10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
81,519 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2003 Honda Civic electrical problems

electrical problem

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2003 Honda Civic Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #37

Jul 042021

Civic

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The car was not in an incident it has a lot of recalls I would like fixed

- Waco, TX, USA

problem #36

Oct 152020

Civic

  • 164,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid. The contact stated that the vehicle would not immediately start up. On several occasions, while driving, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled without warning. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 164,000.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #35

Jan 012021

Civic

  • 142,000 miles
Horn has stopped working.

- Coopersville, MI, USA

problem #34

Jul 152020

Civic

  • 190,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2003 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to buckeye Honda (2615 N memorial dr, lancaster, oh 43130). The contact was informed that the radiator was leaking and there was also an oil leak. Additionally, the horn, fog light switch, and cruise control failed to operate as designed. The contact was also informed that the steering column cover was cut. In addition to the failures, the driver's and passenger's front doors were unable to be opened with the key. The contact was only able to unlock the trunk with the key. The vehicle was taken to the same dealer for an ignition switch repair where the keys were replaced however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage approximately 190,000.

- Lancaster, OH, USA

problem #33

Sep 262020

Civic

  • 142,000 miles
The combination light switch connector in my car is experiencing problems with heat in the low beam wiring. It is the same problem as listed under other Civics from the model year range, but mine is not included in the recall. It may cause the low beams to go out and cause visibility issues when the wire becomes too hot.

- Warren, MI, USA

problem #32

Aug 012014

Civic

  • 35,000 miles
My windows sporadically get stuck open, very difficult driving when the elements of the weather or not good. I've had to drive with the rain driving through my window. Trying to hold a plastic bag in place so I did not get wet.

- Island Park, NY, USA

problem #31

Jan 032018

Civic

  • 199,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

At all times turn signals began to work intermediately. Had fuses and relays checked (not the problem). Soon after driver side low beam headlight went out. Had bulb changed, worked for approximately 2 days then both low beam headlights went out along with both high beam headlights and emergency flashers. Have took vehicle in for diagnostic in which the turn lever was replaced and still didnt repair anything. No one can seem to find the problem. All symptoms seem to fall into category with recall #:12V136000 but when entering my VIN recall isnt shown. Please help! I am taking a huge risk driving in the day and its impossible to drive at night

- Fresno, CA, USA

problem #30

Oct 182017

Civic

  • 176,000 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.

- Portsmouth, VA, USA

problem #29

Jul 142017

Civic

  • 131,000 miles
The contact owned a 2003 Honda Civic. The contact took the vehicle to huntington Honda (1055 jericho turnpike, huntington, NY 11743, phone number: (631) 423-6000) to be repaired for an unknown air bag recall. While driving from the dealer, the contact noticed that the air bag was sticking out of the steering wheel and the horn failed to function. While driving 25 mph, the gear shifter failed to shift out of park, the radio failed, and the steering wheel seized. The vehicle stalled without warning. While making a left turn, the contact crashed into a high curb, which pushed the engine back. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained a broken foot that required medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to nardy Honda smithtown (559 middle country rd, St james, NY 11780, phone number: (855) 738-2920). The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 131,000.

- Kings Park, NY, USA

problem #28

Jul 302017

Civic

  • 120,000 miles
Fuel gauge registering empty and fuel light on after I just added 5 gallons.

- Sebastopol, CA, USA

problem #27

Aug 132016

Civic

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

El carro prende la bolsa de aire. Un sensor de temperatura Y el switch

- Lanham, MD, USA

problem #26

Sep 052015

Civic

  • miles
The ignition switch has gone out.

- Antioch, CA, USA

problem #25

Sep 012015

Civic

  • 141,000 miles
Took car in for airbag failure recall and was told the SRS unit in the airbag system had an internal failure. However, this was not covered under any type of warranty or recall. This is an integral part of a safety system that should not fail under normal wear an tear. The part was on back order and required a deposit of $800 to order. We left the dealership not knowing if our airbags would work or not.

- Long Beach , CA, USA

problem #24

Mar 182010

Civic 4-cyl

  • 150,000 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.

- Ellijay, GA, USA

problem #23

Oct 162014

Civic

  • 124,174 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 124,174.

- Longwood, FL, USA

problem #22

Nov 152012

Civic 4-cyl

  • 91,325 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. Repair work done on invoice #410741 dated Nov.19, 2012. The service writer called me the next day and told me the brake light repair required the master cylinder to be replaced. I ok'd major work. Service writer called back to say the ABS module needed to be replaced too. I ok'd that repair at large cost also. When I picked up my car the service writer told me they "put in a free alternator as that too was bad". the headlight repair cost $1,877.77 ($1,326.17 for parts + $551.60 labor). I have been thinking about this repair and have come to the conclusion that the voltage regulator on the alternator failed and put a large surge on the electrical system of the car. This surge "fried" the electrics on the two brake parts and burned out the headlights. The "free" alternator should have been the clue to the cause of the problem. I don't understand why some device can not be installed into the electrical wiring system of the car to prevent this expensive and potentially dangerous failure. The final problem with this repair was that I had to immediately return to the dealer to have them install new headlight bulbs as they must not have checked them and they were still burned out. So much for quality control.

- Des Plaines, IL, USA

problem #21

Aug 122012

Civic 4-cyl

  • 111,120 miles
My ignition key is stuck. The key does not release from the ignition.

- Pico Rivera, CA, USA

problem #20

Feb 112012

Civic

  • miles
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Civic. The contact stated that she was unable to insert the key into the ignition or start the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were unknown.

- Salinas, CA, USA

problem #19

Jun 062011

Civic

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Civic hybrid. While driving, the contact stated that the vehicle would hesitate when shifting into gear. The dealer replaced the battery and clutch fluid in an attempt to repair the defect, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 70,000 and the current mileage was 139,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Cornelius, OR, USA

problem #18

Dec 102010

Civic 4-cyl

  • 195,000 miles
I have a 2003 Honda Civic ex with the same problem listed in NHTSA campaign id number: 04V086000 my car was not included in the recall.

- Scotia, NY, USA

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