Everything NHTSA's vPIC database knows about this exact vehicle:
Decoding from NHTSA…
Vehicle history — accidents, title & owners
The decode above is what this vehicle is. For what it's been through — accidents, title brands, odometer, theft/total-loss and previous owners — pull a full history report.
NHTSA publishes the first 11 characters of the VIN with every complaint — that identifies the plant, model year, body and engine. So these are reports from cars built exactly like this one, not an average across the whole model.
1HGES16542L••••••2002 Honda Civic
This build draws 3.1× more complaints than the average 2002 Honda Civic build (8 vs 3).
8on this build
558on the model
214builds in total
1involved a crash
1injuries
Most reportedPower Train 4Vehicle Speed Control 1Visibility 1Latches/locks/linkages 1
What owners of this build wrote
Air BagscrashMay 2015
The contact owned a 2002 honda civic. While the contact's vehicle was stopped, a second vehicle crashed into the rear bumper pushing the vehicle into a third vehicle and caused significant damage to the front end. During the incident, the front passenger side air bag deployed…
Power TrainJun 2024
I bought this vehicle with only ~74,000 miles yet the transmission slips 100% of the time when the automatic transmission shifts from first to second gear, and also second to third gear
Latches/locks/linkagesMar 2005
On the morning of march 1, 2005 I attempted to fill my gas tank. I pushed the fuel access door release lever and nothing happened. I attempted this several times without success. I contacted a honda dealer later in the day and explained the problem to him. He suggested I get…
VisibilityJan 2004
The windshield developed a crack starting at the post on the drivers side of the vehicle. The dealer insisted that a rock must have caused it and so it was not covered by the warranty. However, as the only dirver of the vehicle I believe I would have noticed a rock hitting the…
Vehicle Speed ControlApr 2002
When on a slight inclin, in drive, the car will roll backwards if you take your foot off the brake. You must drive 2-footed on an incline as though its a manual transmission. I took it to the dealer and was told this is a quirk in the engine, its normal, and just be careful on…
Read all 8 complaints on this exact buildFull text, search by keyword, and the systems that fail most on cars built like yours.Unlock with Pro →
Owner complaints…
Now the whole model — all 214 builds of it, not just this build. Same NHTSA reports, wider net:
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Exact value for this VIN, adjusted for mileage
The original window sticker and factory options
Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
Decoded via NHTSA vPIC. Recalls, complaints and safety from NHTSA; MPG from EPA fueleconomy.gov. Full history reports from our partner. VIN 1HGES16542L079734 · decoded Aug 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.