Honda Civic Hybrid 2003

Model Civic Hybrid made in 2003 by Honda got 42 consumer complains as well as 6 service bulletins. Consumer complaints with reference, among others things, to electrical system and engine. Technical service bulletines regarding electrical system and engine and engine cooling. The car has one 1.3 engine.

Model 2003

Engine [L]CylindersTransmissionDriveEstimate MPG (city/highway/combined)Unadjusted MPG (city/highway/combined)FuelFuel costClassRelease date
1.3 4Automatic, Fully variable gear ratiosF48/47/4853.8/60.8/56.7396Regular484COMPACT CARS
1.3 4Manual, 5 gearsF46/51/4850.9/64.9/56.3722Regular484COMPACT CARS

Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY
SB-12-07712/21/201210051509Honda: warranty coverage has been extended on some vehicles for the ima battery module. models 2003-2008 civic hybrids. *pe03/08/2013
SB-12-04809/05/201210045879Honda: information on replacement and removal of junction board from old ima battery and new battery mounted before battery is installed. models 2003-11 civic hybrid, 2011-12 cr-z, 2000-06 insight, 2010-12 insight. *pe09/19/2012
SB-12-04809/21/2012SB-12-048-A10045879Honda: information on replacement and removal of junction board from old ima battery and new battery mounted before battery is installed. models 2003-11 civic hybrid, 2011-12 cr-z, 2000-06 insight, 2010-12 insight. *pe updated09/19/2012
SB-12-04810/05/2012SB-12-048-B10045879Honda: information on replacement and removal of junction board from old ima battery and new battery mounted before battery is installed. models 2003-11 civic hybrid, 2011-12 cr-z, 2000-06 insight, 2010-12 insight. *pe updated09/19/2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL - CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
SB-11-04308/17/201110042649Honda: the software update information for some vehicles concerning the catalytic converter becoming hot, and the software misinterprets signal from heated oxygen sensor, incorrectly indicating a deterioration of the catalytic converter.01/04/2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING - HEADLIGHTS - SWITCH
SB-12-02504/17/201210044784Honda: to determine if headlight switches need to have connectors, and harness wires replaced, on certain vehicles, an inspection is required, with permission from owners. models civic gx, hybrid si and pilots. model years 2002-2005.07/27/2012

