12 of the 619 complaints about the 2003 Honda Civic are about the equipment — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 45,000 miles.
12
Complaints
3
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
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.
NHTSA complaint #10701641 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
THE PEELING METAL PLATING ON THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES CAUSES CUTS TO FINGERS AND HANDS. THEY RANGE FROM SEVERE PAPER CUTS TO DEEP FINGER CUTS. THE CHROME PLATING ON THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES PEEL AND CREATE SHARP EDGES THAT CUT AND DRAW BLOOD. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE DOOR IS OPENED. OUR WHOLE FAMILY HAD CUTS ESPECIALLY MY DAUGHTER.
NHTSA complaint #10538145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT
CAR WAS IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. THE BACKSEAT OF THE 2003 HONDA CIVIC CAUGHT FIRE UPON THE FRONT IMPACT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD NOT DETECT WHY OR HOW THE FIRE STARTED.
NHTSA complaint #10376645 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
MY AIR CONDITION JUST DIED , ITS NOT A FUSE , MIGHT BE ELECTRICAL , MY MECHANIC SAYS EVEN AFTER 7YRS IT SHOULD NOT HAVE DIED. DRIVING AROUND IN 95 DEGREE WEATHER , LOTS OF RAIN WITH NO DEFROST EITHER. WIPERS WORK, NEED HELP TO FIX THIS PROBLEM -EXPENSIVE IF ITS A SENSOR?DO NOT KNOW THE PROBLEM AT ALL.
NHTSA complaint #10342842 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT
2003 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. ORIGINAL OWNER CAR HAS 52 K. RECENTLY I EXPERIENCED A NEAR DEATH ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE ENGINE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED BY ITSELF AS I EXITED A SLIGHT UPHILL DRIVEWAY. AS I APPROACHED THE END OF THE DRIVEWAY I STOPPED BEFORE TURNING ONTO THE ROAD, I HEARD A THUD OR CLUNK AND THEN THE CAR LURCHED AND SPED RAPIDLY INTO THE ROAD WHICH WAS WET FROM RAIN. THE CAR SKIDDED AND FISHTAILED L TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES BUT THEY WERE UNRESPONSIVE. I TRIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WHICH DID NOT RESPOND EITHER. THE CAR DID A 360 TURN AND HAD GONE ALMOST 200 YARDS FROM WHERE IT EXITED THE DRIVEWAY. THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BLOW UP. I COULD SMELL SMOKE. ALL OF THIS HAPPENED IN UNDER 30 SECONDS. BY SOME MERCIFUL FORCE, THE CAR HIT THE MUD EMBANKMENT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THANKFULLY NO OTHER CARS WERE ON THE ROAD. I JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS STILL RACING AND I COULD NOT TURN IT OFF, I RAN ACROSS THE ROAD BECAUSE I WASN'T SURE IF THE CAR WOULD BLOW UP OR KEEP GOING. AFTER A FEW SECONDS I RAN OVER AGAIN AND COULD TURN IT OFF BUT THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS DID NOT WORK . THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE OAKLAND, CA HONDA DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT. THEY PERFORMED A BASIC DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND TOLD ME THE CAR IS OK TO DRIVE AND NOTHING IS VISIBLY WRONG WITH IT EXCEPT FOR THE DENT ON THE FRONT BUMPER. THEY HAVE CLOSED THE CASE. IN THE PAST THIS CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES FOR A RECALL DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE CVT (CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION) BECAUSE IT JUDDERS AFTER COMING TO A STOP. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT HONDA HAS ADEQUATELY RESEARCHED MY CASE. A CAR SHOULD NOT ACCELERATE AS MINE DID AND I BELIEVE THAT THE FACT THIS MODEL HAS ALREADY HAD A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION WARRANTS A MORE THAN CURSORY EVALUATION. HONDA IS RISKING THE SAFETY OF HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLES SAFETY BY NOT TRYING TO DETERMINE WHY MY VEHICLE SPED OUT OF CONTROL BY ITSELF. I PLAN TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER IN THANKS THAT I AM ALIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10260155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CIVIC. THE AIR CONDITIONER UNIT DOES NOT BLOW COLD AIR. IN MAY 2006, THE DEALER REPLACED THE CONDENSER. IN MAY 2007, THE CONDENSER FAILED AGAIN. THE DEALER WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE AIR CONDITIONER STILL DOES NOT OPERATE NORMALLY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 65000 AND THE ORIGINAL FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45000. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THERE IS LACK OF PROTECTION OFFERED BEHIND THE VENTS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FRONT BUMPER TO PROTECT THE AC CONDENSER FROM BEING DAMAGED BY ROAD DEBRIS. UPDATED
NHTSA complaint #10205757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
A/C CONDENSER LEAKED DUE TO DESIGN FLAW THAT ALLOWS ROAD DEBRIS TO HIT CONDENSER DIRECTLY AND CAUSE DAMAGE, LEAK, AND FAILURE FOR COLD A/C FLOW.
