MYRModel Year Report

2003 Honda Civic Hybrid

● Typical for this model
2003 Honda Civic Hybrid
RENDERED 2026-11-01T15:05:47.369Z

This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
51
Recalls
6

Campaigns on file for 2003

Investigations
4

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Power train

51% of complaints

Complaints per year

2003: 51 complaints 2003 51 2004: 35 complaints 2005: 48 complaints 2005 2006: 55 complaints 2007: 64 complaints 2007 2008: 64 complaints 2009: 28 complaints 2009 2010: 12 complaints 2011: 1 complaint 2011 2012: 12 complaints 2013: 9 complaints 2013 2014: 5 complaints 2015: 5 complaints 2015 2025: 7 complaints
2003: 51 complaints 2003 51 2004: 35 complaints 2004 2005: 48 complaints 2005 2006: 55 complaints 2006 2007: 64 complaints 2007 2008: 64 complaints 2008 2009: 28 complaints 2009 2010: 12 complaints 2010 2011: 1 complaint 2011 2012: 12 complaints 2012 2013: 9 complaints 2013 2014: 5 complaints 2014 2015: 5 complaints 2015 2025: 7 complaints 2025
2003: 51 complaints 2003 51 2004: 35 complaints 2004 2005: 48 complaints 2005 2006: 55 complaints 2006 2007: 64 complaints 2007 2008: 64 complaints 2008 2009: 28 complaints 2009 2010: 12 complaints 2010 2011: 1 complaint 2011 2012: 12 complaints 2012 2013: 9 complaints 2013 2014: 5 complaints 2014 2015: 5 complaints 2015 2025: 7 complaints 2025

2003: 51 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
200351
200435
200548
200655
200764
200864
200928
201012
20111
201212
20139
20145
20155
20257

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Power train

51% · 26 reports

Most commonly citing manual transmission and automatic transmission.

CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-01-23

When driving at 50MPH on a national highway 95S heading to philadelphia around 11AM,the speed of the car suddenly reduce to 20MPH and then stalled and stopped moving. I had to pull aside to check the engine.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-01-04

Also filed under Engine and vehicle speed control

Air bags

18% · 9 reports
CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Front and side impact to car, totaling car, without side or front airbag deployment. Impact was great enough that airbags should have deployed.

NHTSA ODI report, 2013-12-31

Also filed under Structure

Engine

16% · 8 reports

Electrical system

12% · 6 reports

Exterior lighting

10% · 5 reports

Most commonly citing headlights and switch.

Show complaint excerpts

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2011-10-27

Safety timeline

6 recalls · 4 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. I
    2014-06-11Preliminary evaluationClosed 2015-03-02 Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  2. R
    2015-01-26Air bags14V700000 American Honda Motor Co.

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. I
    2015-02-24Engineering analysisOpen Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  4. R
    2015-07-01Air bags15V320000 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...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. R
    2015-07-01Air bags15V370000 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...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    2019-04-10Air bags19V182000 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...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    2019-08-12Air bags19V499000 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,...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are Q5A and Y58.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. R
    2019-08-12Air bags19V501000 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,...

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. I
    2021-09-17Engineering analysisOpen Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  10. I
    2023-01-27Defect petitionClosed 2023-08-07 Pedestrian alert sounds

Buy-smart checklist

2003 Honda Civic Hybrid — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Power train: 26 reports on file for this year.
  • Air bags: 9 reports on file for this year.
  • Engine: 8 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 14V700000 · Air bags
  • Recall 15V320000 · Air bags
  • Recall 15V370000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19V182000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19V499000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19V501000 · Air bags
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years1 year

FAQ

Is the 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid is rated "typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid?
The most-reported component is power train, accounting for 51% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid have?
6 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-11-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.