2003 Honda Civic Reliability
The 2003 Honda Civic has 524 owner complaints and 24 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and powertrain / transmission. Compared with nearby Civic model years (2001–2005), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Civic's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
524
NHTSA owner complaints
24
Recall campaigns
94
Complaints citing a crash
6
Complaints citing a fire
2003 Honda Civic complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2003 model year, filed between 2002 and 2024. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 146 | 28% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 103 | 20% |
| Electrical system | 52 | 10% |
| Engine & cooling | 37 | 7% |
| Service brakes | 36 | 7% |
| Speed control / throttle | 34 | 6% |
| Body structure | 28 | 5% |
| Exterior lighting | 23 | 4% |
2003 Honda Civic recalls
24 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2003 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06E023000 | Mar 13, 2006 | Exterior lighting — headlights | Certain anzo combination headlamp assemblies sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles. Some combination lamps are not equipped with amber side reflectors which fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps,… |
| 06E025000 | Mar 21, 2006 | Exterior lighting — headlights | Certain poli-auto combination headlamp assemblies, p/nos. 11-728, 11-728d, 11-710, 11-419, 11-713, 11-703, 11-704, 11-708p, 11-735, 11-725, 11-726, 11-716 (p&c), 11-721-1, 11-733, 11-729, 11-730, and 11-732, sold as replacement lamps for use on certain… |
| 06E026000 | Mar 23, 2006 | Exterior lighting | Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to federal motor vehicle… |
| 06E032000 | Apr 18, 2006 | Exterior lighting | Certain eagle eyes and sonar headlights and corner lights sold as aftermarket for use on 1988-2005 Honda Civic, 1990-2005 Honda accord, and 1990-2001 acura integra passenger vehicles listed above. Headlights and corner lights that are not equipped with amber… |
| 06E038000 | May 8, 2006 | Exterior lighting | Certain alfaotto combination headlamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, lamps,… |
| 06E040000 | May 15, 2006 | Exterior lighting | Certain e speed racing combination lamps sold as replacement equipment for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no.… |
| 06E044000 | May 22, 2006 | Exterior lighting | Certain j & a auto accessories combination headlamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no.… |
| 06E060000 | Jun 29, 2006 | Exterior lighting | Certain aai motorsports combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above list passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108,… |
| 06E064000 | Jul 17, 2006 | Exterior lighting | Certain tradesonic combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108,… |
| 07V512000 | Nov 1, 2007 | Fuel system — storage / tank assembly | 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. |
| 07E104000 | Dec 11, 2007 | Visibility / wipers — glass, side/rear | Certain curved tempered replacement glass manufactured by hangzhou safety glass ltd and supplied to safelite by auto temp inc., identified as dot-430, and sold for use on certain domestic and foreign vehicles may not break into small pieces as expected of… |
| 08E050000 | Aug 11, 2008 | Exterior lighting — headlights | K2 motor is recalling 1,921 aftermarket headlamps of various models sold for use on the above listed vehicles. These headlamps are missing the amber side reflex reflector which fails to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard… |
| 09E012000 | Apr 7, 2009 | Exterior lighting | Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety… |
| 09E025000 | May 11, 2009 | Exterior lighting — headlights | Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety… |
| 10V364000 | Aug 5, 2010 | Electrical system — ignition | 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… |
| 12V136000 | Mar 30, 2012 | Exterior lighting — headlights / switch | 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… |
| 14V353000 | Jun 20, 2014 | Air bags | 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… |
| 14V700000 | Nov 4, 2014 | Air bags | 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… |
| 15V320000 | May 28, 2015 | Air bags — frontal / driver side / inflator module | 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… |
| 15V370000 | Jun 15, 2015 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | 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… |
| 18V268000 | Apr 26, 2018 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | 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… |
| 19V182000 | Mar 6, 2019 | Air bags — frontal / driver side / inflator module | 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,… |
| 19V499000 | Jun 27, 2019 | Air bags — frontal / driver side / inflator module | 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… |
| 19V501000 | Jun 27, 2019 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | 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… |
How the 2003 compares with nearby Civic years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Civic analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1,089 | 27 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2002 | 717 | 24 | Air bags | Avoid |
| 2003 (this page) | 524 | 24 | Air bags | Avoid |
| 2004 | 385 | 15 | Air bags | Caution |
| 2005 | 364 | 15 | Air bags | Caution |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2003 Honda Civic
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Engine & cooling: look for coolant leaks or low coolant, watch the temperature gauge on a long test drive, and check for overheating history.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 24 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2003 Honda Civic can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2003 Honda Civic reliability FAQ
Is the 2003 Honda Civic reliable?
The 2003 Honda Civic has 524 owner complaints and 24 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and powertrain / transmission. Compared with nearby Civic model years (2001–2005), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Civic's typical year.
What are the most common 2003 Honda Civic problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2003 Honda Civic are air bags (146), powertrain / transmission (103), electrical system (52), engine & cooling (37). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2003 Honda Civic have recalls?
NHTSA lists 24 recall campaigns for the 2003 Honda Civic, including 06E023000 (exterior lighting — headlights) and 06E025000 (exterior lighting — headlights). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2003 Honda Civic compare with the 2002 and 2004 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2002 has 717 complaints and 24 recalls (avoid); the 2004 has 385 complaints and 15 recalls (caution). The 2003 has 524 complaints and 24 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2003 Honda Civic?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Honda Civic research
Other Honda Civic model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2003 Civic, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.