Problems · by component

2003 Honda Civic power train problems

103 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Honda Civic cite power train, 20% of all 525 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
103
20% of all complaints
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HUNTINGTON HONDA (1055 JERICHO TURNPIKE, HUNTINGTON, NY 11743, PHONE NUMBER: (631) 423-6000) TO BE REPAIRED FOR AN UNKNOWN AIR BAG RECALL. WHILE DRIVING FROM THE DEALER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS STICKING OUT OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE HORN FAILED TO FUNCTION. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK, THE RADIO FAILED, AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A HIGH CURB, WHICH PUSHED THE ENGINE BACK. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BROKEN FOOT THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NARDY HONDA SMITHTOWN (559 MIDDLE COUNTRY RD, ST JAMES, NY 11780, PHONE NUMBER: (855) 738-2920). THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 5, 2017Steering, Power train, Electrical system, Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11031963
“VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL VIOLENTLY JERKS BACK AND FORTH WHEN SHIFTING AUTOMATICALLY RESULTING IN NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE.VEHICLE DOES NOT LOCK DOORS.DEALERSHIP FAILED TO COMPLETE OR INFORM ME OF ANY KINDS OF HAZARDS AS I OVERLOOKED THESE MAJOR PROBLEMS WHEN PURCHASED USED CAR. I PAID OVER 3400 DOLLARS FOR JUNK.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 22, 2017Steering, Power train, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 10979907
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE DRAINED AND BURNISHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 31, 2014Power trainODI 10669392
“MY HONDA CIVIC SUDDENLY WENT DEAD WITH NO INDICATION OF FAILURE. THE TRANSMISSION WENT DEAD AND THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT IT WAS A INCORRECT GEARBOX RATIO. IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND I FEEL THAT I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 7, 2014Power train, EngineODI 10662677
“TRANSMISSION FAILED AND CAR DIED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH WITH NO WARNING. WAS IN SLOW LANE AND ABLE TO GET ONTO SHOULDER WITHOUT GETTING HIT. TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 12, 2014Power trainODI 10632691
“I HAD TAKEN FOR A RECALL ON MY HONDA 2003 CIVIC EX AT MCDAVID HONDA OF IRVING. I RECENTLY HAD A OIL CHANGED AT MCDAVID HONDA OF IRVING. AFTER THE OIL CHANGE, THERE WAS A DIFFERENCE IN MY CAR'S PERFORMANCE. ITS TAKES A LOT TO THROTTLE THE CAR FROM START TO RUN, IF ITS ON INCLINE ROAD. THE GAS MILEAGE HAS GONE DOWN FROM 30MPG TO 27 MPG. WHEN ASKED TO HAVE A LOOK AT IT, THE SERVICE ADVISER SAID "$ 99 FOR DIAGNOSE." WHEN I TOOK THE DELIVERY AFTER THE RECALL WAS DONE, I NOTICED MY AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME-ON. I ASKED THE SERVICE ADVISER ABOUT THE LIGHT, HE SAID THE LIGHT WAS ON WHEN I DELIVERED THE CAR TO THEM. THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT, AND THE LIGHT JUST CAME ON BY ITSELF. THEY TOLD ME, I HAVE TO PAY $99 TO HAVE HONDA TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I TALKED TO AMERICAN HONDA, THEY SAID "AS YOUR WARRANTY HAS FINISHED, AMERICAN HONDA IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY REPAIR AND SERVICES PERFORMED BY ANY AUTHORIZED HONDA DEALERSHIP". *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 12, 2013Power train, Air bagsODI 10497919

Showing 6 of 103 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

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

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