What this code means
P0780 may mean the CVT control system is seeing shift behavior that does not match the expected control result.
What the vehicle may do
- The vehicle may have abnormal acceleration or shift feel.
- A warning light can be present.
- The symptom may only show up under certain driving conditions.
Possible fault areas
- Possible CVT control behavior issue
- Possible PCM software concern
- Possible PCM decision or control-side issue
- Possible related control input or companion-code issue
Diagnostic path
Open on what P0780 means
On this 2010 to 2015 Honda Civic with the 1.8 gas engine and CVT, P0780 is a shift error code. In plain terms, the control side may be seeing CVT shift behavior that does not match what it expects. The driver may notice odd acceleration, abnormal shift feel, or a warning light, but the diagnostic path here is mainly about proving whether the code comes back under the specified drive condition, then separating it from any other codes that may be present. Broadly, this can involve CVT control behavior, PCM software, PCM decision-making, or related control inputs. Before jumping into the code path, start with the basic system checks and make sure the general troubleshooting information has been considered.
Reproduce the operating condition
Start the problem verification with the ignition switch in ON (II), or press the engine start/stop button to select the ON mode. Clear the DTC with the HDS. Then test-drive the vehicle in D until vehicle speed reaches 37 mph (60 km/h). Slow down and stop the vehicle. After that, accelerate from a stop at full throttle in D until vehicle speed reaches 37 mph (60 km/h).
Run it again, then look for companion codes
Turn the engine off, then repeat that same test-drive pattern again. After the repeat drive, check for any other Pending or Confirmed DTCs showing up along with P0780. If other codes are present, treat the failure as duplicated and check what those codes mean first. Do not turn this into a P0780-only diagnosis when the vehicle is giving you another direction.
If P0780 is alone
If there are no other DTCs with P0780, the next path is control-side confirmation. Update the PCM if it does not have the latest software, or substitute a known-good PCM, then recheck. If P0780 goes away after the PCM was updated, troubleshooting is complete. If P0780 goes away only with a known-good PCM substituted, the final PCM decision point in this path is incomplete, so pause there, recheck the earlier diagnostic path, and avoid guessing beyond the confirmed result.
Verify and close
Keep the verification separate from the testing. After the software update or known-good PCM check, recheck for P0780 and make sure the code stays gone under the required conditions before calling it fixed. The takeaway is simple: prove the shift error comes back under the specified drive pattern, handle any companion codes first, and only follow the PCM path when P0780 is by itself. For more diagnostic training, visit stepdiagnostics.com.
Final check
P0780 should often be approached by reproducing the operating condition, checking whether other codes are present, and only following the PCM path when the code is isolated.
For more guided automotive diagnostics, visit STEP Diagnostics.
