10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
70,308 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 #20

Jul 052021

Civic

  • miles
Alternator

- El Paso, TX, USA

problem #19

Feb 032021

Civic

  • 162,824 miles
Nothing is wrong

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #18

Jan 212021

Civic

  • 0 miles
My car needs airbag inflators

- Ventnor City, NJ, USA

problem #17

Feb 182020

Civic

  • 130,000 miles
I was in accident yesterday because my car accelerated instead of breaking and I rear ended the car in front of me in the drive up lane of walgreens pharmacy. Thankfully, no one was hurt to my knowledge. But why did this happen.

- Lakeland, FL, USA

problem #16

Nov 202019

Civic

  • miles
I haven't had this car in over 4 years please remove from your list

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #15

Oct 242018

Civic

  • 200,000 miles
I had to repair a known headlight issue for 2003 Civics. The lights stopped working on dim, and the wires had completely melted as described in the recall information for affected Civics. My VIN is not listed as part of the recall. Also, my gear selector can be accidentally placed into neutral without pressing a brake or button on the knob. For example, my daughter reached to change the radio station, and accidentally hit the gear selector. The car shifted to neutral (automatic transmission) without pressing of break or button. We were in motion, and at first, I thought something was wrong with the car, and I looked down to realize it had been placed into neutral. This has happened several times on accident. I purchased this vehicle in 2003 brand new from a Honda dealership, and I am the only owner.

- Jefferson City, TN, USA

problem #14

Mar 052018

Civic

  • 184,000 miles
Takata inflators, while driving or sitting still, engine light comes on & stays on, brakes faulty while driving loud noise, and I have to press down hard on the brakes for it to slow down, driving/stabilized low visibility due to lights, it's very hard to tell if the lights are on our not inside & outside the vehicle, while driving noticed the brakes are unstable. Air bag sensor is always on, open door indicators don't work, drove car and door wasn't fully closed although I knew I closed the door fully, driving on the highway, and driver side door opened unexpectedly. Trunk door opens unexpectedly, trouble keeping it closed, gas door doesn't open/close properly. Loud noise in motion, trouble picking up speed

- Spring Hill, FL, USA

problem #13

Jul 072017

Civic

  • miles
Takata recall - just bought car 3 mtha ago, I pulled over because my son wasnt feeling good from the heat. Tried to put key in ignition swith and didnt go in or turn on switch. On.single mother, no family, or friends. Just moved from Nevada. No money at the time. My son overheated and my son got dehydrated. No faith in Honda Civics anymore. My son almost died for itbto an expired recall. Now I have to take from their fiod money to fix the car. How disappointed.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

problem #12

May 172017

Civic

  • 170,000 miles
Honda recall ignition switch random failure. No problems until one day it stopped working completely. Key goes in but will not turn.

- Bloomfield, NJ, USA

problem #11

May 212015

Civic

  • 122,000 miles
I was ready to leave for work and my car was parked out in front of my driveway. When I went to go start it up, it made a loud noise and didn't want to engage in "reverse." After five minutes of trying I tried putting it back in "park" but again the same loud noise and it still didn't engage. It only stayed in "neutral" so I left it there and didn't drive it because it was out! really Honda?? this needs to be resolved because it's costing a lot of hard working americans a lot of money when it wasn't their fault! shame on you Honda!

- Santa Rosa, CA, USA

problem #10

Oct 312015

Civic

  • 175,000 miles
On halloween night 10/31/2015, after getting home from taking kids trick-or-treating I was leaving to go to store. While I was backing out of the drive-way I realized I forgot my wallet inside. So I opened the door & went to step out, then noticed I was sticking out in the street a little bit. So I left my left leg out & door open because I was only going to pull forward a couple feet. When I put the car in drive & barely pushed the gas pedal, the gas pedal forced itself to the floor & the car accelerated very quickly. I had no control of the car & tried everything I could to stop it! but it was too late.... the car shot us through the garage door where my leg & foot hit the rock siding entrance going into garage. It also twisted my leg all around & was pinned in between car and garage wall. The car came to a stop when it took my brand new motorcycle I had only owned for 3 weeks & smashed it into the wall!!! it completely totaled my motorcycle. But I was so badly messed up & hurt I couldn't even hardly walk or put any weight on my left leg. After months of physical therapy & lots of doctor bills I am healed, for the most part. I contacted Honda & they did an inspection of the vehicle but didn't find anything wrong with it & released it as a safe driveable vehicle. So I was left with about $15,000 worth of damage including my brand new motorcycle. My full coverage insurance only paid about 3/4 of what I paid for the bike. This was one of the most traumatic crazy things to ever happen to us! im just so lucky & glad that one of the kids wasn't in the garage playing or anyone else got hurt! this could've been sooo much worse than it already was!!!

