2003 Honda Civic Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 34about this part
- Share
- 7%of 499 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 55,500miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 34 complaints about the brakes of the 2003 Honda Civic, 7% of the 499 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 55,500 miles. 15 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I just pulled out of parking lot onto road knowing that within the next 200 ft I was approaching stop light I was doing about 15-20 MPH. I saw the car stopped for light and stepped on my brakes my car never attempted to slow down or stop until it impacted with rear of vehicle stopped at light. …”
NHTSA complaint #10625946, filed 2014-08, 30 miles“Braking while on a bumpy road occasionally results in a delay of the braking action. We thought this was part of the ABS system, but there was no ABS feel in the brake pedal. With the toyota problem description, we now feel it may be a similar problem. Only occurs while braking on rough pavement.”
NHTSA complaint #10315534, filed 2010-03, 1,000 miles“I was driving on 695 west high way baltimore, maryland on june 1st in the afternoon as usual, all of sudden my car was out of control. I was trying to slow down the speed a bit, however my break was hardly to push down. I felt like something got stuck there. At the meantime, the accelerator seems not stop while I was pushing down the break, on the opposite it was increasing the speed... In general, the speed was slowing down but it was super slow. I could tell my car was in a super bad situation. …”
NHTSA complaint #10723535, filed 2015-06, 126,738 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. …”
NHTSA complaint #11079970, filed 2018-03, 184,000 miles“When driving down the road, the vehicles stopped . I applied my brakes and nothing happened. I then hit the vehicle in front of me. And my air bags on my vehicle did not deploy.”
NHTSA complaint #10512256, filed 2013-05, 100,500 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10015307Feb 16, 2005Dealer visit request for brake pedal, booster, or master cylinder noise.
- 10014762Jan 16, 2005Brake pedal booster or master cylinder noise.
- 10018098Dec 16, 2004Brake pedal, booster, or master cylinder noise. Dealer visit request.
- 10014542Nov 16, 2004Brake pedal booster or master cylinder noise .
- 10013655Nov 1, 2004Click or pop when pressing the brake pedal. Honda servicenews.
- 10014490Oct 16, 2004Brake pedal booster or master cylinder noise.
- 10013860Sep 16, 2004Brake pedal booster or master cylinder noise.
- 10013341Sep 1, 2004Skip clear and retest steps in abs diagnosis.
- 10014073Aug 16, 2004Brake pedal, booster, or master cylinder noise.
- 10014114Jul 16, 2004Brake pedal, booster or master cylinder noise.
Brakes: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 16% |
| 2025 | 9 | 12% |
| 2024 | 7 | 6% |
| 2023 | 14 | 5% |
| 2022 | 23 | 3% |
| 2021 | 18 | 12% |
| 2020 | 17 | 7% |
| 2019 | 32 | 7% |
| 2018 | 25 | 3% |
| 2017 | 38 | 6% |
| 2016 | 96 | 9% |
| 2015 | 15 | 4% |
| 2014 | 18 | 6% |
| 2013 | 39 | 12% |
| 2012 | 40 | 9% |
| 2011 | 33 | 20% |
| 2010 | 90 | 23% |
| 2009 | 51 | 13% |
| 2008 | 42 | 5% |
| 2007 | 43 | 4% |
| 2006 | 62 | 4% |
| 2005 | 16 | 5% |
| 2004 | 11 | 3% |
| 2003 | 34 | 7% |
| 2002 | 24 | 3% |
| 2001 | 47 | 4% |
| 2000 | 14 | 5% |
| 1999 | 18 | 5% |
| 1998 | 11 | 3% |
| 1997 | 23 | 6% |
| 1996 | 61 | 20% |
| 1995 | 13 | 7% |
| 1994 | 17 | 13% |
| 1993 | 12 | 8% |
| 1992 | 7 | 7% |
| 1991 | 8 | 7% |
| 1990 | 6 | 7% |
| 1989 | 3 | 4% |
| 1987 | 2 | 5% |
| 1986 | 2 | 6% |
| 1985 | 1 | 7% |
| 1984 | 1 | 20% |
Other parts of the 2003 Honda Civic
140 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
101 complaintsElectrical system
51 complaintsEngine cooling
37 complaintsVehicle speed control
34 complaintsBody and structure
26 complaintsExterior lighting
23 complaintsOther or unknown
21 complaintsFuel system
20 complaintsSeat belts
20 complaintsTires
17 complaintsSteering
15 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Honda Civic
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology