Owner Notification Letter - Our records indicate that a PRODUCT UPDATE has not been completed on this vehicle (Vehicle Identification Number XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX). On your 2019 Civic, the powertrain control module (PCM) may have a software issue that misinterprets sensor inputs as a Fuel Level Sensor (Fuel Gauge Sending unit) issue and turns on the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL), and stores a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0461 - Fuel Level Sensor Circuit Range/Performance. As a result, your vehicle may be equipped with an improperly functioning on-board emission-related diagnostic system.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2019 Honda Civic powertrain problems
moderate Owners of the 2019 Honda Civic have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 Civic | 168 |
| 2016 Civic | 33 |
| 2017 Civic | 25 |
| 2018 Civic | 11 |
| 2019 Civic (this page) | 10 |
| 2020 Civic | 30 |
| 2022 Civic | 6 |
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Owner Notification Letter - On your 2019 Civic, the powertrain control module (PCM) may have a software issue that misinterprets sensor inputs as a Fuel Level Sensor (Fuel Gauge Sending unit) issue and turns on the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL), and stores a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0461 - Fuel Level Sensor Circuit Range/Performance. As a result, your vehicle may be equipped with an improperly functioning on-board emission-related diagnostic system.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - The PCM software misinterprets sensor inputs as a fuel sender issue, and sets DTC P0461 (Fuel Level Sensor (Fuel Gauge Sending Unit) Circuit Range/Performance Problem).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Message - Today, March 21, 2019, American Honda is announcing a Product Update for certain 2019 Civic 2-door and 4-door vehicles to address a fuel sensor software programming error.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Second-gear grinding is the most common complaint, appearing from day one at low mileage (5,000 miles) and persisting despite dealer visits. Owners say downshifting into second is sometimes impossible and requires coming to a complete stop to continue.
Clutch slipping is another recurring failure. Two owners experienced catastrophic clutch failure (at 12,000–13,000 miles and 40,000 miles), with one reporting a $5,000 repair bill for replacement of the flywheel, pressure plate, friction disc, and release bearing. Both times the vehicle lost forward motion while driving.
Transmission failures appear at very low mileage: one owner had jerking and lunging at 5,500 miles requiring replacement; another's transmission "blew out" at 11,992 miles on a CPO purchase. In the latter case, the dealer voided the factory warranty by citing a stored engine overrev code (P0219) from a previous owner that the new owner never knew existed and wasn't disclosed at purchase.
One owner's vehicle shut off without warning at 7,000 miles and would not restart reliably. Another reports a 2019 Civic Si (manual) creeps slowly when parked in gear without the parking brake, moving up to 6 feet in one instance—unusual behavior the service manager attributed to low compression. A CVT owner found the vehicle can be powered off while in reverse, creating a rollaway hazard.
Same Honda Civic powertrain reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Grinding noise and difficulty engaging second gear
Owners report a grinding noise when shifting into second gear, and in some cases downshifting into second gear is difficult or impossible. One owner noted the problem occurred from day one at 5,000 miles despite reporting it to the dealer, who said nothing was wrong.
When: 5,000 miles; ongoing from purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Grinding noise in second gear; Difficulty downshifting into second gear; Inability to enter second gear during downshift; Requires coming to complete stop to restart in first gear
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated nothing was wrong despite owner reporting from 5,000 miles
Clutch slipping and loss of drive power
Owners report clutch slipping, engine racing, and vehicle inability to move forward while driving. One owner experienced clutch failure uphill on highway at 12,000–13,000 miles; another at 40,000 miles required replacement of flywheel, pressure plate, friction disc, and release bearing.
When: 12,000–13,000 miles and 40,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Clutch slipping constantly; Clutch will not hold; Engine racing while vehicle slows; Loss of forward motion; Strong smell from underside; Vehicle loses power while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of flywheel, pressure plate, friction disc, and release bearing; one owner cited $5,000 repair cost
Transmission replacement needed — jerking/lunging
Owner reports vehicle jerked and lunged forward when depressing accelerator pedal without warning. Dealer diagnosed transmission failure requiring replacement at 5,500 miles.
When: 5,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Jerking and lunging forward upon accelerator depression; Failure without warning
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replacement required
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated failure was due to wear and tear on transmission; case number 09765134
Transmission failure in low-mileage used purchase
Owner purchased vehicle with prior damage code (P0219 engine overrev from November 2020) stored in system. Transmission failed at 11,992 miles in June 2021. Dealer used stored code to void factory warranty despite owner being unaware of code's existence.
When: 11,992 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission blowout
Codes mentioned: P0219
Repairs/costs cited: Extended warranty available but factory warranty voided due to prior code
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Factory warranty voided based on stored P0219 code from previous owner; code was not disclosed to new owner
Vehicle shuts off while driving
Owner reports vehicle shut off while driving without warning; shutdown recurred after restart. Vehicle taken to dealer at 7,000 miles but was not repaired.
When: 7,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle shuts off without warning while driving; Failure recurs after restart
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle was not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated there was no recall on the VIN; no further action
Vehicle creeps when parked in gear without parking brake
Owner of 2019 Civic Si with 6-speed manual transmission reports vehicle slowly creeps and moves (up to 6 feet in one instance) when parked in gear without parking brake, even on slight grades. Owner witnessed 'ratchet' effect movement while sitting in driver's seat. Service manager attributed this to low compression engine unable to hold vehicle in gear.
When: 26,638 miles (CPO purchase at 7,000 miles in September 2019)
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle creeps when parked in gear without parking brake; Vehicle moves on slight uphill or downhill grades; Ratchet-effect movement observed; Multiple occurrences
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service manager blamed low compression engine; Honda Customer Service referred owner back to dealer; owner states this is unusual for manual transmission vehicles and cites similar recalls by other manufacturers
Vehicle can be powered off while in reverse (CVT)
Owner of 2019 Civic with CVT transmission reports it is possible to power off vehicle while in reverse, which could cause vehicle to roll away. Dealer was notified but did not offer a solution.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle can be powered off while in reverse; Potential for vehicle to roll away
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer notified but no solution offered
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had powertrain trouble with your 2019 Honda Civic?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2019 Honda Civic?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 8,500 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2019/Honda/Civic.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.