- Bethany, OK, USA

problem #9

Apr 182015

Civic 4-cyl

  • 111,300 miles
Went to the store, car started with no problem. Only in the store 20 minutes. When returned I was not able to start the ignition. The ignition is locked. Had to call a tow truck to have the car towed.

- Riverdale, IL, USA

problem #8

May 012012

Civic

  • 75,000 miles
On November 15, 2012, I took my Civic to don jacobs Honda in lexington, ky. They sent me to the body shop where [xxx] took pictures and documented the problem with a body shop estimate. I received an email with all of the pictures and estimate of over $4,000 to repaint the car and was told somebody would get back to me once they had talked to the district rep about the problem. January 15, 2013 I sent this email:hello all, this estimate was given to me two months ago. Since then, I have requested an update on the status of this issue: Once December 4, and again on December 27. I received no communication in response to either of my requests. I realize there were multiple holidays in the past two months, but my car is only looking worse as time goes on. I look forward to hearing from at least one of the three of you before the end of the week. Two weeks later, when I still received no response, I sent another email January 29:it has been another two weeks, and I still have not heard an update on where we are with this issue. I have attached an updated picture of the hood of my car. As you can see, and I'm sure you know, the paint is rapidly deteriorating other areas are continuing to deteriorate as well. I feel I have been very patient for the last two and a half months, but I really need some answers before my entire vehicle is covered in this mess. I got this reply from [xxx]:I am so sorry that still haven't heard back. I left lance a voice mail as well to contact you today. February 1, 39 second voicemail: Basically saying Honda wasn't going to help me so I called Honda in ca, expressed my frustration and tried to explain to them the horrible customer service I received. The customer service rep told me if the regional rep said they couldn't assist me with my car, then that was the decision Honda made. I can't take that for an answer. My Civic looks awful! information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Shelocta, PA, USA

problem #7

Aug 302013

Civic

  • 70,540 miles
The peeling metal plating on the interior door handles causes cuts to fingers and hands. They range from severe paper cuts to deep finger cuts. The chrome plating on the interior door handles peel and create sharp edges that cut and draw blood. This occurs when the door is opened. Our whole family had cuts especially my daughter.

- Perris, CA, USA

problem #6

Feb 052005

Civic 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
A chemical smell that can become so strong that it makes me light headed and nauseated comes from my air vents. I have brought it in twice and the dealer claims they can't smell anything. After they are through and I or my husband get in the car we can smell it. I feel like the dealer is lying about being able to smell it because the car is still under warranty and they don't want to fix it for free.. I have to ride with the windows down or freeze when it is cold because I cant turn on the vents w/O resulting in this horrible smell. It happens all the time.

- Zachary, LA, USA

problem #5

May 012003

Civic

  • miles
Problems with 2003 Honda Civic LX remote/alarm system. The consumer had a remote/alarm system installed in the vehicle. The car alarm sounds off a disturbing piercing sound each time the doors open and close. When the consumer took the vehicle back to the dealer to have the sound turned off the entire system failed and the doors would not lock properly. The vehicle was returned to the dealer and the sound was turned back on. While driving the consumer became aware that the vehicle is not equipped with a door ajar indicator.

- Inwood, NY, USA

problem #4

May 152003

Civic

  • Automatic transmission
  • 300 miles
Large sander mark in center of hood from unsucessful repair attempt at factory. Scratch on passenger quarter pannel. Scratch on rear tailight lens. Scratch on clear cover of instrument panel guages

- Marysville, OH, USA

problem #3

Aug 262003

Civic 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 4,416 miles
With the use of a gaussmeter, an instrument used to measure electro magnetic fields, the consumer found that vehicle had a high electromagnetic field. Manufacturer and the dealer was notified the consumer stated the highest level occurred when the engine draws power from the battery via the integrated motor assist or when the battery was charging.

- Takoma Park, MD, USA

problem #2

Feb 172003

Civic 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 780 miles
2003 Honda Civic hybrid on a snowy road, coming over a small rise while going around a moderate curve under 40 mph, the battery charging function, activated by driver taking foot off the gas before cresting the hill, produced progressively stronger engine braking effect on the front wheels, equivalent to an unwanted down shift and causing fishtailing and poor response to corrective steering, so that the car slid across the road and into a snow bank and concrete abutment. $6000 damage. If oncoming traffic, could have been serious injuries or fatality. Due to the strong and variable [hard to predict or control] braking action of the hybrid's charging system, this car should have a skid sensor activating some kind of traction control, including interruption of the charging function as soon as a skid is detected. I think this should be ordered to be retrofitted to all the hybrids.

- Cleveland Heights, OH, USA

problem #1

Aug 302002

Civic

  • miles
Stereo audio quality integrity: When volume is turned on high on the factory installed stereo, the sound quality diminishes. The speakers (sound) pop and crack. My question is this... why wouldn't the factory installed stereo speakers be designed to accomodate the high and low frequencies of the factory installed stereo" should it be expected to"

- O'fallon, MO, USA