NHTSA complaint #10201054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES
PROBLEMS WITH 2003 HONDA CIVIC LX REMOTE/ALARM SYSTEM.*MR THE CONSUMER HAD A REMOTE/ALARM SYSTEM INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. THE CAR ALARM SOUNDS OFF A DISTURBING PIERCING SOUND EACH TIME THE DOORS OPEN AND CLOSE. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE SOUND TURNED OFF THE ENTIRE SYSTEM FAILED AND THE DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THE SOUND WAS TURNED BACK ON. WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER BECAME AWARE THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A DOOR AJAR INDICATOR.
NHTSA complaint #10089567 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
COMPLAINTS WITH 2003 HONDA CIVIC ALARM SYSTEM. *MR THE ALARM WOULD NOT SHUT WHEN USING THE VALET KEY, THE DOOR DID NOT LOCK PROPERLY. THE REMOTE WAS REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM REMAINED THE SAME. THE VEHICLE DID NOT POSSESS AND OPEN DOOR INDICATOR. THE CONSUMER SEEKED A REQUEST FOR ARBITRATION AND REIMBURSEMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10087073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
MY VEHICLE (2003 HONDA CIVIC SI) CAUGHT ON FIRE ON SEPT 13TH NIGHT AROUND 9:45PM. WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO HOME FROM A MOVIE THEATER, SOMEBODY FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE SPOTTED THE FIRE AND STOPPED ME. I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE, LOOKED UNDER THE CAR, THERE WAS A FIRE BETWEEN TWO FRONT TIRES. I CALLED 911, POLICE AND FIRE RESPONDED AND PUT OFF THE FIRE FROM INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. MY INSURANCE COMPANY INVESTIGATED AND BLAMED ON JIFFY LUBE, WHO CHANGED THE OIL ON THE SAME DAY EVENING AROUND 6:30. JIFFY LUBE WENT WITH SOME INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION AND CONCLUDED THAT CHANGING THE OIL DIDN'T CAUSE THE FIRE AND BLAMED ON MANUFACTURER PROBLEM. BOTH INVESTIGATION CONCLUSIONS ARE SIMILAR. CONCLUSION FROM INSURANCE PARTY ( MDE ENGINEERS INC) ORIGIN OF FIRE WAS AT THE EXHAUST PIPE NEAR THE FLANGE. CAUSE OF FIRE WAS THE AIR CONDITIONER (A/C) DRAIN TUBE FROM THE VENTILATION BOX CONTACTING THE EXHAUST PIPE. CONCLUSION FROM JIFFY LUBE PARTY (SCHAEFER ENGINERRING) CAUSE OF FIRE WAS AN A/C CONDENSATE DRAIN HOSE COMING IN CONTACT WITH THE VEHICLE EXHAUST PIPE. HOSE WAS PROBABLY NOT PROPERLY MOUNTED DURING THE MANUFACTURING AND ALLOWED THE HOSE TO MOVE AND CONTACT THE EXHAUST PIPE.
NHTSA complaint #10045220 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
RIGHT FRONT SPEAKER KEEPS GOING OUT. RADIO WAS REPLACED TWICE.
NHTSA complaint #10037313 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. *AK THE CONSUMER HAD COME TO AN INTERSECTION, HAD HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, SUDDENLY THE STEERING LOCKED, AIMED THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT, WENT OFF THE ROAD, OVER THE CURB AND ALMOST REAR ENDED BY A TRACTOR TRAILER. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN THE DRIVING LANE. THE CONSUMER WAS ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED OUT ALONG WITH THE REMOTE STARTER WHICH ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO BE DRIVEN WITHOUT KEYS. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER FOR A BRAKE DEFECT. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10022618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.