Total Complaints
67 filings
HONDA CIVIC HYBRID · model year
67 NHTSA complaints, 6 crash reports, and 6 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2003HONDACIVIC HYBRID carries 67 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 6 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2003 CIVIC HYBRID is power train with 24 filings, followed by air bags (9) and engine (8). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 6 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 77 investigation files overlapping the 2003 CIVIC HYBRID, and 9 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
67 filings
Crashes Reported
6 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 24 |
| AIR BAGS | 9 |
| ENGINE | 8 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 6 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 4 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 2 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 2 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
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 3.2CL, 2003-2006 Acura MDX, and 2002-2003 Acur
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 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles. The
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 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles.
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 vehicles manufactured February 24, 2002, to
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, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV
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 originally sold, or ever registered, in ge
AFTER THE RECALL APPOINTMENT ON 5/3/2019,THE SIGN "ABS" STILL COMES ON ALL THE TIME IN THE PANEL.BESIDES,THE AUTO AUDIO SYSTEM FAILS WHEN THE IGNITION IS ON. WHEN THE CAR IS NOT ON THE AUDIO SYSTEM COMES ON AGAIN. THIS MAY BE CHECKED BESIDES THE ABS SIGN.
Mileage: 59,800
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON ANTIOCH RD. CRESTVIEW, FL AND HAD STOPPED AT THE STOP SIGN TO JUMP ONTO P.J. ADAMS RD. WHEN TRAFFIC PERMITTED I TIRED TO PULL OUT THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD A FEW FEET PUTTING THE HOOD AREA COMPLETELY IN THE ROAD WHEN THE D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND THE CAR STOPPED MOVING . THE MOTOR REVES UP BUT THE CAR WONT MOVE. I WAS ALMOST HIT BYE A SEMI TRUCK . AFTER REPLACING ATT SENSORS THE D LIGHT IS STILL FLASHING AND THE CAR WONT MOVE . I HAVE EXQHAUSTED ALL REPAIRS THAT I CAN DO AND WAS FORCED TO SCRAPE THE CAR BECAUSE IT WAS MY ONLY WAY OF GOING AND AFTER SPENDING ALMOST 1000BUCKS WAS STILL UNABLE TO FIX THIS CAR. ITS VERY DANGEROUS IN THE FACT THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN HIT AND KILLED DUE TO THIS UNEXPECTED AND SUDDEN SHUT DOWN WITH NO WARNING
Mileage: 182,670
WHEN STARTING FROM AT STOP THE CAR HESITATES AND SHUDDERS WHEN YOU PRESS THE GAS PEDAL UNLESS YOU LET THE CAR IDLE AND ROLL FORWARD FIRST. IT ALSO HAS PROBLEMS WHEN YOU HAVE THE CRUISE CONTROL ON FOR MORE THAN 10 MIN. AFTER APPROX 10MIN IT ACTS LIKE I HAVE TURNED OFF AND BACK ON THE CRUISE CONTROL SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT DOES TURN OFF AND THEN YOU CAN TURN THE MAIN CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON AND THEN RESET THE CRUISE BUT IT ONLY STAYS WORKING FOR 1-2 MIN BEFORE SHUTTING ITSELF BACK OFF.
Mileage: 180,000
THERE IS A SHUTTERING IN THE TRANSMISSION THAT OCCURS WHEN THE CAR IS ATTEMPTING TO GET OUT OF FIRST GEAR. THE SHUTTERING IS BECOMING MORE VIOLENT. THE CAR HAS ALSO SLIPPED OUT OF DRIVE (WHILE ON THE ROAD) AND WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. I'VE READ THAT THE SHUTTERING ISN'T FAIRLY COMMON IN THIS MODEL AND/OR TYPE OF TRANSMISSION.
