2003 Honda Civic Seat belts Problems

The contact owned a 2003 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, a semi-truck unexpectedly crossed into his lane which caused him to crash the truck's land gear. The air bags did not deploy upon impact and the seat belt pretensioners failed to restrain the contact. The contact was taken to the hospital via ambulance and was treated for multiple torn ligaments, a chest injury, and back pain. The other driver did not suffer any injuries and a police report was filed. The vehicle was initially towed to an independent tow yard and was later towed back to the contact's residence where it remained in his possession. The dealer and the manufacturer were both notified of the failure. A case was filed. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11515177

Incident

Mar 28, 2023

2003 HONDA CIVIC. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT BUCKLE DUE TO CORROSION. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SELT BELT BUCKLE FAILED LATCH AFTER A ROLL-OVER CRASH. THE SOLE OCCUPANT (DRIVER) WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CRASH WAS FATAL.

NHTSA ID

11476264

Incident

Jul 28, 2022

I AM DRIVING HONDA CIVIC 2003 MODEL PAST 14+ YEARS. I AM SINGLE OWNER. I HAD AN ACCIDENT ON 10/24/2018. I APPLIED THE BRAKE WHEN I SAW TRAFFIC STOPPED BUT THE SEAT BELT NOT TIGHTEN. BECAUSE OF THIS REASON, MY CHEST HIT THE STEERING. ALSO AIR BAG DIDN'T OPEN. GOOD NEWS IS NO FRACTURE BUT MY CHEST HITTED STEERING REALLY BAD. FEW YEARS AGO I WENT TO THE HONDA SERVICE STATION THEY CHANGED THE SEAT BELT BUT NOT REMEMBER THE WHICH SEAT BELT THEY CHANGED. PLEASE DO THE INSPECTION AND DO THE NEEDFUL HELP WHO EVER STILL DRIVING HONDA CIVIC. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ME AT (XXXXX) IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11143017

Incident

Oct 24, 2018

Mileage

110,000 mi

AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND STAYED ON

NHTSA ID

11065709

Incident

Dec 9, 2017

Mileage

144,000 mi

MY SRS LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, NO ONE COULD FIND THE PROBLEM. NOW, MY SEAT BELT, DRIVER SIDE WILL NOT LATCH WHEN I PUT THE STRAP IN.

NHTSA ID

10969051

Incident

Mar 11, 2017

WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 HONDA CIVIC MY AIRBAG SENOR LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYS ON ,I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPAIRED AT A COST OF $500 DOLLAR SHOULD THIS BE A PROBLEM FOR HONDA

NHTSA ID

10864277

Incident

May 4, 2003

SRS LIGHT COMES ON CONSTANTLY. CODE READS SEAT BELT BUCKLE, CHANGED MULTIPLE TIMES UNDER SEAT BELT WARRANTY. NOW TECH LINE ADVISES REPLACING WIRE HARNESS INTO SEAT BELT...DEALER WANTS OVER $900. HONDA WILL COVER UNDER WARRANTY ANYTHING SEAT BELT RELATED BUT THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT AIR BAGS...AND WON'T COVER IT. PLEASE COVER THIS UNDER WARRANTY HONDA...IT'S NOT EVEN GUARANTEED THIS WILL CLEAR THE CODE. THEORY IS AIR BAGS ARE DISABLED IF SRS LIGHT IS ON...WHY HAVE THE HARNESS ANYWAY...SERVICE HAS USED ELECTRICAL CONTACT CLEANER, RE-WIRED THE END OF THE HARNESS, BUT ONLY SATISFIES FOR A FEW MONTHS AND CODE CONTINUES TO ELIMINATE SRS LIGHT WHICH DISABLES AIRBAGS. WHY COVER SEATBELTS BUT NOT AIRBAG/SRS SYSTEM?

