2003 Honda Civic Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 23about this part
- Share
- 5%of 499 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 129,300miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 23 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2003 Honda Civic, 5% of the 499 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 129,300 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #11142442, filed 2018-10, 200,000 miles“2003 Honda Civic ex over 125k miles low beams will turn off by themselves while driving at night any speed. High beams and interior lights are not affected. This is not the first time this happened, but I do not drive in the evening very often. On july 10, 2010 my lights shut off 4 times in a 210 mile trip at speeds ranging from 40 - 70 MPH. The first time I experienced this was in january 2009. Updated 01/04/2012”
NHTSA complaint #10342507, filed 2010-07, 125,600 miles“Takata recall: there have been numerous times where I have either called or went to a Honda dealership to have the airbag inflators on both the driver and passenger side, fixed to avoid harm to myself or others. In almost three years, I have not once heard back about the dealership receiving parts to fix the issue. I have never received notice, nor was I told about the recall with the wiring harness terminal for the low beam headlights. Honda needs to fix this issue because it is a huge safety hazard that can get people killed or seriously injured.”
NHTSA complaint #11053360, filed 2017-12, 176,000 miles“I got a recall notice (nov. 2012) about 2003 Honda Civic's headlights failing. About a week later in the early morning as I was going to work, my car headlights failed as I left my driveway. I left the car at home and took another. On return from work I found both headlights out, no blown fuses, heater fan not working, both ABS and brake panel lights on. I scheduled repair at o'hare Honda, des plaines, il. I arrived at the service dept. With recall notice and also to have additional maintenance services. I left the car for them to work on it. …”
NHTSA complaint #10538016, filed 2013-08, 91,325 miles“Driver side headlight stopped working on dim only. Changed bulb, but this bulb also did not work on dim. Verified the bulb was good by trying it on the passenger side. The next day, the driver side headlight just started working again. 3 weeks later it went out again. This time I traced the wiring back inside the car to the inside fuse box. The wiring that goes out to that headlight comes from a plug that plugs into this fuse box. After wiggling this plug, the headlight came back on. However I can wiggle it and make it go off also. Just wondering if anyone else has had this problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10168113, filed 2006-09, 66,000 milesRelated recalls
- 12V136000Mar 30, 2012Honda 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…Covers: Honda Civic 2002–2003, CR-V 2002–2004, Pilot 2003–2005
Related service bulletins
- 10044784Apr 17, 2012Honda: to determine if headlight switches need to have connectors, and harness wires replaced, on certain vehicles, an inspection is required, with permission from owners. Models…
Exterior lighting: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 3% |
| 2024 | 1 | 1% |
| 2023 | 4 | 2% |
| 2022 | 2 | 0% |
| 2021 | 2 | 1% |
| 2020 | 2 | 1% |
| 2019 | 1 | 0% |
| 2018 | 3 | 0% |
| 2017 | 4 | 1% |
| 2016 | 30 | 3% |
| 2015 | 1 | 0% |
| 2014 | 7 | 2% |
| 2013 | 5 | 2% |
| 2012 | 10 | 2% |
| 2011 | 3 | 2% |
| 2010 | 5 | 1% |
| 2009 | 10 | 3% |
| 2008 | 6 | 1% |
| 2007 | 14 | 1% |
| 2006 | 23 | 2% |
| 2005 | 6 | 2% |
| 2004 | 12 | 3% |
| 2003 | 23 | 5% |
| 2002 | 53 | 8% |
| 2001 | 62 | 6% |
| 2000 | 9 | 3% |
| 1999 | 2 | 1% |
| 1998 | 5 | 1% |
| 1997 | 6 | 2% |
| 1996 | 13 | 4% |
| 1995 | 2 | 1% |
| 1994 | 1 | 1% |
| 1991 | 7 | 6% |
| 1990 | 4 | 4% |
| 1989 | 1 | 1% |
| 1986 | 4 | 11% |
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 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