The 2000 Honda Civic has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 8 recurring issue clusters, led by “Cracked exhaust manifold.” Honda vehicles use the Maintenance Minder system — your dashboard displays a Code A (oil change) or Code B (oil change plus inspections) along with sub-codes 1-6 for additional services. Intervals adjust based on how you drive. The schedule below reflects Honda's underlying targets.
No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2000 Honda Civic.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
12 NHTSA complaints · 2004-10 → 2018-07
“EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACK LEADING TO CARBON MONOXIDE BEING SUCKED THROUGH THE VENTILATION SYSTEM AND INHALED BY THE OCCUPANTS”
“EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED FOR A 2ND TIME! HAD REPLACED AT 74,000 MILES, NOW AT 129,000”
“WHEN THE HEAT SHIELD TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS REMOVED, A HUGE CRACK ABOUT 2 INCHES WAS FOUND IN THE CENTER OF THE MANIFOLD ABOVE THE OXYGEN SENSOR”
POWER TRAIN
5 NHTSA complaints · 2004-06 → 2011-06
“THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SHIFT HARD ON MY 2000 HONDA CIVIC LX WHICH HAS 73,000 MILES ON IT”
“WHEN IT TURNED GREEN MY TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING”
“HONDA CIVIC 2000 WITH 58,000 MILES WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURE”
TIRES
12 NHTSA complaints · 2002-06 → 2014-03
“MY BACK LEFT TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH (SPEED LIMIT) ON THE INTERSTATE”
“ALL 4 ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT DUNLOP SP20 TIRES FAILED FOR THE SAME REASON WITHIN A 2 MONTH PERIOD”
“I WAS PROCEEDING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THROUGH A NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN THE FRONT LEFT TIRE OF MY CAR BLEW OUT”
SEAT BELTS
5 NHTSA complaints · 2004-01 → 2016-06
“I HAVE A 2000 HONDA CIVIC EX AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT SOMETIMES RELEASES ON ITS OWN”
“FRONT SEAT BELTS ARE DIFFICULT TO FASTEN AND DO NOT FASTEN SECURELY WHEN INSERTED, RESULTING IN THE SEAT BELT POPPING OUT WITH MOVEMENT”
“THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT AND THE SRS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED”
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
20 NHTSA complaints · 2002-09 → 2018-08
“THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAILING AND WOULD NEED REPLACING”
“THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED”
“CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD- I SEE THERE WAS/IS A RECALL BY HONDA OF A DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH”
AIR BAGS
22 NHTSA complaints · 2002-11 → 2023-01
“CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION AT APPROXIMATELY 35-40MPH AT TIME OF IMPACT”
“2000 HONDA CIVIC EX, FRONTEND COLLISION INTO THE SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE, TOTALED CAR. AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY”
“WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY”
AIR BAGS
19 NHTSA complaints · 2017-04 → 2022-04
“THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE”
“HONDA SENT ME A LETTER IN THE MAIL TELLING ME MY CAR'S DRIVER AIRBAG MAY NOT BE WORKING CORRECTLY. THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE PARTS TO REPAIR IT YET AND THAT THEY WOULD REACH OUT WHEN THEY HAD THEM”
“RECEIVED NOTICE AND MADE APPT TO REPAIR BACK IN AUGUST 2020. HONDA DID NOT HAVE PART TO REPAIR”
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
8 NHTSA complaints · 2002-06 → 2010-01
“CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AFTER SHIFTING INTO 2ND OR 3RD GEAR”
“2000 HONDA CIVIC EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE APPLYING BRAKES”
“CONSUMER STATES WHEN STEP ON ACCELERATION PEDEL IT STICKS CAUSING THE TO SURGE FORWARD”
Issues on other model years
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.
We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.
Critical for safety and preventing major damage
Replace 0W-20 full-synthetic oil and filter. The Maintenance Minder triggers Code A between 7,500 and 10,000 miles depending on driving conditions.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$120–$160
Shop
~$85–$115
DIY
~$25–$55
Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.
Rotate tires front-to-back to even out wear. Honda triggers Sub-code 1 alongside every other oil change.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.
Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake. Code B includes a multi-point inspection of brakes, suspension, and fluids.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.
Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 3 years regardless of mileage to prevent moisture absorption and corrosion of ABS components.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$180–$200
Shop
~$125–$140
DIY
~$10–$25
DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.
Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently
Replace ATF or CVT fluid. Honda CVT models (Civic, HR-V, Accord LX) use Honda HCF-2 — do not substitute. The Maintenance Minder triggers earlier under heavy stop-and-go.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$330–$500
Shop
~$235–$355
DIY
~$60–$180
Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.
AWD CR-V, Pilot, Passport, Ridgeline: replace rear diff fluid every 30,000 miles, sooner if towing.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$150–$195
Shop
~$105–$135
DIY
~$20–$50
Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.
Replace the engine air filter every 30,000 miles. Honda uses a long-life cellulose element on most port-injected engines.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.
Honda uses iridium-tipped plugs rated for 100,000+ miles. Replace at 105,000 miles or whenever Sub-code 6 displays.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$390
Shop
~$200–$275
DIY
~$25–$100
Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.
Honda Long-Life Type 2 (blue) coolant: first change at 120,000 miles, then every 60,000 miles. Do not mix with other coolant types.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$330
Shop
~$200–$235
DIY
~$25–$60
Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.
Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort
Replace the cabin air filter — accessible behind the glove box on most Hondas. Honda recommends 15,000 miles in dusty conditions, longer in clean climates.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.
Inspect and adjust valve clearances at 105,000 miles. Critical on K-series and L-series engines to prevent valve recession.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$495–$535
Shop
~$345–$375
DIY
Pro only
Mechanical-bucket valvetrains (many Honda 4-cyls, older Toyotas) need this. Hydraulic lifters don't. Shop work — feeler-gauge precision required.
Modern Honda engines (K-series, L-series, R-series, plus all Earth Dreams 1.5T and 2.0T) use a timing chain designed to last the life of the engine. No scheduled replacement.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Pro only
Timing chains are normally lifetime. Listen for rattle on cold start — that's the actionable signal. Replacement is major work, quote separately.
Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)
896 crashes 1990–2024
How the 896 occupant deaths break down
657
driver deaths
237
passenger deaths
2
not recorded by seat
896
occupant deaths
Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2000 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.
FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number
FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.
Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.
Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.
IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.
Owner-reported problem signals
Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.
74
complaints mentioning a crash
5
complaints mentioning a fire
Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.
How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.
This maintenance schedule for the 2000 Honda Civic reflects Honda's published service intervals and the Maintenance Minder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.