Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Honda Civic submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 26 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 26, in the owner's own words
CLEAR COAT FAILURE. NOTICEABLE CLEAR COAT FAILURE STARTED ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO. I CONTACTED HONDA AND THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THEY CLAIM IT IS ONLY AN ISSUE ON 2005 AND LATER CIVICS, WHICH OBVIOUSLY ISN'T TRUE. CLEAR COAT FAILURE ON ROOF, TRUNK, AND ABOVE THE DOORS.
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.
WHILE MY VEHICLE BEING STATIONARY, I CAN'T LOCK OR UNLOCK BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER DOORS FROM THE OUTSIDE USING MY KEY. IT HAPPENS EVERY 2 YEARS.
THIS CAR WAS TOTALED IN A CRASH MANY, MANY YEARS AGO ! I HAVE FILLED OUT AND MAILED IN TWO RECALL NOTICES TO THIS AFFECT AND I AM STILL GETTING RECALL NOTICES FOR THIS CAR. FOR THE THIRD TIME, THIS CAR IS LONG GONE, UPDATE YOUR RECORDS AND DO NOT SENT ANOTHER NOTICE.
TAKATA RECALL PREVIOUS COMPLAINT IN FEB. 2018, AND NO ACTION TAKEN, COMPLAINT # 11079970, AIR BAG RECALL, RESULTING IN NO ACTION TAKEN FROM HONDA, HEAD-ON ACCIDENT OCCURRED, AND AIR-BAGS SHOULD'VE DEPLOYED, BUT DIDN'T. INJURIES INCURRED. HONDA HAS REFUSED ANY PARTAKING ON MATTER. I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP, IN THE TURNING LANE, CAR APPEARED OUT OF NOWHERE, AND I HIT HER HEAD-ON TO THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT BUMPER, LIGHT, TIRE. THIS WAS A NO-FAULT ACCIDENT ON THE POLICE REPORT.
THE PAINT HAS BEEN FADING AND PEELING SINCE ABOUT JANUARY OF 2014. CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF AND WASHED CLEANED REGULARLY (BUT NOT EXCESSIVELY) ITS WHOLE LIFE AND THE PAINT SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY ISSUES. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR HONDA'S MADE AROUND THIS TIME AND HONDA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND PAY TO HAVE IT PAINTED. IT IS NOT FAIR TO CAR OWNERS WHO DO NOT HAVE THE RESALE VALUE THE CAR IS WORTH BECAUSE OF A SIMPLE COSMETIC ISSUE LIKE THIS.
I NOTICED A FEW WEEKS AGO THAT THE HOOD HAD STARTED TO BOUNCE SOMEWHAT WHILE CAR WAS IN OPERATION, UPON INVESTIGATING I FOUND THE SUPPORT THAT THE HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY IS ATTACHED ( BULKHEAD / CROSS MEMBER) HAD A HAIRLINE CRACK APPEARING. WITHIN A MATTER OF A FEW WEEKS THE ENTIRE LATCH ASSEMBLY HAD BROKEN LOOSE. ONCE THIS HAPPENS EVEN THE SECONDARY LATCH IS USELESS, AT THIS POINT THE ONLY THING KEEPING THE HOOD FROM FLYING OPEN DURING THE COURSE OF DRIVING WHICH INVOLVES AIR TURBULENCE IS A VERY THIN GAUGE STEEL CABLE CONNECTED TO THE INSIDE HOOD RELEASE LATCH WHICH ISN'T MEANT TO RESTRAIN HOOD FROM FLYING OPEN. I'VE ALSO FOUND ONE DOCUMENTED CASE OF A HOOD FLYING OPEN WHILE CAR IS TRAVELING DOWN INTERSTATE IN OHIO, THIS WAS A 2004 HONDA CIVIC AND THE TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT