6.7

fairly significant
Typical Repair Cost:
$420
Average Mileage:
88,250 miles
Total Complaints:
6 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (4 reports)
  2. dealer replaced seat buckle (2 reports)
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2003 Honda Civic:

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

This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Honda dealer.

problem #6

Jul 212016

Civic SI 4 cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 50,000 miles

2003 Honda Civic si with low mileage and TLC has SRS light that keeps coming on. First time took to a Virginia dealer and they replaced driver seat belt at no charge. Light came on again so brought to Ft. Myers dealership today and was told passenger side tensioner for the seat belt needed to be replaced for $450. Seat belts are covered but Honda says its electrical. Seems like a scam. How is it electrical if seat belt needs to be replaced?

- cats, Ft. Myers, FL, US

problem #5

Feb 212016

Civic EX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 91,300 miles

Probably you all know that Honda had issued a recall on Airbag inflators recently and my car was one of them. So I went to Metro Honda at Rt 440, Jersey City, NJ and got it done. In just couple of days the SRS Lights turn on for no reason! I go to Metro Honda and tell them that this could be because of the recall process which touched that part of my car but they insisted that I may have to replace my buckle. But then they finally agreed to erase the code.

Now there was another recall that was issued again. So this was done again. This time only after a couple of months (2 approx.) I was trying to fill up air in my tires, but instead of inflating, it deflated because I did not realized that I have not put enough coins to ensure air is pumped. Now I went back and put appropriate coins and filled up the air in my tires. Now I come back to start my car, it started showing me SRS Airbag light!

I went to Metro Honda and this time they did not agree to erase the code and said that the buckle needs to be replaced. I have been provided an estimate of about $400!! This time I am doing it as I am selling it to a friend and cannot give it to him in this condition :-(.

This is my story. Honda should do something about this. It cannot be a coincidence that they do a recall and some function in my car stops working a little later isn't it!!

- Vinay V., Jersey City, NJ, US

problem #4

Aug 042015

Civic LX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 63,244 miles

I've been a loyal Honda consumer for over 20 years and have never had a complaint about service, etc., but now I'm really ANGRY!! In the past week my airbag light went on and stayed on. I took it to my mechanic who diagnosed it for $30 as an SRS 9-3 code which means the driver side seat belt buckle needs to be replaced. Well he told me if he did it, it would cost $425. He called Holman Honda in Fort Lauderdale and they told him it would be covered under the lifetime warranty.

I called Holman Honda today and spoke with the service department and related all of the above information. They told me that this fix IS NOT covered so I should bring in the car and they would diagnose it again and make the repair....are you kidding me! I already have a diagnosis from a reputable mechanic in the business for over 30 years so why would I pay for that. Also, I have done investigation on the web and found out that Honda does not honor the lifetime warranty for this problem.

Come on Honda....you were the best....but now not so much. Since I've been driving a car before we ever had seat belts let alone airbags I think I'm going to skip this repair. Fortunately for me I don't drive a lot and don't ever drive on the crazy highways in this area. However, when I do get a new car in a couple of years I'll be looking at manufacturers who honor their commitments to the public on their warranties! I have read about some helpful hints on the web for fixing problem this myself, including a very good YouTube video.

All I can say is shame, shame, shame on you Honda for not honoring a lifetime warranty for a problem that is obviously connected with your consumers' safety!!!

- suzannek, Fort Lauderdale, FL, US

problem #3

Sep 122009

Civic LX 1.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,000 miles

Light has been on since I have purchased the vehicle, it has been reset but will continue to turn on.

- Angel S., Littlerock, CA, US

problem #2

Jun 182012

Civic LX 1.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 117,800 miles

I had the infamous airbag solid light on. Took it to the dealership, diagnosed as defective seat belt buckle circuit. Part was ordered and will get a call when it arrives.

Just one of a laundry list of defects on this horrendous generation of Civic. Onto the next complaint item on this car...

- jgg204, Lake Hopatcong, NJ, US

problem #1

Sep 112011

Civic EX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 87,000 miles

I purchased my car used in 2005 from a small dealership (not Honda) and although it had never been in an accident, according to the dealer and blue book, the airbag light was on. The dealership told me that he didn't know why the light was on and that they weren't responsible for it. So I purchased it anyway. I did nothing about the problem since the car was running fine and so were the seat belts. In 2007 I finally took my car in to Honda dealership, they charged me $90 to diagnose but said they needed to remove the front bumper for future diagnosis and that there would be additional charges for that so I decided not to get it done, leaving Honda with the airbag light still on. They said they found something wrong with the left impact light. I declined further diagnosis to avoid the additional charges.

Does anyone know where I can take my car to get it looked at and fixed. From what I understand to get this fixed it can cost me anywhere from $300-$800 depending on the problem! I don't understand why I should have to pay for that when it was not in an accident!! Please somebody help.

- Mermaid Z., Bakersfield, CA, US