Mileage: 138,000
I DROVE THIS 2003 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID TOOK MY BABY HONESTLY FROM THE SHOPPING MARKET. IT WAS JUST AT THE RIGHT TURNING CORNER, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER TO MOVE, I IMMEDIATELY PRESS THE EMERGENCY BUTTON, GOT OUT OFF THE VEHICLE LET OTHER AUTOS PASSED ME AHEAD BY THE SIDE WAY. LATER SOME KINDLY GUYS HELP ME PUSHED THE CAR TO A PARKING LOT NEAR BY. THE TRANSMISSION WAS OUT OF WORK. AFTER MY FRIEND HELP ME TOOK BABY HOME, THE VEHICLEL WAS TOWED BACK. GLAD IS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY. IT ONLY JUST PASSED 100K MILES. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS GOOD, OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR IS OK. I THINK NOT ONLY ME HAVE THIS QUALITY PROBLEM. IT IS TOO DANGEROUS FOR US WITHOUT A SIGN.
Mileage: 106,000
WHEN DRIVING AT 50MPH ON A NATIONAL HIGHWAY 95S HEADING TO PHILADELPHIA AROUND 11AM,THE SPEED OF THE CAR SUDDENLY REDUCE TO 20MPH AND THEN STALLED AND STOPPED MOVING. I HAD TO PULL ASIDE TO CHECK THE ENGINE. AFTER SOME THIRTY MINUTES OF REST,I HAD TO RETURN HOME WITH AN IDEA OF GETTING THE CAR CHECKED BY THE DEALER.THE DEALER REORTED OF HAVING NO PROBLEM IN THE ENGINE AND I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK AND RUNNING AS CAREFULLY AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT USING FOR A LONG TRIP. I HAD SOME DENTS DUE TO OTHER DRIVER WITH RASH DRIVING AND HITTING THE CAR.I NEED TO GET THE DENTS FIXED AS SOON AS THE PRESENT WINTER SEASON TURNS FEASIBLE FOR EASY RUNNING.
Mileage: 38,600
WHEN DRIVING AT 50MPH ON A NATIONAL HIGHWAY 95S HEADING TO PHILADELPHIA AROUND 11AM,THE SPEED OF THE CAR SUDDENLY REDUCE TO 20MPH AND THEN STALLED AND STOPPED MOVING. I HAD TO PULL ASIDE TO CHECK THE ENGINE. AFTER SOME THIRTY MINUTES OF REST,I HAD TO RETURN HOME WITH AN IDEA OF GETTING THE CAR CHECKED BY THE DEALER.THE DEALER REORTED OF HAVING NO PROBLEM IN THE ENGINE AND I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK AND RUNNING AS CAREFULLY AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT USING FOR A LONG TRIP. I HAD SOME DENTS DUE TO OTHER DRIVER WITH RASH DRIVING AND HITTING THE CAR.I NEED TO GET THE DENTS FIXED AS SOON AS THE PRESENT WINTER SEASON TURNS FEASIBLE FOR EASY RUNNING.
Mileage: 38,600
WHEN DRIVING AT 50MPH ON A NATIONAL HIGHWAY 95S HEADING TO PHILADELPHIA AROUND 11AM,THE SPEED OF THE CAR SUDDENLY REDUCE TO 20MPH AND THEN STALLED AND STOPPED MOVING. I HAD TO PULL ASIDE TO CHECK THE ENGINE. AFTER SOME THIRTY MINUTES OF REST,I HAD TO RETURN HOME WITH AN IDEA OF GETTING THE CAR CHECKED BY THE DEALER.THE DEALER REORTED OF HAVING NO PROBLEM IN THE ENGINE AND I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK AND RUNNING AS CAREFULLY AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT USING FOR A LONG TRIP. I HAD SOME DENTS DUE TO OTHER DRIVER WITH RASH DRIVING AND HITTING THE CAR.I NEED TO GET THE DENTS FIXED AS SOON AS THE PRESENT WINTER SEASON TURNS FEASIBLE FOR EASY RUNNING.
Mileage: 38,600
JERKING AND NOISES GOT WORSE OVER A ONE WEEK PERIOD. DEALERSHIP, WHERE ALL SERVICE HAS OCCURRED FOR THIS CAR, SAYS IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION ($4800) AND IS NOT WORTH REPAIRING. THE MILEAGE IS QUITE LOW FOR THIS PROBLEM, 133,000. WE'VE HEARD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THESE HYBRIDS 2002-2005.
