Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2003 Honda Civic, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Air bags140
- Power train101
- Electrical system51
- Engine and engine cooling37
- Vehicle speed control34
- Structure26
- Exterior lighting23
- Seat belts20
- Unknown or other20
- Service brakes, hydraulic20
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 66 injuries and 13 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 141 2003 Civic vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 88 people died inside them, and 23 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2003 Honda Civic failed the safety check 2.11% of the time — 0% more often than the average 2003 passenger car (2.11%). Median odometer at inspection: 145,133 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 2003 Honda Civic cars on Dutch roads are the 1.4 petrol (66 kW, 89 hp), 1.6 petrol (81 kW, 109 hp) and 2.0 petrol (147 kW, 197 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.4 petrol | 66 kW 89 hp | 253 |
| 1.6 petrol | 81 kW 109 hp | 83 |
| 2.0 petrol | 147 kW 197 hp | 48 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
415 first registered in 2003 are on Dutch roads; 16% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €28,025.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde245
- Band onvoldoende profiel137
- Licht- donkerscheiding dimlicht onduidelijk129
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen128
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt123
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm110
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)95
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld90
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
5,449 cars built in 2003 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 3,255 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 9,076 of these cars first registered in 2003 took their annual MOT test. 54% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2003 the figure was 57%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2003 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 24.9% | 21.6% |
| Suspension | 20.3% | 16.4% |
| Brakes | 13.8% | 13.9% |
| Visibility | 8.0% | 7.7% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 7.8% | 7.4% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 7.1% | 9.4% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
675 of these cars first registered in 2003 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 238,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
573 2003 cars are on the New Zealand register; 26% arrived as used imports, 73% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 3 variants: combined 8.0–9.6 L/100 km (about 25–29 mpg US), CO₂ 184–221 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civic · Compact · Regular gasoline | 8.7 | 7.1 | 8.0 |
| Civic · Compact · Regular gasoline | 9.4 | 7.0 | 8.3 |
| Civic 3Dr SiR · Compact · Regular gasoline | 10.5 | 8.5 | 9.6 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
8 Transport Canada recalls for the 2003 Honda Civic.
| 2019323 28 Jun 2019 | Airbag Issue: On certain vehicles, long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature, combined with high temperature cycling, may eventually degrade the p… |
| 2019117 7 Mar 2019 | Airbag Issue: On certain vehicles, there could be a problem with the driver-front airbag inflator. This could cause the airbag to deploy with more force than normal.… |
| 2015261 15 Jun 2015 | Airbag On certain vehicles, the passenger frontal airbag inflator could produce excessive internal pressure during airbag deployment. Increased pressure may cause the … |
| 2015225 27 May 2015 | Airbag On certain vehicles, the driver frontal airbag inflator could produce excessive internal pressure during airbag deployment. Increased pressure may cause the inf… |
| 2014567 15 Dec 2014 | Airbag Honda Canada is conducting a voluntary Safety Improvement Campaign concerning the driver's airbag inflator on certain vehicles equipped with Takata airbags. Hon… |
| 2014242 20 Jun 2014 | Airbag On certain vehicles, the passenger (frontal) airbag inflator could produce excessive internal pressure during airbag deployment. Increased pressure may cause th… |
| 2013111 10 Apr 2013 | Airbag On certain vehicles, the passenger (frontal) airbag inflator could produce excessive internal pressure during airbag deployment. Increased pressure may cause t… |
| 2010264 9 Aug 2010 | Powertrain On certain vehicles the interlock lever of the ignition switch may wear prematurely, which can allow the interlock function to be defeated if the driver does no… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
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 containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.
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.
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 Element vehicles manufactured June 25, 2002, to July 31, 2003, and 2003 Honda Pilot vehicles manufactured November 26, 2001, to August 21, 2003. The affected vehicles have a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture upon its deployment.
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.
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 deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
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.
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 SURFACE OF THE ELECTRICAL TERMINAL CAN OCCUR, YIELDING COPPER OXIDE, WHICH INCREASES ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE. INCREASED ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE MAY CAUSE THE TERMINAL ENDS TO MELT WITHIN THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR.
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.
