Honda civic 2024 sport - Slow acceleration or 15-25 one jerk / hesitating to pickup

Saikiran · Dec 5, 2023

Hey guys,
My problem with brand new honda civic 2024 sport recently bought from Dallas.
I'm experiencing vehicle jerks slightly when picking or gear changing and also in slow acceleration in traffic it jerks like how manual cars jerks when they're thrown in higher gears for slow speed.
Not sure it happens to other cars as well or only to mine?
Spoke with dealer they did test drive and they didn't feel and some.said it's CVT engines they act like that but that's weird for me.
Appreciate if anyone can suggest, should i show it to dealer again or ignore it?
It's a brand new car miles 2000

mcd317 · Dec 5, 2023

Hi,

Also just got a 24 Sport. I haven't experienced anything like that.

CVT should be smooth in traffic especially at lower speeds...

Maybe bring it back and be the one driving it to make sure it gets replicated?

5358 · Dec 5, 2023

Is this your first time driving a vehicle with a CVT transmission? If you're accustomed to a conventional automatic or manual transmission. I think I know what you're talking about.

The only time you should feel what many describe as jerkiness. It would be during accelerator on off. When you say picking a gear are you using the paddle shifters? That or do you mean switching from Park to Drive or Reverse to Drive or any combination thereof? I'm assuming you mean when the transmission changes its gear ratios by itself. If you're on the accelerator there should be no jerkiness feeling after initial take off. Unless you put your foot off the gas and then back in it. Think of it like an on-off switch is the only way I know how to describe what I'm trying to say.

The jerkiness is usually more pronounced at lower speeds because there is a lot of accelerator on off. Driving in crowded traffic would be an example. You may notice it at any speed though accelerator on off.

If you switch the vehicle to the drive mode econ it will exacerbate that behavior. This is because the continuously variable transmission has infinite number of gear ratios. It uses engine braking also. Like a manual trans downshifting to slow up without using brakes. It does that when you take your foot off the gas aka accelerator off. That dragging feeling is strange when you step back on the gas some interpret that as a jerkiness. It's a very raw feeling the CVT is more directly connected to the engine and its power band. Definitely more so than a standard automatic transmission. It can go forward and backwards through its gears 1 2 3 so on. It also hits all the ratios in between 1 2 3 so on which a standard auto trans can't do. It doesn't have gears per se but it does make gear ratios like gears do. Being able to make an infinite number is the secret to its ability to save fuel.

Sports mode is the opposite of econ mode it will lessen that effect. Normal drive mode is the happy medium of the bunch.

When you say hesitating to pick up. Do you mean the RPMs are increasing the speed is not? That would definitely not be normal. Especially if speed is dropping and RPMs are increasing. That or speed holding steady but RPMs climbing on the tachometer. A jittering or hunting RPM gauge shouldn't happen either assuming you're on flat ground. There shouldn't be any shuddering vibration or clunk noises either. Once you're up to speed it's not uncommon for it to hold a low RPM. So don't expect the RPM gauge to react like a manual or standard automatic transmission. Some folks question why a vehicle with a CVT transmission has an RPM gauge. It works hard to hold the RPM really steady and low. They don't see the point in it but it is a valuable tool for diagnostics. Not just for the engine but for the transmission also even if it is a CVT. If your CVT is having troubles it'll show up on that RPM gauge. An increasing RPM with dropping speed or consistently held speed. That's a sure sign of slippage or a problem with any transmission regardless of its type.

