Honda Civic Type R
K20Z4, 201 hp at 7,800 rpm — technically a K20A2 carry-over; Honda barely touched it. The VTEC wail at high revs is just as good; the engine is not the FN2's problem. The chassis is: Honda swapped double-wishbone front for MacPherson struts and kept the torsion beam rear — the car feels absurdly stiff without the EP3's agility. 3rd gear synchro is THE FN2 issue: notchy on the 2-to-3 shift, pops out. 2007 model year worst affected. Check oil pump chain tensioner; PCV valve clogs past 80,000 km. Last naturally aspirated Type R — historically significant, dynamically not the best. The engine deserves a better car.
Last NA screamer before the turbo age
The FN2 gets rightful stick for its steering. But the K20Z itself is beyond reproach. 201 hp NA, free-revving to 8,000, short 6-speed. The driving feel is more direct and focused than the turbo FK2 that replaced it. Anyone who drives a turbo daily and then wrings out the K20Z instantly gets why this format has die-hard fans.
Engine Weaknesses 7
The oil pump chain tensioner wears at high mileage. Rattling on cold start sounds like valvetrain noise. Failure lets the oil pump chain jump off the sprocket — potential oil pressure loss.
Symptoms: Rattle from the lower engine on cold start, oil pressure warning with severe wear, noise fades as temperature rises
The clutch master cylinder (CMC) is a known weak point on the FN2. No longer maintains correct pressure — clutch doesn't disengage cleanly, gears are hard to select. Squealing at the pedal is a typical early symptom.
Symptoms: Squeal from clutch pedal, bite point migrates toward the floor, gears hard to select especially at high RPM
Despite triple synchronisation, the FN2's 3rd gear shows synchro wear under spirited driving. Crunching on upshifts, especially under load. Earlier models are more frequently affected.
Symptoms: Crunching or resistance when selecting 3rd gear, gear occasionally jumps out
The K20Z shows increased oil consumption at higher mileages. One litre per 4,000 km is a known threshold. Sporty driving increases consumption.
Symptoms: Dropping oil level between service intervals, blue smoke from the exhaust
Fault code P2624 points to problems in the VTEC oil pressure circuit. Can be triggered by oil pressure issues, a worn switch, or electrical faults. Engine keeps running but VTEC function is limited.
Symptoms: MIL with P2624 code, reduced power in the upper rev range, VTEC not engaging
The PCV valve (crankcase ventilation) tends to stick due to oil deposits. Crackling or scraping at idle is a typical early symptom. It's an inexpensive wear item; if neglected, crankcase pressure can damage seals.
Symptoms: Crackling or scraping noise at idle, slightly uneven idle, increased oil consumption from pressure build-up
The FN2's electric folding mirror motors are prone to failure. Mirror no longer folds in or out. A known weak point, replacement parts are available. No safety issue.
Symptoms: Mirror only partially folds or doesn't move at all, motor noise without movement
Vehicle Weaknesses 8
As with the EP3 and EK9, the 3rd gear synchro in the FN2's K20Z4 gearbox is the weak link. Slightly better than on the EP3 but still shows up past 100,000 km on cars driven hard. Occasional full gearbox failures are reported, but most are synchro issues.
The FN2 swapped the EP3's double-wishbone rear for a torsion beam and paired it with very little suspension travel at either end. Even new cars felt under-damped. The rear visibly skips over broken surfaces. It's a design trait, but tired dampers make it dramatically worse.
The original Omron A/C relay absorbs moisture with age and ends up only triggering the compressor intermittently or not at all. The replacement is a cheap Mitsuba-supplied Honda relay (39794-SDA-A05) that permanently fixes the problem.
A recall covered around 2,137 FN2 cars built 2008-2010 where a wiring harness was not routed correctly and could chafe. Well-documented cars have had the fix; for imports or poorly-documented cars, check the VIN at a Honda dealer.
The motors that fold the door mirrors in and out grow sluggish or fail completely over time. Sometimes lubricating the mechanism helps, but usually the mirror or motor needs replacing.
The FN2's twin-tier dashboard is famous for creaks and rattles. Noises from the plastic panels around the instrument cluster are common, and the centre console clicks during warm-up. Nothing mechanically serious, but annoying in a Type R.
The small tweeters mounted in the front door/mirror corners come loose from their adhesive pads over time. Gluing them back is usually the only fix. Not a big deal, but very typically FN2.
FN2 clear coat is thin and soft, especially around door handle recesses and the boot edge. Micro-scratches and matte patches around the handles are standard, and occasionally the handles themselves come off their mounts.
