement, which many cannot afford. I am reporting this as a safety issue because when these CVTs degrade, they: Hesitate when accelerating from a stop (which has happened to me) Cause unpredictable power delivery Create unsafe situations during merging or turning Honda’s refusal to allow proactive service or repair (such as belt inspection or internal cleaning) forces owners to operate on faith, which is not acceptable for a mission-critical safety component like a transmission. This is compounded by the fact that these CVTs are installed across Honda’s most affordable trims, affecting working-class people disproportionately. Dealerships confirm no individual repair options exist. The issue is “normal” until failure. Transmission fluid changes are the only service allowed. Occasional hesitation and inconsistent acceleration. No dashboard warning lights have been triggered. This is a case of planned obsolescence leading to unavoidable safety risk. This design forces cars to enter the used market with a major mechanical failure already ticking down. This is a case of planned obsolescence leading to unavoidable safety risk.