Mileage: 133,000
"TAKATA RECALL" 2003 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID WITH IMA AND ENGINE LIGHTS WENT OFF. NO CHARGE TO BATTERY CAUSE THE CAR TO MALFUNCTIONS. SUCH AS ELECTRICAL STEERING WHEEL STOP WORKING. ENGINE LOST POWER AND STOP WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET AT STOP SIDE. I CHANGED NEW DIEHARD 12V BATTERY AND ALSO CHECKED AND VERIFIED THE IMA BATTERY IS GOOD (EACH CELL ABOVE 7 VOLTS). I THINK THE CAR NEED TO UPDATE SOFTWARE FROM HONDA. PLEASE HELP US FOR THE RECALL TO UPDATE SOFTWARE. MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY POST THEIR STORY ON YOUTUBE
Mileage: 3
"TAKATA RECALL" 2003 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID WITH IMA AND ENGINE LIGHTS WENT OFF. NO CHARGE TO BATTERY CAUSE THE CAR TO MALFUNCTIONS. SUCH AS ELECTRICAL STEERING WHEEL STOP WORKING. ENGINE LOST POWER AND STOP WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET AT STOP SIDE. I CHANGED NEW DIEHARD 12V BATTERY AND ALSO CHECKED AND VERIFIED THE IMA BATTERY IS GOOD (EACH CELL ABOVE 7 VOLTS). I THINK THE CAR NEED TO UPDATE SOFTWARE FROM HONDA. PLEASE HELP US FOR THE RECALL TO UPDATE SOFTWARE. MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY POST THEIR STORY ON YOUTUBE
Mileage: 3
THIS CAR WAS TOTALED IN 2009! BUT I KEEP GETTING RECALL NOTICES. I CHECK THE "DESTROYED" BOX, BUT THE RECALL NOTICES KEEP COMING. HOW CAN I CONVINCE YOUR DATABASE THAT THIS CAR NO LONGER EXISTS?
VEHICLE BRAKES WON'T WORK WHEN BRAKING ON A BUMPY ROAD OR HIGHWAY. VEHICLE WONT STOP ON TOP ON A BUMP THAT IS ON THE ROAD. WHEN IN MOTION, WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP ON A BUMP THAT IT IS ON THE ROAD, VEHICLE BRAKES WILL SLIDE AND NOT STOP. EITHER ON CITY OR HIGHWAY ROADS. I AM CONCERNED THAT WHEN I AM SPEEDING AND I HAVE TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER CAR IN FRONT OF ME I WILL END UP CRASHING INTO THEM IF THERE IS A BUMP AHEAD OF ME, MY BRAKES WONT WORK AND BRAKES WILL SLIDE AND NOT WORK. IT HAS HAPPEN MANY TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICCE IN 2003 BUT MY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN IGNORED BY THE HONDA DEALERSHIP.
CAR CAME OUT OF PARKING AND WHEN IT REACHED ON CITY STREET TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING ON STREET NEXT (CITY STREET) TO CINEMA HALL AND THEN CAR COMPLETELY HALTED. FOR A MOMENT IT FELT LIKE TIRE'S WERE PUNCTURED AS IT WAS LOOSING DIRECTION.
MY TRANSMISSION FAILING AT MILE 90.000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DROVE WITH THE HIGH BEAMS ILLUMINATED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 215,000.
Mileage: 215,000
WHILE DRIVING THE LOW BEAM SPUTTER AND THEN WHEN OUT MY HUSBAND REPLACED THE BULB AND AFTER A DAY IT JUST WENT OUT. HE REPLACED AGAIN FOR IT WAS TO BE INSPECTED THE FOLLOWING WEEK. HONDA PREFORMED OUR STATE INSPECTION AND TO OUR DISMAY THEY LET US KNOW THAT WE NEEDED A NEW BULB. 3 BULBS IN UNDER TWO WEEKS. I NOTICED THERE WAS A RECALL, NOW MY VEHICLE IS LISTED BUT MY NUMBER IS NOT AND IT IS SHOWING SYMPTOMS?