NUMBER IS 10-119-89. I'VE CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA CORPORATION AND EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS REGARDING THIS SAFETY ISSUE ON JANUARY 19, 2016 . SO FAR I'VE ONLY RECEIVED A CASE FILE NUMBER (04405315) AND A LOT OF RUN AROUND. I'VE BEEN TOLD IN DIFFERENT CONVERSATION MY CAR IS 13 YEARS OLD AND OUT OF WARRANTY. I KNOW THAT. THE CAR WAS ALSO OUT OF WARRANTY WHEN BOTH AIRBAGS PRODUCED BY TAKATA CORPORATION HAD TO BE REPLACED. I FEEL THIS HOOD LATCH PROBLEM IS JUST AS DANGEROUS IF NOT MORE SO, IF ONES HOOD COMES UNLATCHED GOING DOWN A HIGHWAY OR WORSE A INTERSTATE THIS COULD VERY EASILY RESULT IN A MAJOR PILE UP PUTTING NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS AT RISK FOR LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO A LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP, BRYAN HONDA LOCATED HERE IN FAYETTEVILLE, NC. A SERVICE ADVISOR AND FIXED OPERATIONS DIRECTOR BY THE NAME OF TODD KUTHER HAS INSPECTED THE CAR, TOOK PHOTOS AND FORWARDED TO AMERICAN HONDA USING THE CASE FILE# (04405315)
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. *TR
THE CLEAR COAT ON THE PAINT JOB BEGAN CRACKING AND PEELING ON THE BUMPERS AND HOOD. *TR
I REAR ENDED A VEHICLE THAT CAME TO A SUDDEN COMPLETE STOP, I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, (THE ROADWAY WAS 45 BUT I HAD STARTED TO SLOW AS I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES). THE COLLISION WAS FULL FRONTAL IMPACT AND MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL DESPITE HAVING A SEAT BELT ON. I AM HAVING A MECHANIC INVESTIGATE WHY MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT IT CONCERNS ME AS I WAS INJURED IN THE CRASH. I WENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND I HAVE WHIP LASH, MUSCLE SPASMS AND MUSCLE TENSION IN MY NECK AND BACK. I FEEL THAT THESE INJURIES COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THE AIR BAGS HAD DEPLOYED. MY LAWYER ADVISED ME TO FILE A COMPLAINT HERE AS WELL AS WITH HONDA ABOUT THIS INCIDENT. *TR
I WAS DRIVING SOUTH BOUND ON THE 215 SHORTLY BEFORE THE EXIT, MILLS, THERE WAS A CONE LAYING ON ITS SIDE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD THAT I WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE FROM A DISTANCE BECAUSE THE COLOR OF THE CONE WAS FACING FORWARD . BY THE TIME I WAS ABLE TO REALIZE WHAT IT WAS, I COULD NOT AVOID IT AND GO TO ANOTHER LANE BECAUSE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF TWO CARS, WHICH PROBABLY WOULD HAVE CAUSED MUCH MORE DAMAGE THEN THERE IS IF I ATTEMPTED TO DO SO. AS A RESULT THE CONE CRACKED MY FRONT BUMPER ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE IN THE SHAPE OF A V, THERE WAS A LITTLE STEAM COMING FROM MY ENGINE AND THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME KIND OF LEAK NOW, AS WELL AS SOME BLACK RUBBER TYPE THING THAT LOOKS LIKE ITS SUPPOSED TO BE OVER THE TIRE WAS DRAGGING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.
