Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Honda Civic owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Within the 8 days we owned this car, it had accelerated twice while my teenaged daughter was driving. These incidents happened when she was accelerating after having stopped at a stop sign. Being an inexperienced driver she did not realize the problem, only commented the car felt like it was driving funny. When the incident on 08/08/03 happened, I was driving with my younger daughter in the car. We were pulling into a parking space in front of a restaurant at a very slow rate of speed, when the car suddenly accelerated, causing us to jump up onto the sidewalk and run into a cement picnic table, denting the front bumper. I had to slam on the brakes to stop the car from driving through the front window of the restaurant and possibily injuring or killing the people inside. We took the car back to the dealership, where their diagnostic technicians were unable to duplicate the problem. …
I was driving on 695 west high way baltimore, maryland on June 1st in the afternoon as usual, all of sudden my car was out of control. I was trying to slow down the speed a bit, however my break was hardly to push down. I felt like something got stuck there. At the meantime, the accelerator seems not stop while I was pushing down the break, on the opposite it was increasing the speed... In general, the speed was slowing down but it was super slow. I could tell my car was in a super bad situation. I was very lucky that there weren't lot of cars near to me, I immediately turned on the emergency light and turned my car to the emergency lane. I finally made car reducing the speed to 20 MPH while my car was in the emergency lane, but it was still moving that I had to make a emergency break and turned my car off. It was a horrible driving experience I never ever had. …
On halloween night 10/31/2015, after getting home from taking kids trick-or-treating I was leaving to go to store. While I was backing out of the drive-way I realized I forgot my wallet inside. So I opened the door & went to step out, then noticed I was sticking out in the street a little bit. So I left my left leg out & door open because I was only going to pull forward a couple feet. When I put the car in drive & barely pushed the gas pedal, the gas pedal forced itself to the floor & the car accelerated very quickly. I had no control of the car & tried everything I could to stop it! But it was too late.... The car shot us through the garage door where my leg & foot hit the rock siding entrance going into garage. It also twisted my leg all around & was pinned in between car and garage wall. …
On ~5/2/2009, Saturday morning, I was driving my 2003 Honda Civic, cross 141th street from north community to south community after yard sale, at ~15mph speed. When I cross the street, I found a SUV pass from west to east, then I try to stop my car, however I can not stop it. Then I have to turn left (east), then my car right front crashed with the SUV left side. I remembered I push the brake gear, however it can not stop, I also used my right hand to move the gear to the n, and push my the brake so hard, then my car stopped about 300 feet away from where the car crashed. I just don't understand why at that time it takes me so long time and so far away distance to stop a car at a speed ~15mph (happened only this time). Another thing about this car: when I set up cruise control for this car, it will automatically accelerate higher than what I set up. …
I was struck on my front bumper by a driver directly in front of me. He was making a 3-point turn and didn't know that I was behind him. He accelerated into me and even though my car sustained minimal damage, my neck received all of the crash energy. I have hard-copy evidence of my neck from mris and cat scans taken 1 year before the accident; I had a healthy neck. I now have 3 disintergrating discs and constant pain. The treatments will be open-ended, I am told. Through my research, I found that Honda changed their head-restraint design on the Civic hybrid 2003 (my car). Before that year, the regular Civic had excellent ratings. This model had a 'minimal passing' rating. I feel that the lack of neck support was the reason that my body sustained such injuries.
Cruise control was stuck in accelerate and could not turn it off on the interstate. I could have been killed.neutral and full pressure to the brakes wouldn't stop it. Taking my foot off the brakes would only accelerate it more.I went 8 miles with full brakes in neutral till I was able to stop it. None of the off switches mmade any difference, I'm lucky to be alive and that I didn't hurt anyone. It started when I was on the entrance ramp to the interstate in osseo wi.I slowed down to merge,then cruise control accelerated unstoppable.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while reversing at approximately 2 MPH, the engine rpms increased excessively and the vehicle suddenly accelerated without warning. The contact crashed into a tree, and the trunk was split in half. The contact was not injured. The vehicle was towed to a private mechanic where the failure was not able to be replicated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure and current mileage was 5,858.
Dt*: the contact stated while parking the vehicle, with the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle accelerated uncontrollably. The vehicle was initially traveling less than 3 MPH. The vehicle went over the concrete barrier and hit a wall. There was a police report taken at the scene. Although the seat belt was worn, the contact sustained minor injuries. The vehicle was towed to the dealership, but has not yet been inspected.
While backing out vehicle accelerated uncontrollably and crashed into a tree. The consumer was able to driver vehicle home. Consumer will take the vehicle to a dealer for inspection in the near future. The vehicle made a roaring noise and when the consumer shifted into drive, the vehicle sped off uncontrollably.
After being stopped for a few minutes at a stop lightthe car suddenly lurched forward. Whereas, I might believe my foot lifted off the brake a little that should have caused the vehicle to roll forward and not suddenly accelerate. As a result, I did rear end the car in front of me.
Acceleration complaints in other Civic years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2003 Honda Civic?
NHTSA has 34 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2003 Honda Civic, 7% of the model year's 499 complaints. The component named most often is accelerator pedal (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Honda Civic acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2003 Honda Civic, though it has 11 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2003 Honda Civic acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 52,000 miles, and 29% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 12 crashes, 0 fires and 5 injuries to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.