10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
71,800 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2003 Honda Civic:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #5

Jan 012011

Civic

  • miles
The key lock on my 2003 Honda Civic no longer works. It seems as if a different key is needed to open door and quite often the key will not go into the lock. When it does go in, the lock is stiff or frozen and will not turn. I originally thought this was a random issue but have encountered 3 other Civic owners with the same problem.

- Clifton Park, NY, USA

problem #4

May 012010

Civic

  • 100,000 miles
Can not lock/unlock driver side door using key. Other Honda owner is complaining as well. Honda dealer want to charge to replace actuator when they are faculty and need to be recalled and replaced.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #3

May 012010

Civic

  • 100,000 miles
The key will not go into the door lock cylinder, or if it goes in, it will not turn. Honda has a service bulletin about this problem - 03-068 but does not fix them for free unless you are under warranty. Cars need to be recalled and door fixed for free.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #2

Apr 202009

Civic

  • 99,000 miles
While driving, the hood to my 2003 Honda Civic ex came unlatched and hit the windshield, shattering the windshield and otherwise damaging the vehicle. Upon investigation, the hood latch mechanism was defective. It had nothing but two bolts connecting it to the tierod and the metal that attached the latch to the hood was not soldered to the vehicle. As a result, the car requires $2700 worth of repairs covered by insurance with the deductible of $1000 that I have to pay plus between $500 to $1000 to replace the hood and the latch. I have pictures and the parts are still available. The car has yet to be prepared. The driver suffers from heightened anxiety as a result of the incident. Thank you.

- Mullica Hill, NJ, USA

problem #1

Aug 282008

Civic

  • 60,000 miles
Several interior controls, such as door handles and the parking brake, are metalized plastics. As the car ages, the metal plating starts to peal off. As it comes off in pieces, it presents a sharp edge that can cut the user. We have had three different instances of hand cuts that could have led to accidents as the driver attempts to keep blood from the cut from getting on clothing, car interior, etc. The dealer replaced a door handle, at my cost, on the first instance. Subsequently we have tried to remove the rest of the plating from the effected parts. Unfortunately, the remaining fragments still adhere well to the parts for now and degrade slowly. I fully expect to sustain similar injuries in the future as the deterioration continues.

- Santa Ana, CA, USA