2003 Honda Civic Equipment Problems
- Complaints
- 12about this part
- Share
- 2%of 499 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 45,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 12 complaints about the equipment of the 2003 Honda Civic, 2% of the 499 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 45,000 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved and 2 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10538145, filed 2013-08, 70,540 miles“My air condition just died , its not a fuse , might be electrical , my mechanic says even after 7yrs it should not have died. Driving around in 95 degree weather , lots of rain with no defrost either. Wipers work, need help to fix this problem -expensive if its a sensor?do not know the problem at all.”
NHTSA complaint #10342842, filed 2010-07, 61 miles“The door will not lock using the key. The key either gets jammed in the door or wont go in. When it does go in, it wont come back out. Frustrated because I cant lock/unlock my car without a break-in kit.”
NHTSA complaint #10701641, filed 2015-03, 150,000 miles“2003 Honda Civic hybrid. Original owner car has 52 k. Recently I experienced a near death accident because the engine rapidly accelerated by itself as I exited a slight uphill driveway. As I approached the end of the driveway I stopped before turning onto the road, I heard a thud or clunk and then the car lurched and sped rapidly into the road which was wet from rain. The car skidded and fishtailed l tried to apply the brakes but they were unresponsive. I tried the emergency brake which did not respond either. …”
NHTSA complaint #10260155, filed 2009-02, 52,000 miles“My vehicle (2003 Honda Civic si) caught on fire on sept 13th night around 9:45pm. While I was driving to home from a movie theater, somebody from another vehicle spotted the fire and stopped me. I got out of the vehicle, looked under the car, there was a fire between two front tires. I called 911, police and fire responded and put off the fire from inside the passenger compartment. My insurance company investigated and blamed on jiffy lube, who changed the oil on the same day evening around 6:30. …”
NHTSA complaint #10045220, filed 2003-10, 4,995 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10139569May 25, 2018Service bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty…
- 10139567May 24, 2018Service bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty…
- 10086306Sep 7, 2016Posters sent to hawaiian independent repair facilities, automotive part stores, car washes, and gas stations to remind owners of the takata recall and to schedule an appointment…
- 10086291Sep 7, 2016Flyer circulated to the residents of hawaii to remind owners of the takata recall and to schedule an appointment at their earliest convenience.
- 10086288Aug 29, 2016Letter sent in conjunction with the florida highway safety and motor vehicles department to remind florida owners of the takata recall and to schedule an appointment at their…
- 10086381Aug 23, 2016Us virgin islands newspaper advertisements to remind owners of the takata recall and to schedule an appointment at their earliest convenience.
- 10086308Aug 23, 2016Text messages sent to remind owners of the takata recall and to schedule an appointment at their earliest convenience.
- 10086302Aug 21, 2016Advertisement in hawaiian newspapers to remind owners of the takata recall and to schedule an appointment at their earliest convenience.
- 10108113Jun 16, 2015"dealer message - this is to inform you that honda service bulletin 06-015, natural gas fuel tank and fuel line inspection, has been revised to include instructions for ordering…
- 10108204Jun 2, 2015"dealer message - this is to inform you that honda service bulletin 06-015, natural gas fuel tank and fuel line inspection, has been revised to include instructions for ordering…
Equipment: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 3 | 1% |
| 2019 | 3 | 1% |
| 2018 | 1 | 0% |
| 2017 | 1 | 0% |
| 2016 | 15 | 1% |
| 2014 | 1 | 0% |
| 2013 | 1 | 0% |
| 2012 | 4 | 1% |
| 2010 | 4 | 1% |
| 2009 | 7 | 2% |
| 2008 | 18 | 2% |
| 2007 | 17 | 1% |
| 2006 | 33 | 2% |
| 2005 | 7 | 2% |
| 2004 | 1 | 0% |
| 2003 | 12 | 2% |
| 2002 | 7 | 1% |
| 2001 | 13 | 1% |
| 2000 | 6 | 2% |
| 1999 | 5 | 1% |
| 1998 | 10 | 2% |
| 1997 | 5 | 1% |
| 1996 | 10 | 3% |
| 1995 | 14 | 7% |
| 1994 | 6 | 4% |
| 1993 | 5 | 3% |
| 1992 | 1 | 1% |
| 1991 | 3 | 3% |
| 1990 | 1 | 1% |
| 1989 | 2 | 3% |
Other parts of the 2003 Honda Civic
140 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
101 complaintsElectrical system
51 complaintsEngine cooling
37 complaintsBrakes
34 complaintsVehicle speed control
34 complaintsBody and structure
26 complaintsExterior lighting
23 complaintsOther or unknown
21 complaintsFuel system
20 complaintsSeat belts
20 complaintsTires
17 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