Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
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).
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. …
Dt*: the consumer stated the check maintenance light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealership to determine the problem. The dealership discovered the battery needed to be replaced. After the battery replacement, the check maintenance light went off. The vehicle was driven for a few days and the check maintenance light illuminated once again. Later, the consumer was involved in a rear end collision while traveling at 35 MPH on a wet road. The brakes were applied, but the vehicle failed to stop before striking another vehicle in the rear end. The seat belts were in use and no injuries were sustained. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was inspected and diagnostics were performed to determine why the air bags did not deploy. The codes showed faulty sensors in the air bags. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to buckeye Honda (2615 n memorial dr, lancaster, oh 43130). The contact was informed that the radiator was leaking and there was also an oil leak. Additionally, the horn, fog light switch, and cruise control failed to operate as designed. The contact was also informed that the steering column cover was cut. In addition to the failures, the driver's and passenger's front doors were unable to be opened with the key. The contact was only able to unlock the trunk with the key. The vehicle was taken to the same dealer for an ignition switch repair where the keys were replaced however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage approximately 190,000.
I was driving south bound on the 215 shortly before the exit, mills, there was a cone laying on its side in the middle of the road that I was not able to see from a distance because the color of the cone was facing forward . By the time I was able to realize what it was, I could not avoid it and go to another lane because I was in the middle of two cars, which probably would have caused much more damage then there is if I attempted to do so. As a result the cone cracked my front bumper on the right hand side in the shape of a v, there was a little steam coming from my engine and there seems to be some kind of leak now, as well as some black rubber type thing that looks like its supposed to be over the tire was dragging.
I rear ended a vehicle that came to a sudden complete stop, I was going approximately 30 MPH, (the roadway was 45 but I had started to slow as I slammed on my brakes). The collision was full frontal impact and my airbags did not deploy. I hit my head on the steering wheel despite having a seat belt on. I am having a mechanic investigate why my airbags did not deploy, but it concerns me as I was injured in the crash. I went to the emergency room and I have whip lash, muscle spasms and muscle tension in my neck and back. I feel that these injuries could have been avoided if the air bags had deployed. My lawyer advised me to file a complaint here as well as with Honda about this incident.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Honda Civic. While driving 45 MPH, smoke started to emit from the engine compartment. As a result, the vehicle was merged to the side of the road. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the timing belt and transmission cooler line needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 178,000.
2003 Civic, highway miles of 49,800. Car overheated very quickly on the highway, pulled over, got hotter and hotter with steam everywhere. Dealership towed it to their garage and gave us loaner car. Dealership extended 36000/3year warranty to 50000 by the way. Techs said they had never seen such a mess. Radiator literally *melted into the engine*, they said. I read about head gasket problems on some online Honda owner groups, so I asked if that is what happened, and they said it was definitely blown, but can't determine if that happened first or the radiator failed. It took them four days to determine that *maybe* a rock hit the radiator on the highway causing a slow leak. My insurance guy looked at the car and will not pay because Honda cannot prove any kind of highway *accident* happened. …
My vehicle has been going hot since November 2013. I have replaced the water pump, radiator, fan switches, head gasket, valve gasket seal/cover, engine. When I'm sitting idle in traffic for a while it will run hot or at least appear to run hot because the temperature gauge will go all the way to hot. I have read a few blogs and spoken to a Honda specialist and he confirmed what I read about civics ranging from 2001 to 2004 are notorious for running hot. I was told that you have to replace everything like the water pump or radiator as well as the head gasket at the same time to stop this from reoccurring. I have spent thousands of dollars trying to repair this issue. I just want Honda to be take accountability because it is not an isolated incident. This matter needs to be looked into and a recall should be created. These are some of the blogs I have read. Thank you. …
New years day, I got off the freeway and my steering wheel locked and my clutch stiffened. Seconds later they resumed their normal feel but my battery and temp light came on and smoke/steam came out of my hood. I pulled over and opened the hood...coolant resevoir was almost completely empty and coolant had exploded all over the engine. I had the car towed to the dealership for warranty review. They called and said no coverage, they believe that a rock had punctured the radiator and hence it was not a parts problem. Since, I have reviewed numerous complaints about rocks puncturing car internal parts, specifically Honda's. This is a poor design and in other circumstances this could have been a very dangerous situation. It should not take a death to call attention to a company who is selling cars which are not properly designed for highway driving conditions. …
The failure is a software defect, which causes the engine to stop running at random, unpredictable times, under unpredictable conditions. It has occurred four times with my vehicle, and luckily, not in dangerous circumstances. The only way to restart the engine is to bring the vehicle to a complete stop, put it in park, turn off the key completely, wait a minute, then turn the ignition to start. If it were to occur in traffic, as on the interstate, this would be a very dangerous situation. I have taken the car to the dealer for this problem, who says he cannot address it because he cannot observe it occurring, he also says that the problem is the responsibility of Honda corp, since it is a design issue.
Engine complaints in other Civic years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2003 Honda Civic?
NHTSA has 45 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2003 Honda Civic, 9% of the model year's 499 complaints. The component named most often is engine (10 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Honda Civic engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling 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 engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles, and 23% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 2 fires and 3 injuries to engine & cooling 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.