2003 BLUE HONDA CIVIC CLEARCOAT AND PAINT ARE DELAMINATING ON LARGE AREAS OF THE ROOF AND PORTIONS OF THE TRUNK AND HOOD. THE PAINT IS NOT EXHIBITING NORMAL OXIDATION FADING, THE CLEARCOAT IS ACTUALLY PEELING AWAY. *TR
THE CLEAR COATING PAINT ALL OVER THE ROOF AND THE TRUNK BECOMES CHIPPED. THE PROBLEM GROWS EVERY DAY. *TR
THE CLEAR SEALANT ON THE PAINT SUDDENLY STARTED TO ERODE. NOW LARGE SECTIONS OF THE ROOF, HOOD, AND REAR TRUNK AREA LOOK LIKE THE CAR HAS SOME KIND OF SKIN DISEASE. IT'S AN UNSIGHTLY MESS THAT HAS LOWERED THE CAR'S VALUE AND MAKES IT LOOK LIKE A JUNK HEAP INSTEAD OF THE WELL-MAINTAINED AND RUNNING CAR THAT IT ACTUALLY IS. I WOULD LIKE HONDA TO PAY TO FIX IT LIKE THEY DO FOR ANY OTHER ISSUE THAT THEY ARE NEGLIGENT ABOUT. *TR
ON THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE HOOD, THERE ARE THREE RUSTED BOLTS. DIRECTLY ABOVE ONE OF THE RUSTED BOLTS, THE HOOD IS RUSTING...AS THIS RUSTED AREA IS IN VERY CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE WINDSHIELD WASHING NOZZLE MECHANISM WHICH DELIVERS THE WINDSHIELD WASHING LIQUID TO THE WINDSHIELD, AT SOME FUTURE DATE, THERE WILL BE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. PLEASE REVIEW AND IMPLEMENT AN ACTION RECALL PLAN TO ADDRESS THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. THANKS IN ADVANCE. *JS
CARPET UNDER PASSENGER SIDE MAT BECOMES COMPLETELY SODDEN DURING AND AFTER EVERY RAIN. HAVING BLOWER ONLY OPERATE ON "RECIRCULATE" AS A HONDA BULLETIN SUGGESTED DOES NOT HELP THE PROBLEM. (ALSO, IN WINTER, OPERATING DURING WET COLD WEATHER ON RECIRCULATE DOES NOT ALLOW WINDSHIELD TO PROPERLY DE-FOG.) DOOR SEALS APPEAR TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE, WITH NO APPARENT WEAR, AND ARE IN PROPER POSITION. BECAUSE MAT IS NOT WET, APPEARS THAT WATER IS GETTING IN CAR STRUCTURE FROM BELOW, NOT FROM DOOR, FOR EXAMPLE. I FEAR THIS WILL CAUSE FLOOR OF CAR TO RUST AND ROT, AND CARPET IS BECOMING STAINED BY MOLD GROWING UNDER THE MAT. DIFFICULT TO KEEP THIS DRY WHEN ONE LIVES IN A RAINY CLIMATE. THINK THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR QUITE A WHILE, BUT I WAS UNAWARE BECAUSE THE MAT ON TOP WAS DRY.R
MY BLUE 2003 HONDA CIVIC LX'S CLEAR COAT IS FADING. THERE IS WHITE BLOTCHES ON 50 PERCENT OF MY ROOF, 20 PERCENT OF MY TRUNK AND IS SPREADING TO MY HOOD. AN INDEPENDENT PAINT SHOP SAID TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE A FACTORY PAINT JOB IT WOULD COST AROUND $3,000. I THEN TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SET UP A MEETING WITH A "REPRESENTATIVE" FOR ME. THE REP LOOKED AT MY CAR AND TOLD ME THAT HER "RULE IS TO LOOK FOR FACTORY DEFECTS ONLY." SHE SAID THAT THE COAT IS FADING BECAUSE OF WEATHER AND HAS FADED FASTER BECAUSE THE DARK BLUE ABSORBS HEAT. I INFORMED HER THAT I HAVE SEEN ATLEAST FIVE OTHER BLUE CIVICS OF THE SAME YEAR WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH THE PAINT. THIS MAKES ME THINK THAT THERE IS A DEFECT EITHER WITH THE CLEAR COAT OR THE APPLICATION. IT SEEMS UNLIKELY THAT A 5 OR 6 YEAR OLD CAR'S PAINT SHOULD BE FADING EVEN AFTER REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND CARE TO THE EXTERIOR. *TR
