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MajorCommonTransmission

Honda Civic: 5/6-Speed Manual Gearbox Second Gear Synchro Wear

5/6-Speed Manual Gearbox Second Gear Synchro Wear is a common transmission fault on the Honda Civic on the 2001–2012 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $1,200 to $3,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 39 documented faults on the Honda Civic.

Vehicle
Honda Civic
Years
2001–2012
Fuel
petrol
Gearbox
manual
System
Transmission

This page covers the Honda Civic as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Honda Civic faults39 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph for this fault yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of something else.

What goes wrong

Honda's 5-speed (EP/ES generation) and 5/6-speed (FD generation) manual gearboxes suffer from premature synchromesh wear, predominantly on the second-gear synchro ring and hub. The second gear synchro carries the highest load in typical urban driving cycles. Wear is accelerated when the gearbox is not allowed to warm up, when gear changes are aggressive at low oil temperature, or when non-Honda MTF transmission fluid is used. Full synchro replacement requires gearbox removal and rebuild, making this a significant repair cost.

What you would notice

  • Grinding or crunching when selecting 2nd gear, especially when cold
  • Resistance or baulking on the 1-2 upshift under moderate acceleration
  • Notchy or stiff gear changes throughout the gearbox
  • Grinding on a quick 2nd-to-3rd upshift under hard acceleration

How to check it

Where to look. Gearbox interior, second-gear synchro ring, baulk ring, and hub assembly

Test all gear changes both cold and at operating temperature. Pay specific attention to the 1-2 upshift under moderate acceleration and attempt a brisk downshift from 3rd to 2nd gear. A cold gearbox will show synchro issues most clearly. Ask for transmission fluid change records — Honda MTF is the specified fluid and substitutes accelerate synchro wear. Any grinding indicates synchro damage already present.

What it costs to put right

$1,200 to $3,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

  • “Has the transmission fluid ever been changed and with what fluid type?”
  • “Does the gearbox grind or resist engagement when selecting 2nd gear?”
  • “Has any gearbox work, rebuild, or replacement been carried out?”

Now check the Honda Civic you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Honda Civic buyer questions

Is 5/6-speed manual gearbox second gear synchro wear serious on a Honda Civic?

We rate it major and common on the Honda Civic. Honda's 5-speed (EP/ES generation) and 5/6-speed (FD generation) manual gearboxes suffer from premature synchromesh wear, predominantly on the second-gear synchro ring and hub. The second gear synchro carries the highest load in typical urban driving cycles. Wear is accelerated when the gearbox is not allowed to warm up, when gear changes are aggressive at low oil temperature, or when non-Honda MTF transmission fluid is used. Full synchro replacement requires gearbox removal and rebuild, making this a significant repair cost.

How much does it cost to fix on a Honda Civic?

$1,200 to $3,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Honda Civic years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2001–2012 Honda Civic. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Test all gear changes both cold and at operating temperature. Pay specific attention to the 1-2 upshift under moderate acceleration and attempt a brisk downshift from 3rd to 2nd gear. A cold gearbox will show synchro issues most clearly. Ask for transmission fluid change records — Honda MTF is the specified fluid and substitutes accelerate synchro wear. Any grinding indicates synchro damage already present. Look here: Gearbox interior, second-gear synchro ring, baulk ring, and hub assembly