2003 Honda CIVIC HYBRID problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
51 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
126,103 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 42 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 24 of 51 complaints (47.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 25 | 49.0% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 9.8% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 7.8% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 7.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 5.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 24 |
| Air Bags | 9 |
| Engine | 8 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
Power Train: 24; Air Bags: 9; Engine: 8; Electrical System: 6; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Exterior Lighting: 2; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 19 |
| 150,000 and above | 8 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 19; 150,000 and above: 8
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (19). 9 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 10 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 3 |
2011: 1; 2012: 10; 2013: 7; 2014: 7; 2015: 11; 2016: 5; 2017: 4; 2018: 3; 2019: 3
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 25 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10444938 · 2012-01-23 (January 23, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD VIOLENTLY JERK WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AND ALSO WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES WHERE 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.
Owner-reported narrative. 5 miles reported. Look up ODI 10444938 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10445780 · 2012-01-29 (January 29, 2012)
TRANSMISSION SLIP. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10445780 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10524340 · 2013-07-11 (July 11, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD VIOLENTLY AND STALLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND AGAIN THE FAILURE RECURRED BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FORWARD, ONLY IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE LATER BEGAN TO ACCELERATE FORWARD AND WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A HARD RESET OF THE COMPUTER WOULD BE REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE…
Owner-reported narrative. 117,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10524340 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10694154 · 2015-03-13 (March 13, 2015)
MY TEEN AGED CHILD WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE 5 FREEWAY GOING 65 MPH AND TRAFFIC CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP AND HE IMMEDIATLY STEPPED ON HIS BRAKE PEDAL TO TRY TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM BUT THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM HIT THE CAR AHEAD AND THEN MY CHILD HIT THE SECOND CAR IN A CHAIN REACTION. WHEN THE POLICE ARRIVE HE NOTED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DESPITE THE IMPACT. THE OFFICER SIAD THAT IT SHOULD HAVE. THIS WEEK I RECIEVED A NOTICE FROM HONDA SAYING THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS A RECALL FOR THE AIR BAG ISSUE. THIS IS WHY THE AIR B…
Owner-reported narrative. 91,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10694154 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10482231 · 2012-10-25 (October 25, 2012)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10482231 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10433076 · 2011-10-27 (October 27, 2011)
IN AUGUST OF 2011, I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL WHILE USING THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS. SOMETIMES THE SMELL WAS QUITE STRONG, BUT I COULD NOT FIND WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. UNTIL I COULD FIND THE PROBLEM, I DECIDED ONLY TO USE THE CAR WHEN I DID NOT NEED TO USE THE HEADLIGHTS. A COUPLE OF TIMES I HAD TO USE THE LIGHTS. EVENTUALLY, THEY STOPPED WORKING AND I HAD TO FIND THE PROBLEM. WHEN I TOOK THE COLLAR OFF OF THE STEERING COLUMN, I NOTICED THAT THE CONNECTOR TO THE HEADLIGHT (COMBINATION SWITCH) WAS MELTED. THERE WAS A GREENISH/BLUE CORROSIO…
Owner-reported narrative. 98,345 miles reported. Look up ODI 10433076 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10488890 · 2012-12-15 (December 15, 2012)
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 BLOC…
Owner-reported narrative. 128,162 miles reported. Look up ODI 10488890 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10447728 · 2012-02-13 (February 13, 2012)
THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO SLIP, THE ENGINE RPM'S WOULD GO UP BUT SPEED WOULD NOT CHANGE. AS YOU DROVE DOWN THE ROAD YOU COULD SEE THE TACH WHICH SHOWS RPM GO UP & DOWN, UP & DOWN ALL THE TIME BUT THE SPEED WOULD STAY THE SAME. VERY POOR GAS MILEAGE AROUND THE MID 30'S NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THE 50 MPG THAT WE WERE TOLD. THEN ONE DAY THE CAR JUST MADE A BANG AND STOPPED, THE TRANSMISSION STEEL BELT INSIDE BROKE INTO MANY PIECES AND THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. $1800.00 TO FIX THIS THEN WE STILL HAD THE RPM UP & DOWN PROBLEM. THEN @ 80,000 MILES THE BATTER…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10447728 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10811606 · 2015-12-21 (December 21, 2015)
HAD TO REPLACE THE HYBRID BATTERY ON MY CIVIC AT 82000 MILES. NOW THE VERY EXPENSIVE ($3-4000) HYBRID BATTERY HAS GONE OUT AGAIN AT 149220 MILES. THE BATTERIES HONDA IS USING FOR THESE VEHICLES ARE LEMONS. THAT'S TWO BATTERIES I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE IN LESS THAN 150000 MILES! THE HYBRID BATTERIES ON THE TOYOTA PRIUS HAVE AVERAGE LIFE SPANS OF 200,000 MILES+. HONDA'S DON'T LAST EVEN HALF OF THAT. CALLED HONDA AND THEY REFUSED ANY HELP. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER HONDA CIVIC HYBRID OWNERS. CAN'T DRIVE CAR ANYMORE WITHOUT PAYING THOUSANDS…
Owner-reported narrative. 149,220 miles reported. Look up ODI 10811606 at NHTSA ↗