WHILE DRIVING, THE HOOD TO MY 2003 HONDA CIVIC EX CAME UNLATCHED AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD, SHATTERING THE WINDSHIELD AND OTHERWISE DAMAGING THE VEHICLE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE HOOD LATCH MECHANISM WAS DEFECTIVE. IT HAD NOTHING BUT TWO BOLTS CONNECTING IT TO THE TIEROD AND THE METAL THAT ATTACHED THE LATCH TO THE HOOD WAS NOT SOLDERED TO THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CAR REQUIRES $2700 WORTH OF REPAIRS COVERED BY INSURANCE WITH THE DEDUCTIBLE OF $1000 THAT I HAVE TO PAY PLUS BETWEEN $500 TO $1000 TO REPLACE THE HOOD AND THE LATCH. I HAVE PICTURES AND THE PARTS ARE STILL AVAILABLE. THE CAR HAS YET TO BE PREPARED. THE DRIVER SUFFERS FROM HEIGHTENED ANXIETY AS A RESULT OF THE INCIDENT. THANK YOU. *TR
SEVERAL INTERIOR CONTROLS, SUCH AS DOOR HANDLES AND THE PARKING BRAKE, ARE METALIZED PLASTICS. AS THE CAR AGES, THE METAL PLATING STARTS TO PEAL OFF. AS IT COMES OFF IN PIECES, IT PRESENTS A SHARP EDGE THAT CAN CUT THE USER. WE HAVE HAD THREE DIFFERENT INSTANCES OF HAND CUTS THAT COULD HAVE LED TO ACCIDENTS AS THE DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO KEEP BLOOD FROM THE CUT FROM GETTING ON CLOTHING, CAR INTERIOR, ETC. THE DEALER REPLACED A DOOR HANDLE, AT MY COST, ON THE FIRST INSTANCE. SUBSEQUENTLY WE HAVE TRIED TO REMOVE THE REST OF THE PLATING FROM THE EFFECTED PARTS. UNFORTUNATELY, THE REMAINING FRAGMENTS STILL ADHERE WELL TO THE PARTS FOR NOW AND DEGRADE SLOWLY. I FULLY EXPECT TO SUSTAIN SIMILAR INJURIES IN THE FUTURE AS THE DETERIORATION CONTINUES. *TR
ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO I NOTICED THE PAINT DETERIORATING FROM THE EXTERIOR ROOF OF MY VEHICLE. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THEY SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT ABOUT 6 WEEKS LATER FOR ME TO COME TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE THE MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVE VIEW THE VEHICLE PAINT ISSUE. THE PAINT IS CURRENTLY ONLY DETERIORATING FROM THE ROOF. THE DEALERSHIP DECLINED TO CORRECT THE ISSUE STATING THE VEHICLE WAS 1) OUT OF WARRANTY 2) ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE PAINT PROBLEM 3) CARE OF THE CAR WHILE AT THE DEALERSHIP, THERE WAS ANOTHER CUSTOMER WHO HAD AN ACCORD WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE ALSO SEEN OTHER CIVICS AND ACCORDS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THE SERVICE MANAGER NOR MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVE DID NOT PROVIDE INFORMATION AS TO WHY THE PAINT LOCATED AT THE AREA OF DETERIORATION WAS HAPPENING. THE SERVICE MANAGER DIRECTED ME ONLY TO WARRANTY EXPIRATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS POINTING TO THE RUBBER STRIPS AT THE EXTERIOR SIDE WINDOWS WHERE WATER SPOTS WERE LOCATED. *TR