ON CERTAIN COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG) VEHICLES, IN THE EVENT OF A SEVERE INTERIOR FIRE IN THE AREA OF THE REAR SEAT, THE CNG TANK MAY BE HEATED UNEVENLY, PREVENTING THE PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICE FROM VENTING THE CONTENTS OF THE TANK AS DESIGNED.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Honda told its dealers about the 2003 Honda Civic: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 638058 | SUBJECT REGARDING DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0336 AFTER ENGINE REPAIRS. *TT |
| 638056 | INFORMATION ON SERVICE MANUAL CONFUSION. *TT |
| 637988 | SUBJECT REGARDING CNG TANK INSPECTION. *TT |
| 637986 | SUBJECT REGARDING SUCTION CUP (CIRCULAR) MARKS ON GLASS. *TT |
| 637947 | INFORMATION ON SERVICING MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ILLUMINATION AT PRE-DELIVERY INSPECTION. *TT |
| 637665 | INFORMATION ON SERVICING SRS DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE 6-7 AND / OR 7-2 INTERNAL FAILURE OF SRS UNIT. *TT |
| 637006 | INFORMATION ON DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0336 (CKP SENSOR INTERMITTENT INTERRUPTION) SETS AFTER ENGINE REPAIRS. *TT |
| 635789 | IMA SYSTEM INDICATOR IS ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P1440 SET. *TT |
| 633594 | DRIVER'S SEAT THAT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH DURING NORMAL DRIVING. *TT *MJ *TT *EH |
| 633556 | SRS INDICATOR COMING ON WITH SRS DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES 15-1, 15-2, 15-3. *TT |
| 629094 | SQUEAK OR TWANG CONDITION WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS PRESSED. *TT *MJ THIS BULLETIN REPLACES PREVIOUS BULLETIN DATED 3/16/2004. *TT |
| 10172566 | Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement front passenger's airbag inflator only. |
| 10172561 | Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement driver's airbag inflator only. |
| 10142652 | Service bulletin - American Honda is conducting a study of driver airbag inflators from selected vehicles. With customer?s consent, remove the airbag module, inspect the inflator and, if the customer has a Takata inflator, replace the airbag inflator. The driver?s airbag inflator will be sent to Takata. |
| 10142648 | Dealer message - On November 5, 2013, American Honda announced a passenger airbag collection activity for a small number of 2005 Civic vehicles. This activity involves inspecting and potentially replacing the driver?s airbag inflator assembly. Today, January 22, 2014, American Honda is announcing an expansion to this activity to include a small number of 2003 and 2004 Civic vehicles. |
| 10139569 | Service bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects to the replacement front passengers airbag inflator only. |
| 10139567 | Service bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects to the replacement driver's airbag inflator only. |
| 10129461 | Dealer message - On April 8, 2014, the 2003-05 Civic SRS healthy parts call-in activity will be expired. A sufficient number of parts have been collected for analysis, and no additional collection is necessary at this time. All VIN inquiry links to S/B 13-099: Voluntary Driver?s AirbagStudy will be removed for all vehicles that have not already had the driver?s airbag inflator replaced through this parts collection project. |
| 10129452 | Dealer message - American Honda (AHM) is investigating certain 2001-2005 Civics with fuel pump issues that require the fuel pump to be replaced. To fully understand the cause of the issue, AHM would like to collect the fuel pump from the vehicle prior to you attempting any further repair of any kind. |
| 10129444 | Dealer message - American Honda (AHM) is investigating certain 2001-2005 Civics with fuel pump issues that require the fuel pump to be replaced. To fully understand the cause of the issue, AHM would like to collect the fuel pump from the vehicle prior to you attempting any further repair of any kind. |
| 10129321 | Engineering request for investigation - American Honda (AHM) is investigating certain 2001-2005 Civics with fuel pump issues that require the fuel pump to be replaced. To fully understand the cause of the issue, AHM would like to collect the fuel pump from the vehicle prior to you attempting any further repair of any kind. |
| 10129310 | Dealer message - American Honda (AHM) is investigating certain 2001-2005 Civics with fuel pump issues that require the fuel pump to be replaced. To fully understand the cause of the issue, AHM would like to collect the fuel pump from the vehicle prior to you attempting any further repair of any kind. |
| 10129278 | Dealer message - American Honda (AHM) is investigating certain 2001-2005 Civics with fuel pump issues that require the fuel pump to be replaced. To fully understand the cause of the issue, AHM would like to collect the fuel pump from the vehicle prior to you attempting any further repair of any kind. |
| 10128885 | Service bulletin - A manufacturing error can produce over-pressurization of the passenger?s (front) airbag inflator during airbag deployment. If an affected airbag deploys, the increased internal pressure may cause the inflator casing to rupture. Metal fragments could be propelled upward toward the windshield, or downward toward the front passenger?s foot well, possibly causing an injury to vehicle occupants. |
| 10128880 | Dealer message - The recalls announced today involve driver?s or passenger?s front airbag inflators, which in a crash may deploy with too much pressure, causing the inflator casing to rupture and eject metal fragments that could injure or kill vehicle occupants. While two of the recalls only affect vehicles sold or ever registered in certain states/territories, vehicles that currently are registered in other states/territories may also be affected if they were at one time registered in the affected states/territories. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Low Beam Headlights Stop Illuminating
Ignition Shift Interlock
CNG TANK EXPLODING IN A FIRE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation