The 2000 Civic Si with its B16A2 engine is a legendary platform beloved for its high-revving VTEC and precise shifter, but after 25 years most surviving examples have been modded, abused, or are now facing serious wear on engine internals and transmission mounts that define ownership costs.
Transmission Mount Failure (Rear/Driver Side)
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Harsh clunking when shifting, especially 1st to 2nd, Excessive shifter vibration at idle, Transmission feels like it's moving around under hard acceleration
Fix: Replace the rear transmission mount (infamous for tearing). 1.5-2 hours labor. While you're in there, inspect the other two engine mounts—they often need doing at similar intervals.
Estimated cost: $150-300
Piston Ring Wear and Oil Consumption (B16A2)
Common · high severityTypical onset: 120,000-180,000 mi
Symptoms: Blue smoke on startup or during VTEC crossover around 5,800 RPM, Burning a quart of oil every 500-1,000 miles, Loss of compression in one or more cylinders, misfires under load
Fix: These high-revving B16s wear rings, especially if previously beaten on or improperly maintained. Requires full engine teardown, hone, new rings, and ideally pistons if cylinder walls are scored. 16-20 hours labor for a proper rebuild with machine work.
Estimated cost: $2,500-4,500
Head Gasket Failure
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 100,000-160,000 mi
Symptoms: Coolant loss with no visible leaks, White smoke from exhaust, sweet smell, Overheating or fluctuating temperature gauge, Milky oil on dipstick or oil cap
Fix: B16 head gaskets can fail from overheating events or age. Head removal, resurface, new gasket, timing belt while you're in there. 8-10 hours labor. Always check for warpage—if the head is warped beyond spec, add machine shop time and cost.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,000
Main and Rod Bearing Wear
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 140,000-200,000 mi
Symptoms: Knocking or rattling from bottom end at idle, worse when warm, Low oil pressure light flickering or staying on, Metallic debris in oil filter or on drain plug magnet
Fix: High-RPM abuse and poor oil change intervals kill bearings. Requires full bottom-end teardown, measure crank journals, replace bearings (possibly grind crank if out of spec). 14-18 hours labor. If the crank is scored, you're looking at a used short block swap instead.
Estimated cost: $2,000-3,800
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Leaks
Common · low severityTypical onset: 100,000+ mi
Symptoms: ATF or MTF puddles under the front of the car, Wet lines running from transmission to cooler mounted in front bumper area, Fluid level dropping over weeks
Fix: The steel cooler lines and fittings rust out or crack, especially in salt states. Replace lines and fittings. 1-1.5 hours labor. Not a breakdown risk but will leave you stranded if you run the trans dry.
Estimated cost: $200-400
Fuel Filter Clogging (and Pump Strain)
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Stumbling or hesitation under hard acceleration, especially in VTEC, Hard starting after sitting overnight, Fuel pump whining louder than normal
Fix: The in-tank fuel filter (part of the pump assembly) gets neglected. If the car has old gas history or sat for months, this clogs and starves the engine. Pump replacement recommended at this age. 2-3 hours labor to drop tank and swap.
Estimated cost: $400-700
A fantastic driver's car if you find a stock, well-maintained example, but most need $2,000-5,000 in deferred engine work by now—budget accordingly or walk away from high-mileage unknowns.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.