2003 Honda Civic Hybrid: problems, recalls and reliability
6 recalls and 51 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is power train (39% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Jun 2019
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 51 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“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.”Owner report · Air Bags · May 2019
“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.”Owner report · Power Train · Jan 2019
“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.”Owner report · Power Train · Sep 2018
Show 7 more owner reports
“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.”Owner report · Power Train · Mar 2018
“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.”Owner report · Power Train · Sep 2017
“"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”Owner report · Electronic Stability Control (Esc) · Aug 2017
“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.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Mar 2017
“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.”Owner report · Power Train · Oct 2016
“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.”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Apr 2016
“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?”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Apr 2016
When filing, owners marked a crash in 5 of these complaints and injuries in 2 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 6 campaigns
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 geographic locations associated with high absolute humidity. Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Saipan, Guam, and American Samoa are addressed by this recall. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
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 Acura 3.2TL vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1-800-382-2238, select option 4. Note: Vehicles that have had their driver frontal air bag replaced previously as part of a recall remedy prior to September 12, 2014 need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well. Vehicles that, on or after September 12, 2014, received a remedy for a prior driver frontal air bag inflator recall already received an inflator of a different design, and therefore are not included in this recall and do not require additional servicing. Note: This recall fully supersedes recalls 08V-593, 09V-259, 10V-041, 11V-260, 14V-351 and 15V-153. Honda's numbers for this recall are JQ9, JR0, JR1, JR2, JR3, JR4, JR5, JR6, JR7, and JR8.
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, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is O41. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is U40.
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. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are Q5A and Y58.
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. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are E5D and X5C.
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 January 18, 2005, 2003-2007 Honda Accord vehicles manufactured February 21, 2002, to August 28, 2007, 2002-2004 Honda CR-V vehicles, 2002-2003 Honda Odyssey vehicles manufactured June 19, 2001, to July 12, 2003, 2003 Acura MDX vehicles manufactured September 19, 2002, to June 19, 2003, 2003 Honda Element vehicles manufactured June 25, 2002, to July 31, 2003, and 2003 Honda Pilot vehicles manufactured November 26, 2001, to August 21, 2003. The affected vehicles have a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture upon its deployment.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are JU4, JU5, JU6, and JU7. Note: Vehicles that have already received a replacement passenger air bag inflator as part of the recall remedy for an earlier campaign such as 14V353 or 14V700 (Honda recall numbers S95, JH6, JH7, JH8, JH9, JJ0, JJ1, JJ2, JJ6, JM5 and JM6) are not included in this recall. However, this recall does supersede 13V132 and 14V349. Note: On December 18, 2015 Honda informed NHTSA of an expansion of this recall to include certain model year 2004 Honda CR-V vehicles in addition to additional model year 2003 CR-V vehicles.
How other years compare
Counts are not adjusted for time on the road here - see all Civic Hybrid years ranked fairly for the age-adjusted comparison.
Check your exact Civic Hybrid by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid reliable?
NHTSA has 51 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on record for the 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid. The most complained-about area is power train (39% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 128,162 miles or less.
Does the 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid have open recalls?
6 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning air bags. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.