I DRIVE A 2003 HONDA CIVIC EX. I GOT OFF WORK AT 5:30 P.M. AND GOT ON THE INTERSTATE AND HAD THE INCIDENT ABOUT 5:55. ON 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC, I WAS IN THE 3RD FROM THE RIGHT. THIS IS RUSH HOUR IN INDIANAPOLIS. NO WARNING AT ALL, THE HOOD ON MY HONDA FLEW UP AND SMASHED MY WINDSHIELD TO PIECES AND PUT A LARGE DENT IN THE TOP OF THE HONDA WHERE IT MEETS THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE HOOD STAYED UP, COMPLETELY TAKING AWAY ANY VISION IN FRONT. I IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED ON MY BREAKS AND THANFULLY DIDN'T HIT ANYONE IN FRONT OF ME. THANKFULLY NOBODY WAS TAILGATING ME. I MANAGED NOT TO SWERVE THE CAR AND STAY IN MY LANE. I COULD SEE A VEHICLE ON EACH SIDE OF ME AS I SLAMED ON THE BRAKES. I THEN PROCEEDED TO STEER MY WAY TO THE LEFT, CROSSING 2 LANES AND THEN GETTING MY CAR OVER TO THE SHOULDER. I USED MY SIDE MIRRORS FOR THIS. WHEN I GOT MY CAR OVER ON THE SHOULDER, MY HOOD CAME DOWN. INCREDIBLY LUCKY TO NOT HIT ANYONE AND NOT GET HIT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY CALLED ME ON THE 25TH. THEIR CLAIMS ADJUSTER SAID THAT THE HOOD LATCH HAD A DECENT AMOUNT OF WIGGLE ROOM! THIS SHOULD NOT BE. THERE SHOULD BE NO WIGGLE ROOM ON A HOOD RELEASE. I JUST TURNED 100,000 MILES A WEEK EARLIER. MY HOOD HADN'T BEEN UP FOR MONTHS. MY LAST OIL CHANGE WAS AROUND VALENTINES DAY. ONE OF THOSE FLUKE THINGS I HOPE. I WOULD HATE FOR SOMEBODY ELSE TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN TO THEM. I AM SO LUCKY THAT THERE WAS NO DAMAGE FORM ANOTHER VEHICLE. CAR SEEMED FINE MECHANICALLY. I GOT ON THE SHOULDER AND WAS PRETTY SHAKEN UP. BUT OKAY.
FRONT AIR SPOILER ON OUR 2003 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID WILL DETACH FROM VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. SPOILER, AT BEST, LOOSELY CONNECTS TO CAR. FURTHER, THE DESIGN OF THE SPOILER IS SO LOW THAT IT WILL SCRAPE CURB STOPS AND ORDINARY DRIVEWAYS FURTHER EXACERBATING THE PROBLEM. *TR
I WAS STRUCK ON MY FRONT BUMPER BY A DRIVER DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. HE WAS MAKING A 3-POINT TURN AND DIDN'T KNOW THAT I WAS BEHIND HIM. HE ACCELERATED INTO ME AND EVEN THOUGH MY CAR SUSTAINED MINIMAL DAMAGE, MY NECK RECEIVED ALL OF THE CRASH ENERGY. I HAVE HARD-COPY EVIDENCE OF MY NECK FROM MRIS AND CAT SCANS TAKEN 1 YEAR BEFORE THE ACCIDENT; I HAD A HEALTHY NECK. I NOW HAVE 3 DISINTERGRATING DISCS AND CONSTANT PAIN. THE TREATMENTS WILL BE OPEN-ENDED, I AM TOLD. THROUGH MY RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT HONDA CHANGED THEIR HEAD-RESTRAINT DESIGN ON THE CIVIC HYBRID 2003 (MY CAR). BEFORE THAT YEAR, THE REGULAR CIVIC HAD EXCELLENT RATINGS. THIS MODEL HAD A 'MINIMAL PASSING' RATING. I FEEL THAT THE LACK OF NECK SUPPORT WAS THE REASON THAT MY BODY SUSTAINED SUCH INJURIES.*AK
2003 HONDA CIVIC. DURING WIND, DOOR BLOWN FULL BACK AND BREAKING HINGE. DOOR AND SIDE OF CAR NEEDED FULL REPLACEMENT. *LA
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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