Mileage: 135,000
2003 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID TRANSMISSION ISSUES AT ONLY 115,907 MILES HAVE BEEN A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THIS COMPANY. I JUST HAD TO BE EXCUSED FROM MY SHIFT OF WHERE I PERFORM LAW ENFORCEMENT DUTIES SO I COULD PICK UP MY WIFE AND TWO TEENAGERS FROM THE CAR THAT HAS BEEN THE BANE OF MY EXISTENCE AND THE BANE OF OTHERS' AS WELL FROM WHAT I HAVE READ IN THE UMPTEEN DIFFERENT FORUMS AND SITES ACROSS THE WORLD. ASIA DID IT RIGHT BY TREATING THEIR PEOPLE AND HONDA OWNERS RIGHT BY RECALLING THEIR TRANSMISSIONS ACROSS THE BOARD DUE TO THE LACK OF PERFORMANCE AND DURABILITY IN THE CVT POWERTRAIN. THIS VEHICLE LEFT MY FAMILY STRANDED ALONG A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY AFTER HAVING TO COAST TO A STOP FROM THE FAR RIGHT LANE BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED ACCELERATING WHILE OPERATING PERFECTLY FINE AT 70 MPH. THEN WE HAD TO WAIT ALONG THE HIGHWAY FOR AN HOUR BEFORE A TOW TRUCK COULD COME AND PICK UP THE CAR AND TOW IT TO THE NEAREST HONDA DEALERSHIP WHICH I'M IT WILL COST AN ARM AND A LEG TO GET THIS FIXED! IN T
Mileage: 115,907
"JUDDERING" HAPPENS WITH MY CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION (CVT) WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP AND WHEN ACCELERATING TO ENTER AN EXPRESSWAY. "JUDDERING" MEANS THAT THE TRANS IS SLIPPING AND MAKING NOISE (LOSES POWER WHEN YOU NEED IT THE MOST- VERY DANGEROUS). RIVER TOWN HONDA GRANDVILLE, MI STATED THAT IT WOULD COST ME $2,100.00 TO REPLACE IT WITH A NEW ONE. HONDA JAPAN HAS RECALLED THESE TRANSMISSIONS IN THEIR HCH MODEL YEARS 2003 THROUGH 2005. WHAT CAN WE DO TO GET HONDA AMERICA TO TREAT US TO THE SAME RECALL THAT JAPAN HAS? THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, DEFECT WITH THE CVT. HONDA MAKES QUALITY VEHICLES WITH VERY GOOD RELIABILITY, MY OTHER CAR IS ALSO A HCH 2005 WITH A MANUAL TRANS AND ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS. PLEASE CHECK INTO THE PROBLEM (I AM NOT ALONE WITH THIS) AND GET HONDA AMERICA TO STAND BEHIND THEIR REPUTATION AND RECALL THE CVTS OR REIMBURSE THE $2,100.00 COST TO GET THEM REPLACED. THIS IS AN ONGOING, EVERYDAY OCCURANCE NOT LIMITED TO JUST ONE TIME. PLEASE HELP!
Mileage: 156,819
HAD TO REPLACE THE HYBRID BATTERY ON MY CIVIC AT 82000 MILES. NOW THE VERY EXPENSIVE ($3-4000) HYBRID BATTERY HAS GONE OUT AGAIN AT 149220 MILES. THE BATTERIES HONDA IS USING FOR THESE VEHICLES ARE LEMONS. THAT'S TWO BATTERIES I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE IN LESS THAN 150000 MILES! THE HYBRID BATTERIES ON THE TOYOTA PRIUS HAVE AVERAGE LIFE SPANS OF 200,000 MILES+. HONDA'S DON'T LAST EVEN HALF OF THAT. CALLED HONDA AND THEY REFUSED ANY HELP. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER HONDA CIVIC HYBRID OWNERS. CAN'T DRIVE CAR ANYMORE WITHOUT PAYING THOUSANDS FOR ANOTHER HYBRID BATTERY.
Mileage: 149,220
Inaccurate Rear Passenger Seat Belt Warning Status
Loss of Motive Power
Inadvertent Deployment of Side Air Bags
Engine failure
No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.