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
01/05/2012126205
 I drove my car to honda of san angelo dealership for a recall, a software update campaign was done, i picked up the car and upon driving off the dealership lot, i noticed immediatly that the electric part of the hybrid was not working, at all, it was working when i dropped it off and getting 47 mpg. upon returning to the dealership, the service manager told me not to blame them for having a 9 year old car with 100,000 miles on it. i argued the point, that it was working when i dropped it off, and it isn't now, simple as that and as i drove off, the service manager flipped me off. the car is unusable, i parked it in my garage, and dropped the insurance on it. i plan to tow it to a san antonio dealership, which is a 4 hour drive one way, when i can afford it.
ENGINE
10/11/201214000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 honda civic hybrid. the contact stated that while driving up a hill the vehicle stalled without warning. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 140,000. pmb
10/11/201214000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 honda civic hybrid. the contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning when it was driven up hill. the vehicle was taken to the dealer. the vehicle was test driven, but the failure did not duplicate. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 140,000. li
06/15/20061
 In 2006 the car was jolting when you took off or were traveling at low speeds. the dealership burnished the starter clutch/engine and the problem went away. now in 2012 the problem has begun again and reading through blogs and posts is seems there may be a design change in the transmission from plastic belts to metal...so if this fixes the problem, then my older model should be retrofit to repair the faulty issue. *tr
06/15/2006
 In 2006 the car was jolting when you took off or were traveling at low speeds. the dealership burnished the starter clutch/engine and the problem went away. now in 2012 the problem has begun again and reading through blogs and posts is seems there may be a design change in the transmission from plastic belts to metal...so if this fixes the problem, then my older model should be retrofit to repair the faulty issue.
01/05/2012126205
 I drove my car to honda of san angelo dealership for a recall, a software update campaign was done, i picked up the car and upon driving off the dealership lot, i noticed immediatly that the electric part of the hybrid was not working, at all, it was working when i dropped it off and getting 47 mpg. upon returning to the dealership, the service manager told me not to blame them for having a 9 year old car with 100,000 miles on it. i argued the point, that it was working when i dropped it off, and it isn't now, simple as that and as i drove off, the service manager flipped me off. the car is unusable, i parked it in my garage, and dropped the insurance on it. i plan to tow it to a san antonio dealership, which is a 4 hour drive one way, when i can afford it.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
01/07/2009100000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda civic hybrid. the contact stated that the plastic that covered the headlight became foggy, preventing the light from illuminating. the contact stated that he believed that the failure was a safety hazard since it prevented him from seeing when driving the vehicle at night time. the vehicle was taken to the dealer. the technician verified the failure but failed to provide a remedy. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 100,000 and the current mileage was 170,000.
01/07/2009100000
 Tl - the contact owns a 2003 honda civic hybrid. the contact stated that the plastic that covered the headlight became foggy, preventing the light from illuminating. the contact stated that he believed that the failure was a safety hazard since it prevented him from seeing when driving the vehicle at night time. the vehicle was taken to the dealer. the technician verified the failure but failed to provide a remedy. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 100,000 and the current mileage was 170,000. kmj
01/07/2009100000
 Tl - the contact owns a 2003 honda civic hybrid. the contact stated that the plastic that covers the head light had fogged up preventing the light to shine through. the contact stated that he believed that the failure was a safety hazard since it prevents him from seeing when driving at night time. the vehicle was taken to the dealer. the technician verified the failure but failed to provide any assistance. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 100,000 and the current mileage was 170,000. pm
POWER TRAIN
11/02/2007717571
 Transmission slippage/judder from a complete stop. honda extended the warranty for 7 years or 100k miles. this vehicle was taken 3 times under this window and the transmission was not replaced by the dealership. this should have been a mandatory recall not voluntary extended warranty. this is safety issue when crossing intersections and transmission is slipping and stuttering. *tr
11/02/200771757
 Transmission slippage/judder from a complete stop. honda extended the warranty for 7 years or 100k miles. this vehicle was taken 3 times under this window and the transmission was not replaced by the dealership. this should have been a mandatory recall not voluntary extended warranty. this is safety issue when crossing crossing intersections and transmission is slipping and stuttering.
01/05/2012126205
 I drove my car to honda of san angelo dealership for a recall, a software update campaign was done, i picked up the car and upon driving off the dealership lot, i noticed immediatly that the electric part of the hybrid was not working, at all, it was working when i dropped it off and getting 47 mpg. upon returning to the dealership, the service manager told me not to blame them for having a 9 year old car with 100,000 miles on it. i argued the point, that it was working when i dropped it off, and it isn't now, simple as that and as i drove off, the service manager flipped me off. the car is unusable, i parked it in my garage, and dropped the insurance on it. i plan to tow it to a san antonio dealership, which is a 4 hour drive one way, when i can afford it.
05/01/2012132000
 This vehicle has a slipping in the cvt (transmission) at lower speed and when coasting.
01/01/20035
 Tl-the contact owns a 2003 honda civic hybrid. the contact stated that the vehicle would violently jerk while accelerating from stops and while driving at various speeds. the failure recurred on an intermittent basis. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer on numerous occasions. various transmission and engine repairs were performed, but the failure continued. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered no assistance. the failure mileage was 5. the vin was unavailable. sm.
STEERING
12/12/20121281621
 I was driving north in the # 3 or 4 lane on i-405 just north of irvine, ca in intermittent rain, when the car began swerving to the left. my efforts to counter-steer failed to regain control of the car, and the car spun counter-clockwise to the left until i hit the center divider facing backward with the passenger side of the car and continued to spin until facing forward. i managed to pull the car to a shoulder on the center divide and stop. trying to move the car forward met with considerable friction. soon the highway patrol arrived and blocked traffic and asked me if i was ok and able to move the car to the right side. despite the friction, i was able to move the car to the right, encountering difficulty steering the car parallel to the roadway. i told the officer that i thought the car had hydroplaned and spun out. because no other vehicles were involved and i was not injured, the officer offered me the option to file a report or not, and i decided not to file a report. the car was towed (flatbed) outside a body shop near my home. the rf wheel was severely toed-in, and when i examined it, the sway bar end link was disconnected. i drove slowly a few blocks home, noticing the difficulty in controlling the steering, even at low speed, and the similarity to how the car suddenly was handling on the freeway. this made me concerned that the failure of the end-link and/or steering may have caused the lack of control, rather than resulting from the impact with the center divide. never in over 20 years of driving have i experienced, in any weather conditions, the complete lack of responsiveness to steering input that suddenly occurred. the car is still in my driveway. if it would be helpful to examine the car, please let me know asap. *tr
12/12/2012128162
 I was driving north in the # 3 or 4 lane on i-405 just north of irvine, ca in intermittent rain, when the car began swerving to the left. my efforts to counter-steer failed to regain control of the car, and the car spun counter-clockwise to the left until i hit the center divider facing backward with the passenger side of the car and continued to spin until facing forward. i managed to pull the car to a shoulder on the center divide and stop. trying to move the car forward met with considerable friction. soon the highway patrol arrived and blocked traffic and asked me if i was ok and able to move the car to the right side. despite the friction, i was able to move the car to the right, encountering difficulty steering the car parallel to the roadway. i told the officer that i thought the car had hydroplaned and spun out. because no other vehicles were involved and i was not injured, the officer offered me the option to file a report or not, and i decided not to file a report. the car was towed (flatbed) outside a body shop near my home. the rf wheel was severely toed-in, and when i examined it, the sway bar end link was disconnected. i drove slowly a few blocks home, noticing the difficulty in controlling the steering, even at low speed, and the similarity to how the car suddenly was handling on the freeway. this made me concerned that the failure of the end-link and/or steering may have caused the lack of control, rather than resulting from the impact with the center divide. never in over 20 years of driving have i experienced, in any weather conditions, the complete lack of responsiveness to steering input that suddenly occurred. the car is still in my driveway. if it would be helpful to examine the car, please let me know asap.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
06/15/20061
 In 2006 the car was jolting when you took off or were traveling at low speeds. the dealership burnished the starter clutch/engine and the problem went away. now in 2012 the problem has begun again and reading through blogs and posts is seems there may be a design change in the transmission from plastic belts to metal...so if this fixes the problem, then my older model should be retrofit to repair the faulty issue. *tr
06/15/2006
 In 2006 the car was jolting when you took off or were traveling at low speeds. the dealership burnished the starter clutch/engine and the problem went away. now in 2012 the problem has begun again and reading through blogs and posts is seems there may be a design change in the transmission from plastic belts to metal...so if this fixes the problem, then my older model should be retrofit to repair the faulty issue.