NHTSA ID

10818820

Incident

Sep 8, 2015

Mileage

99,000 mi

YESTERDAY, WHILE DRIVING, I NOTICED THAT MY AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT, ON THE DASH, WAS ILLUMINATED. APPROXIMATELY, 3 - 4 WEEKS AGO, I HAD MY AIRBAGS REPLACED AT MY LOCAL DEALER, DUE TO A RECALL NOTICE I RECEIVED IN THE MAIL. TODAY, I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SAME DEALER THAT REPLACED MY AIRBAGS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ISSUE WAS PROBABLY BE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SEATBELT, OF WHICH, SHE HAD SEEN COSTS FOR THIS TO BE BETWEEN $200 & $450. I SHOWED HER THAT I HAD ANOTHER WARNING LIGHT, ALERTING ME TO ANY SEATBELT ISSUE, BUT, SHE TOLD ME THAT WARNING LIGHT ALERTS DRIVERS TO 'PUT ON THEIR SEATBELT', AND THAT THE WARNING LIGHT THAT I WAS SEEING ILLUMINATED ON MY DASH IS FOR THE ENTIRE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM, (I.E. AIRBAGS, SEATBELTS, ETC.). SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE THOUGHT MY ISSUE WAS TIED TO THE DRIVER'S SEATBELT, BECAUSE IT GETS THE MOST USE. SHOULDN'T ALL COMPONENTS, DEALING WITH OCCUPANT RESTRAINT, BE CONSIDERED WARRANTED FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE?

NHTSA ID

10758530

Incident

Aug 21, 2015

Mileage

107,000 mi

MY SEATBELT/SRS LIGHT WENT CAME ON AND WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE SRS SENSOR BUT IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY. TO ME IT SEEMS LIKE A SAFETY ISSUE THAT HONDA DOES NOT COVER THE SRS SENSOR IN THE BUCKLE. WITH THIS SENSOR GOING BAD IT COULD CAUSE AN ISSUE WITH THE AIRBAG. MY HONDA HAS HAD MULTIPLE RECALLS ON THE AIRBAG BUT NOTHING ON THE SENSOR. I BELIEVER HONDA SHOULD COVER THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10705357

Incident

Jul 25, 2014

Mileage

62,000 mi

THE AIRBAG/ SRS LIGHT WENT OFF AND HONDA DEALER SAID IT WAS THE SEATBELTS AND REQUIRED A $530 REPAIR. I AM NOT SURE WHY THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY FOR SAFETY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10618845

Incident

Aug 4, 2014

Mileage

78,721 mi

TRANSMISSION SLIP FOR 20 MIN WHEN I FIRST START THE CAR THEN IT SHIFT HARD AFTER THAT . SEAT BELT LIGHT ALWAYS ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10499722

Incident

Jan 1, 2013

Mileage

64,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT CONNECT TO THE ANCHOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE LATCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10491727

Incident

Jan 12, 2012

Mileage

120,000 mi

HONDA HAS A LIFETIME SEATBELT WARRANTY THAT STATES "HONDA WILL REPAIR OR REPLACE ANY SEAT BELT COMPONENT THAT FAILS TO FUNCTION PROPERLY DURING NORMAL USE." SEATBELT SENSOR IS NOT WORKING AND HONDA NOW SAYS IT'S AN ELECTRICAL NOT A SEAT BELT COMPONENT AND NOT COVERED. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE SENSOR ON/OFF STATE AFFECTS AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10479391

Incident

Sep 28, 2012

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SRS AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT IF THE COMPONENT WAS NOT REPLACED, NOT THE AIRBAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10445842

Incident

Nov 1, 2011

SRS WARNING LIGHT APPEARED IN DECEMBER 2011, MADE APPOINTMENT WITH POHANKA HONDA IN FREDERICKSBURG, VA. TO HAVE DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. DEALER STATED THAT SEATBELT BUCKLE HAS BAD SENSOR AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. SEAT COMPONENTS HAVE A LIFETIME WARRANTY AS STATED IN USERS MANUAL PAGE 48, AND IN WARRANTIES MANUAL PAGE 31 STATING: HONDA PROVIDES A LIFETIME WARRANTY ON SEAT BELTS. HONDA WILL REPAIR OR REPLACE ANY SEAT BELT COMPONENT THAT FAILS TO FUNCTION PROPERLY DURING NORMAL USE. IN WARRANTY MANUAL IT STATES, HONDA WILL REPAIR OR REPLACE, AT ITS OPTION, ANY HONDA SEAT BELT COMPONENT THAT FAILS TO FUNCTION PROPERLY DURING NORMAL USE THIS INCLUDES ALL PARTS AND LABOR CHARGES. POHANKA HONDA FAILED TO WARRANTY PART STATING THE BUCKLE IS NOT PART OF THE SEAT BELT IT IS PART OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND THEREFORE NOT WARRANTIED. HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE STATED THAT THE BUCKLE IS NOT PART OF THE SEAT BELT AND THEREFORE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. HONDA NEEDS TO WARRANTY AND STAND BEHIND THIS WARRANTY. NOT ABLE TO PASS VIRGINIA STATE INSPECTION WITH THIS LIGHT ON AND FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10443941

Incident

Jan 5, 2012

Mileage

141,150 mi

FRONT END COLLISION IN CLEARWATER FL IN WHICH THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE DRIVER AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER'S HEAD HIT WINDSHIELD, HE HAS SIGNIFICANT HEAD, NECK AND BACK INJURIES. THE VEHICLE, A 2003 HONDA CIVIC IS A TOTAL LOSS. THE CAR'S SRS LIGHT HAD COME ON APPROX. 1 MONTH BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. A HONDA DEALER REPLACED A PART NEEDED FOR THAT APPROX. 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. *KB

NHTSA ID

10413297

Incident

Jul 9, 2011

Mileage

62,888 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SRS WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT HE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE SENSORS IN THE SEATS WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 87,000.

