What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2003 Honda Civic

Typical pattern

10% of complaints about the 2003 Honda Civic came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2003 vehicle — around the middle of the 228 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 7.4 yr in service. The most-reported system is air bags (137 complaints), typically at 12.1 yr or about 110,000 miles.

Complaints
602
Median age at failure
7.4 yr
Median mileage
82,000 n=453
Crash / fire / tow
21.9% of reports
Safety recalls
10

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Air bags
137 reports · 110,000 mi
12.1 yr
33.6%
Power train
102 reports · 74,259 mi
5.5 yr
6.9%
Electrical system
49 reports · 111,120 mi
7.5 yr
12.2%
Engine cooling
37 reports · 74,000 mi
4.3 yr
8.1%
Speed control
34 reports · 52,000 mi
6.7 yr
35.3%
Structure
26 reports · 126,000 mi
9.7 yr
26.9%
Exterior lighting
23 reports · 133,000 mi
10.2 yr
13%
Seat belts
19 reports · 87,000 mi
10.3 yr
21.1%
Other
19 reports · 122,000 mi
13.1 yr
26.3%
Service brakes, hydraulic
17 reports · 32,100 mi
2.8 yr
41.2%
Tires
15 reports · 51,000 mi
5.9 yr
13.3%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

19V499000 2019-06-27
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

19V501000 2019-06-27
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

19V182000 2019-03-06
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containi

An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

18V268000 2018-04-26
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 Honda Accord and Pilot, 2010 Accord Crosstour, 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 Element, 2007 and 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2012 Insight, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2012 Ridgeline vehicles. The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.

An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

15V370000 2015-06-15
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic vehicles manufactured March 21, 2000, to January 20, 2005, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX vehicles manufactured June 14, 2000, to August 19, 2004, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid vehicles manufactured February 24, 2002, to January 18, 2005, 2003-2007 Honda Accord vehicles manufactured February 21, 2002, to August 28, 2007, 2002-2004 Honda CR-V vehicles, 2002-2003 Honda Odyssey vehicles manufactured June 19, 2001, to July 12, 2003, 2003 Acura MDX vehicles manufactured September 19, 2002, to June 19, 2003, 2003 Honda E

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the passenger seat occupant or other occupants possibly causing serious injury or death.

15V320000 2015-05-28
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2007 Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2006 Ridgeline, 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2003-2006 Acura MDX, and 2002-2003 Acura 3.2TL vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

14V700000 2014-11-04
Air bags

American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic, 2003-2004 Civic CNG and Element, 2002-2005 CR-V, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2005 Accord, Pilot, Civic Hybrid, and Acura MDX, 2005 Acura RL and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in geographic locations associated with high absolute humidity. Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Saipan, Guam, and American Samoa are addressed by this recall. Upon dep

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger’s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

14V353000 2014-06-20
Air bags

American Honda Motor Company, Inc.'s (Honda) is conducting a limited regional recall for certain model year 2003-2005 Accord, Civic, CR-V, Pilot and Acura MDX, model year 2003-2004 Odyssey and Element, and model year 2005 Acura RL, and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in California, and equipped with Takata-brand air bag inflators. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger’s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

12V136000 2012-03-30
Exterior lighting:headlights:switch

HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002 THROUGH 2004 CR-V; MODEL YEAR 2003 THROUGH 2005 PILOT; AND MODEL YEAR 2002 AND 2003 CIVIC VEHICLES. IN MARCH 2012, HONDA FILED A DEFECT REPORT TO RECALL CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002 THROUGH 2004 CR-V AND CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003 PILOT VEHICLES. IN AUGUST 2012, HONDA INFORMED THE AGENCY THAT IT WAS INCLUDING AN ADDITIONAL 820,789 VEHICLES INCLUDING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AND 2005 PILOTS AND MODEL YEAR 2002 AND 2003 CIVICS. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VEHICLES BEING RECALLED IS NOW 1,375,217. DUE TO TENSION FROM THE COMBINATION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS, WEAR ON THE

IF THE TERMINAL ENDS MELT WITHIN THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE, REDUCING DRIVER VISIBILITY AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

10V364000 2010-08-05
Electrical system:ignition

HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003 HONDA ACCORD, CIVIC TWO AND FOUR DOOR, AND MODEL YEAR 2003-2004 HONDA ELEMENT VEHICLES. THE INTERLOCK LEVER OF THE IGNITION SWITCH MAY UNEXPECTEDLY DEFORM, WHICH CAN ALLOW THE INTERLOCK FUNCTION OF A VEHICLE WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO BE DEFEATED.

REMOVAL OF THE IGNITION KEY WHEN THE GEAR SELECTOR OF A VEHICLE WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS NOT BEEN SHIFTED TO THE PARK POSITION CAN ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

In owners’ own words

Speed control mileage not reported 1 mo in service crash / fire / tow
CONSUMER STATED UPON ENTERING THE DRIVEWAY OF HER HOME, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND COULD NOT BE STOPPED BY APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE HIT THE REAR WALL OF THE GARAGE CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH THE AUTOMOBILE AND HER HOME.*JB
Speed control 700 mi 6 mo in service
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. *JB THE WAS NO WAY TO ENGAGE THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME, AND WAS TRAVELING AT A LOW SPEED WHEN THE BRAKE WAS ENGAGED. THE ENGINE HAD GONE UP TO OVER 3K RPM'S. THE DEALER COULDN'T DUPLICATE. SCC
Speed control 12,000 mi 8 mo in service crash / fire / tow
AFTER BEING STOPPED FOR A FEW MINUTES AT A STOP LIGHTTHE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD. WHEREAS, I MIGHT BELIEVE MY FOOT LIFTED OFF THE BRAKE A LITTLE THAT SHOULD HAVE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL FORWARD AND NOT SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. AS A RESULT, I DID REAR END THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. *AK
Tires 2,000 mi 1.0 yr in service
1. WHIRRING NOISE THAT INCREASES WITH SPEED. 2. OCCASIONAL CLUNKING WHEN BRAKING. 3. RIGHT SIDE DOOR SPEAKER VIBRATES ON LEVEL 3+. 4. CLICKING NOISE WHEN HEATER IS ON. IS THIS NORMAL? 5. I FIND THE CAR A VERY LOUD RIDE..A LOT OF ECHO UNDERNEATH WITH EVERY BUMP..I SUSPECT THE TIRES MAYBE. THEY ARE FIRESTONE.*JB

Other Civic model years

2025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998

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