There are 44 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2003 Honda Civicin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The car was not in an incident it has a lot of recalls I would like fixed
HORN HAS STOPPED WORKING.
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.
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.
TL* 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.
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
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.
FUEL GAUGE REGISTERING EMPTY AND FUEL LIGHT ON AFTER I JUST ADDED 5 GALLONS.
EL CARRO PRENDE LA BOLSA DE AIRE. UN SENSOR DE TEMPERATURA Y EL SWITCH
THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS GONE OUT.
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.
TL* 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.
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.
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. *TT
MY IGNITION KEY IS STUCK. THE KEY DOES NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. *TR
TL* 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.
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. *TR
MY 2003 HONDA CIVIC VIN #[XXX] PURCHASED NEW IN 2003., NOW HAVE 79,449 ODOMETER READING. SINCE I GOT IT, SOMETIMES WHEN I INSERT THE IGNITION KEY TO START THE CAR THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO STARTING POSITIION IT JUST STUCKED IN THE KEYHOLE. I REMOVE THE KEY AND TRY TO SHAKE AND TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND/OR STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL, THEN REINSERT THE KEY TO START THE CAR. SOMTIMES IT START , AT TIMES IT TAKES 2-4 TIMES THEN THE KEY TURNS TO START THE CAR. THIS HAPPENS OCASSIONALLY BUT LATELY MORE FREQUENTLY ABOUT 80% EVERY TIME . I READ IN THE OCTOBER 2010 CONSUMER REPORTS MAGAZINE THAT THERE IS A RECALL OF 2003-04 HONDA ACCORD, CIVIC AND ELEMENT WITH THE PROBLEM THAT THE INTERLOCK LEVER OF THE IGNITION SWITCH MIGHT DEFORM INTERFERING WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I CALLED DICK HANNAH HONDA WHERE I BOUGHT MY CAR AND ASKED THEM ABOUT THIS RECALL. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE LIST OF RECALLED 2003 CIVICS AT THIS TIME. I WOULD LIKE TO FILE THIS SAFETY PROBLEMTO YOUR OFFICE THAT MY VEHICLE HAVE THIS "IGNITION SWITCH" PROBLEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CIVIC. WHEN THE KEY WAS PLACED INTO THE IGNITION HE NOTICE THAT IT WOULD NOT TURN. HE EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE SEVERAL TIMES BUT EVENTUALLY THE KEY TURNED. ON AUGUST 31, 2010 THE IGNITION FAILED; YET, THE KEY NO LONGER TURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 76,000.
2003 HONDA CIVIC. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE FAILED TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO ANNOUNCEMENT OF RECALL AND WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEALER REFUSAL TO PAY THE BILL FOR REPAIRS *TGW CONSUMER WROTE IN ON BEHALF OF MOTHER-IN-LAW. RECALL # 10V364000. *JB
Showing 1–20 of 44 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026