KWolf · Mar 8, 2025

thank you this makes alot of sense. ive been trying to figure this out after getting my 2024 honda civic sport in june of ‘24. i havent had a cvt transmission before or a newer honda. ive had a 2004 chevy trailblazer, a 2019 mazda 3 sport, and then a 2010 honda accord v6 (i think is cvt, but it was fast af but ended up having bad engine so i returned to dealer), and now my ‘24 honda civic sport. I really dont want to mess up my car’s transmission or engine, im almost at 15k miles now. In the first 5k miles I was driving it in ECON too often bc i drive 30 miles to work and was thinking econ was best, but was experiencing very slow acceleration and veryyy jerky in traffic coming home for an hr. also was making yhe mistake of switching from econ to normal mode when i wanted to accelerate faster than econ would allow. i rarely use sport. but that would feel weird and jerky so i asked around and i shouldnt change from econ to normal how i was. anyways then after staying in normal mode all the time from 5k-10k miles i was like oh okay this is way better and definitely gives better reaction time and no more jerking. although since about 10k-present 15k miles, i have been experiencing difficulty accelerating quickly if my foot isnt on the pedal a certain way its like its sensitive or has a bunch of levels to it if yk what i mean, and then trying to go up hills after being stopped at a light or in traffic is difficult and slow and the rpms shoot up to 2,500-3k rpms but im not really going anywhere and everyone is accelerating faster than me and then i let off the gas and it jerks and im just struggling to find its sweet spot or where i need to sit/have my foot on the pedal, and i dont want to ruin the car. i also have a hip injury from previous accident so i may sit different and im short 5’2 1/2”. but after reading your reply i kinda see how maybe its gonna feel different and i shouldnt drive it harder based off it going slower or i just need to fix my seat and footing and let it push because sometimes i hear it revving hard and the rpms at 3,000 makes me neevous or sometimes i have to push it and it goes to liek 4,000 rpms in normal mode but when i push it sports mode it will just go and do wtv but rpms are higher like 5,000 sometimes lol. idk if i just need someone yo help me fix my seat and footing or if i have the wrong shoes or if im too short, or if im just not an experienced driver for this type of car. but anyways thanks for easing my mind w your response and it makes sense w the on/off yoru talking about bc it feels like my car recognizes every little movement on the pedal and if i let off the pedal it will start to slow down or sometimes i think its a little jerk but it could be changing the gear ratio or trying to accelerate or feeling you let off the gas and trying to pick back up. anyways yeah just wanted to share bc i was experiencing these same things.

zeRep · Dec 5, 2023

Go to the dealer and drive another 24 sport cvt

zRp

Saikiran · Dec 6, 2023

Hey Folks,
After checking with dealer they checked multiple test drives, compared with other civic sport brand new one
They declared not seen anything suspicious about cvt or jerks coming.
It's a regular way the car acts, hopefully i don't see any surprises in future.
Happy for now, Thanks for all the info guys.

5358 · Dec 6, 2023

You're welcome. That exact model you got is one of the most reliable vehicles being built today in my opinion. I don't say that blindly either the engine and transmission combo has a long history that can back that up. So I doubt you'll be in for any surprises for at least 250,000 miles.

Honda makes the most reliable cvts on the market today. It is a strong transmission I've learned it inside and out. Like that bulletproof legendary 2 liter K series K20C2 engine you have. It's capable of 300,000 MI or more if well maintained not abused. Change the CVT fluid every 25,000 MI with new canister filter religiously. You'll be happy for years miles to come. Degraded fluid or filter is usually what kills a CVT it just lets it get too hot.

Some folks wait for the maintenance minder. I'm not a fan of doing that myself for mine. Fluids and filters are cheap to replace that transmission is not. It would cost you about 7 grand new installed. In light of that I always follow the severe duty recommendation. As seen in the vehicle manual but that's just me.

Joflewbyu2 · Dec 6, 2023

One of the reasons I went with the more powerful hp and torque turbo with smaller and lighter wheels. The naturally aspirated 4 with a CVT was a let down, especially with the larger and heavier wheels.

Exeuropat · Dec 6, 2023

You may be sensitive to the "shifting" in the CVT. It is programmed to move to predetermined points to simulate the functioning of a normal automatic transmission.

Saikiran · Dec 13, 2023

NO, but thanks for the info

itsmylove · Dec 14, 2023

im going to tell you the same thing my dealer said about my 22 sport
the CVT has places where it shifts this in my car is about the same area you say 15 to 25 its more in the 16 to 24 range where you can feel a jerk. This is normal but you should try and not drive the car like that words the dealer said

Saikiran · Dec 15, 2023

Hey hi, thanks for the response.
I checked with dealer they checked everything and declared nothing wrong. So now if anything happens later on with transmission i will be able to fight with them as this problem was already stated in the beginning when i purchase the car.
So no worries, thanks for your response.

Mad_Max · Apr 20, 2024

Hey, I have a 2024 sport and I have the same thing. It's a normal thing/feel. My 2018 had the same thing. At lower speed I feel the jerking. It's not my first cvt and they all behave the same but i rather have a Honda cvt. It's worse when you're in Eco mode with 18 inch heavier wheels. My winters are 17in and I see a difference. I drive mostly in the city so I don't mind. Slow acceleration and switching to normal mode will harness more power! Ultimately went for reliability more than anything but I enjoy that car so much that I drive slowly 😂

classiceffects2 · Apr 25, 2024

I think that this is same issue I am having.. usually when taking off and the car is picking up speed I feel like a jolt and it doesnt do it again. I have 850 miles on mine.

Kissoon · Jul 15, 2024

Saikiran said:
Hey guys, My problem with brand new honda civic 2024 sport recently bought from Dallas. I'm experiencing vehicle jerks slightly when picking or gear changing and also in slow acceleration in traffic it jerks like how manual cars jerks when they're thrown in higher gears for slow speed. Not sure it happens to other cars as well or only to mine? Spoke with dealer they did test drive and they didn't feel and some.said it's CVT engines they act like that but that's weird for me. Appreciate if anyone can suggest, should i show it to dealer again or ignore it? It's a brand new car miles 2000

hey, I just got something in the mail about a final notice to protect the car and I called customer service at the corporate office. They said people have experienced issues with the TCM and most people have experienced slowness in the car picking up acceleration. Maybe this is what you’re talking about? Apparently this is something they want to nip in the butt before it becomes a problem.

classiceffects2 · Mar 9, 2025

I felt this in my 23 Civic Sport and I also feel the same thing in my HRV Sport.

xtrooster · Jun 2, 2025

I have a 2024 and after the gearbox recall my Honda jerks at 19 mph. Now I get to go back to those retards at the dealer so they can tell me nothings wrong. Bull crap.

KWolf · Jun 28, 2025

Hey, so im pretty small a girl, 5’2” and i was thinking bc im so small maybe the cars built better for a guy, because ive realized it really comes down to where you sit how you sit and how you gas it. Like I have gone up (while driving same routine) from 31.4mpg to 32.5mpg after finding my sweetish spot with the seat and where i place my foot on the pedal and how close i am to the peddle. also making sure my knee is relaxed bent but not super bent and not straight leg. if you find the right seating first see if that helps it has helped me with the jerkyness and not going anywhere once i found a sweet spot. but going up hills where im inclined i experience the same thing still hard time keeping up or speeding up and it makes me feel like idk how to make this honda go fast… but majority of the time its okay just the hills i struggle with finding the right footing and pressure on the gas peddle to make it smoothly accelerate fast. im still trying to find how it likes to drive im at 20k miles now after 1 yr. i find it best when my toes/top of foot are like 1/3 of the peddle, heel has to be comfortable on the ground and able to lift off gas peddle wout lifting or moving your foot. and sometimes just trying to keep your heel closer to the right wall kinda rather than letting it be towards the left. idk man im still figuring it out but have noticed improvements with these things, just cant hit the hills as fast as i want to unless im already going fast. im on a lease and planned to buy it but if i cant figure this out in the next 2 yrs i was gonna maybe trade up, but i have a ‘24 civic sport and you say you experience the same thing in your ‘25 so idkkkk😭

Honda civic 2024 sport - Slow acceleration or 15-25 one jerk / hesitating to pickup

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