NHTSA ID

10393719

Incident

Dec 29, 2010

Mileage

87,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT HAS LOCKED TWICE. THE RELEASE BUTTON FAILED TO RELEASE THE SEAT BELT. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAD TO CUT THE SEAT BELT TO FREE THE PASSENGER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS CHILDPROOF AND WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE DEALER ORDERED A NEW SEAT BELT AND WILL REPLACE THE CURRENT ONE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,000.

NHTSA ID

10204078

Incident

Sep 17, 2007

Mileage

60,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HYDROPLANED AND IMPACTED ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON. PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DIDN'T RETRACT, AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY UPON IMPACT, ONLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE DID.*AK

NHTSA ID

10033846

HEADREST RESTRICTS THE VIEW OF THE DRIVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10026221

Incident

Jun 27, 2003

Mileage

80 mi

MY 2003 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID HAS A FAULTY SEAT BELT. THE BELT LOCKS UP AS THE PASSENGER TRIES TO BRING IT FORWARD. THIS CONDITION ALSO OCCURRED IN MY OTHER 4 HONDA CARS. THE SEAT BELTS ALSO TEND TO RATCHET UP AFTER BEING CONNECTED AND CAUSE DISCOMFORT TO THE PASSENGER AS THEY BECOME EXCESSIVELY TIGHT. THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT (1) THE RATCHETING OF THE SEAT BELTS IS ASSOCIATED WITH CHILD SAFETY PROTECTION AND (2) THE RATCHETING SHOULD ONLY OCCUR WHEN THE BELT IS EXTENDED FAR OUT FOR ATTACHING TO A CHILD SAFETY SEAT. I HAVE DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM IN THE PRESENCE OF THE SERVICE MGR. THE DEALER ALLEGES TO HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT; HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. I HAVE HAD OTHER EXPERIENCES WITH AMERICAN HONDA ALLEGEDLY REPLACING A PART (REFERENCE COMPLAINT # 10008215, IGNITION SWITCH RECALL) ONLY TO FIND THAT HONDAS STATEMENTS AND CLAIMS ARE HIGHLY QUESTIONABLE. I NOW ASK MYSELF WHETHER HONDA MIGHT BE ENGAGING IN DECEPTIVE AND FRAUDULENT PRACTICES TO PROTECT ITS PROFIT LINE IN DISREGARD OF THE SAFETY OF ITS CUSTOMERS. HONDA HAS FAILED TO RESPOND TO MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE ADVERTISED FUEL ECONOMY OF THE HYBRID. AFTER MEETING WITH A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, ERIC CATHERINE, FROM AMERICAN HONDA ON 3/24/03, THE REPRESENTATIVE MADE CERTAIN COMMITMENTS TO ADDRESS MY CONCERNS AND PROMISED TO GET BACK WITH ME IN A COUPLES OF DAYS. ONE OF THE COMMITMENTS WAS TO PERFORM A FUEL CONSUMPTION TEST ON MY HYBRID. AS OF 6/12/03, NEITHER THE REPRESENTATIVE NOR ANYONE FROM AMERICAN HONDA HAS LIVED UP TO THEIR COMMITMENTS. ACCORDING TO THE FUEL ECONOMY GUIDE POSTED ON THE VEHICLE, THE HYBRID IS SUPPOSED TO GET 48 MPG/CITY AND 47 MPG/HIGHWAY. EVEN THE FINE PRINT STATES THAT THE ACTUAL MILEAGE SHOULD RANGE BETWEEN 40 56 IN THE CITY AND 39-55 ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE BEEN TRACKING/DOCUMENTING MY ACTUAL MPG. MY MPG HAS NEVER EXCEEDED 35. SINCE FUEL ECONOMY IS THE PRIMARY REASON FOR PURCHASING THE HYBRID, POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS SHOULD BE EXTREMELY SKEPTICAL OF THE CLAIMS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10021500

Incident

Mar 24, 2003

Mileage

60 mi