10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
12 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
9 / 0
Average Mileage:
29,939 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 #13

Oct 312008

Civic

  • 53,000 miles
There was a car accident on patch barracks in stuttgart germany involving my Honda Civic ex 2003. This accident took place at night. The ponds security guards lifted the steel barrier as I was coming across it. At impact the passenger air bag deployed, however the driver's side did not. I ended up hitting the steering wheel and possibly the dash board, breaking my nose. The car's undercarriage was destroyed. The car was found to be totaled. I still am concerned that the air bag for the passenger side did not come out at all.

- Hubert, NC, USA

problem #12

Dec 212006

Civic 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Civic LX. On December 21, 2006, while driving 8 mph, the contacts vehicle was struck by another vehicle traveling 30 mph. Her air bag failed to deploy. The contacts head struck the vehicle's windshield and side post. A neurologist stated that she sustained post concussion syndrome and some permanent brain damage. The contact stated that due to the severity of her injuries, she has had to retire early from her job as a teacher. The contact stated that the frame of the vehicle was severed in two places. The contact stated that she walked away from the accident unscathed, but two and a half weeks later, she could not stand, nor could she speak clearly. The contact was referred to NHTSA by her doctor. The vehicle was destroyed. The engine size was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 85,000. California safety traffic report provided. Updated 08/09/07

- Jamestown, CA, USA

problem #11

Mar 292007

Civic 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 46,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Civic hybrid. The SRS light turned on with an odometer reading of 46,000 miles on March 29 2007. The vehicle was purchased with 41,000 miles as a salvaged vehicle, and repaired for road use in June 2006. The SRS remained illuminated. In a minor front end collision the airbags didn't deploy. Honda stated that they will not diagnose the failure since it was a salvaged vehicle. This was one of three vehicles that the contact owned with a similar problem. The current mileage was 46100.

- Hopewell Junktion, NY, USA

problem #10

Oct 122006

Civic

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35,105 miles
- the contact called in for his client, states that the client was driving her 2003 Honda Civic hybrid on 10/12/06. The driver was sitting at a stop sign and a semi truck hit the client's vehicle. The attorney states that the truck hit the client's vehicle at 40-50 mph. The impact cause dthe client to hit another vehicle which caused a 5 vehicle crash. The attorney was concerned that the airbags didn't deploy, and the client sustained facial injuries. The driver did have on the seat belt and it did restrain her. The driver had to be cut out of vehicle by the fire department. The police report and photos of the crash were available.

- Santa Anna, CA, USA

problem #9

Jan 022006

Civic

  • Automatic transmission
  • 32,100 miles
: the consumer stated the check maintenance light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealership to determine the problem. The dealership discovered the battery needed to be replaced. After the battery replacement, the check maintenance light went off. The vehicle was driven for a few days and the check maintenance light illuminated once again. Later, the consumer was involved in a rear end collision while traveling at 35 mph on a wet road. The brakes were applied, but the vehicle failed to stop before striking another vehicle in the rear end. The seat belts were in use and no injuries were sustained. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was inspected and diagnostics were performed to determine why the air bags did not deploy. The codes showed faulty sensors in the air bags. The dealer determined further testing would be required before a final decision could be made on the air bag failure. Update 2/24/2006 -

- Fargo, ND, USA

problem #8

Sep 102005

Civic

  • Automatic transmission
  • 20,000 miles
I was travelling at approximately 40mph on surface streets and, too late, noticed that the car in front of me had stopped. I rear-ended them, and then was promptly hit on the left rear of my vehicle by the car behind me. The adp representative who examined my car said that all three sensors on my car had been impacted, but the driver's side airbag did not deploy. The passenger's side airbag did deploy, but mine did not. Though I was still uninjured, this would not have been the case if I had been on the freeway. Since my car was totaled, no attempt was made to correct the airbag problem. My car was a 2003 Honda Civic LX, 4-door, automatic transmission, with no side-airbags.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #7

Apr 042004

Civic

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The air bags in my vehicle did not deploy in a front end collision that I was involved in. It caused me to fly forward and injure myself, almost hitting the front windshield. In addition to this problem, I have discovered that the cigarette lighter plug-in does not work in my vehicle. I have found that the transmission in my vehicle had a defective part that a car repair man fixed.

- Visalia, CA, USA

problem #6

Jun 252004

Civic 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30,000 miles
The passenger side air bag inadvertently deployed while driving. The passenger sustained minor bruises. The dealership has been notified, and an appointment had been scheduled to inspect the air bags.

- Alexandria, VA, USA

problem #5

May 212004

(reported on)

Civic

  • 10,000 miles
While driving 15 mph consumer's vehicle was in a head on collision, and the air bags failed to deploy.

- Christiansburg, VA, USA

problem #4

May 102004

(reported on)

Civic

  • 22,000 miles
Vehicle was in an accident. Owner was driving approximately 45 mph when the vehicle plowed into a parked car. The driver side air bag failed to deploy. Provide further details.

- Santa Monica, CA, USA

problem #3

Apr 252004

Civic

  • 28,000 miles
While driving between 35-40 mph, the consumer rear ended another motorist. None of the frontal air bags deployed upon impact. The driver and the passenger hit the windshield. The passenger sustained a cut to her head that needed stitches.

- Lewis Center, OH, USA

problem #2

Aug 182003

(reported on)

Civic

  • 15,000 miles
While driving at 35 mph vehicle was in a frontal collision, and driver's side air bag didn't deploy upon impact.

- Vancouver, WA, USA

problem #1

Jul 192003

Civic 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 13,000 miles
While driving at 30/40 mph, the vehicle was involved in a frontal collision and none of the air bags deployed upon impact.

- Pinson, AL, USA