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2003 Honda Civic air bags problems

147 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Honda Civic cite air bags, 28% of all 525 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 8 recalls on this component.

All 2003 Civic problems
Complaints
147
28% of all complaints
Crashes
51
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
50
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owned a 2003 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving at approximately 30 MPH and attempting to proceed at a green light, the front passenger side of the vehicle crashed into the front driver-side of another vehicle. The air bags were not deployed. The contact noticed that there were bruises on both of her knees and endured neck and back pain from the impact. Medical attention was sought. No one else was injured that was not in the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle stopped in the middle of the intersection. The vehicle was not drivable and was towed to a dealer; the vehicle received a diagnosis stating that the vehicle was totaled. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 154,311.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 25, 2024Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11616517
“The contact owned a 2003 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, a semi-truck unexpectedly crossed into his lane which caused him to crash the truck's land gear. The air bags did not deploy upon impact and the seat belt pretensioners failed to restrain the contact. The contact was taken to the hospital via ambulance and was treated for multiple torn ligaments, a chest injury, and back pain. The other driver did not suffer any injuries and a police report was filed. The vehicle was initially towed to an independent tow yard and was later towed back to the contact's residence where it remained in his possession. The dealer and the manufacturer were both notified of the failure. A case was filed. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. The failure mileage was unknown.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 3, 2023Air bags, Seat beltsCrash reportedODI 11515177
“Both the side airbag and front airbag lights on the dashboard are on, and the mechanic I go to has no clue why the warning lights are on. I am concerned about my safety in the event of a crash, as I don’t know if they will deploy, or fail.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 5, 2023Air bagsODI 11510198
“The contact owns a 2003 Honda Civic. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V501000(Air Bags) and NHTSA Campaign Number 19V182000 (Air Bags) would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 19, 2022Air bagsODI 11465346
“My Air Bag light indicator light has come on and does not go off. My car is a 2003 Honda Civic LX module. I am the third owner of this vehicle. I bought it at Kelly Nissan on 248 E in Easton, Pa with 117,880 miles. It has 123,000 miles on it now. There were no other indicator lights on prior to this safety issue, air bag light indicator light coming on and it is still on at the present time, I need it fixed, because it has to be inspected by July 31, 2022, and I do not think it will pass Pa inspection. My Honda is available upon request. Please contact me by my email or by my mailing address I provided, my phone at the present time is out of service till I purchase a new one, please! A.S.P.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 14, 2022Air bagsODI 11464646
“The contact owns a 2003 Honda Civic. The contact stated that she had previously received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V499000 (Air Bags) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the front driver's air bag replacement; however, upon picking up the vehicle, she noticed that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the warning light was illuminated prior to the recall repair. The vehicle then was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that a disconnected electrical wire for the air bag might have caused the impact sensor to fail. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000. The VIN was not available.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 12, 2022Air bagsODI 11460568

Showing 6 of 147 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 6, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

8 recalls on this component

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Jun 27, 2019NHTSA 19V499000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Jun 27, 2019NHTSA 19V501000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Mar 6, 2019NHTSA 19V182000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 Honda Accord and Pilot, 2010 Accord Crosstour, 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 Element, 2007 and 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2012 Insight, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2012 Ridgeline vehicles. The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.

Air bagsReported Apr 26, 2018NHTSA 18V268000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Jun 15, 2015NHTSA 15V370000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported May 28, 2015NHTSA 15V320000

Air bags

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Nov 4, 2014NHTSA 14V700000

Air bags

Free remedy

American Honda Motor Company, Inc.'s (Honda) is conducting a limited regional recall for certain model year 2003-2005 Accord, Civic, CR-V, Pilot and Acura MDX, model year 2003-2004 Odyssey and Element, and model year 2005 Acura RL, and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in California, and equipped with Takata-brand air bag inflators. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Air bagsReported Jun 20, 2014NHTSA 14V353000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 6, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.