Model year record

2003 Honda Civic

11 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 619 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 19V501000

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module

Component: Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Vehicles affected: 1,657,752
Reported to NHTSA: 2019-06-27
Owners notified: 2019-08-12

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Manufacturer 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. Honda's numbers for this recall are E5D and X5C.

Recall campaignNHTSA 19V499000

Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module

Component: Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Vehicles affected: 3,947
Reported to NHTSA: 2019-06-27
Owners notified: 2019-08-12

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 19V182000

Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module

Component: Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Vehicles affected: 1,101,534
Reported to NHTSA: 2019-03-06
Owners notified: 2019-04-10

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Manufacturer 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. Honda's number for this recall is O41. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is U40.

Recall campaignNHTSA 18V268000

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module

Component: Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Vehicles affected: 1,335
Reported to NHTSA: 2018-04-26
Owners notified: 2018-06-22

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are K1P, and M1O.

Recall campaignNHTSA 15V370000

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module

Component: Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Vehicles affected: 3,498,481
Reported to NHTSA: 2015-06-15
Owners notified: 2015-07-01

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the passenger seat occupant or other occupants possibly causing serious injury or death.

Manufacturer 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. Honda's numbers for this recall are JU4, JU5, JU6, and JU7. Note: Vehicles that have already received a replacement passenger air bag inflator as part of the recall remedy for an earlier campaign such as 14V353 or 14V700 (Honda recall numbers S95, JH6, JH7, JH8, JH9, JJ0, JJ1, JJ2, JJ6, JM5 and JM6) are not included in this recall. However, this recall does supersede 13V132 and 14V349. Note: On December 18, 2015 Honda informed NHTSA of an expansion of this recall to include certain model year 2004 Honda CR-V vehicles in addition to additional model year 2003 CR-V vehicles.

Recall campaignNHTSA 15V320000

Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module

Component: Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Vehicles affected: 6,281,043
Reported to NHTSA: 2015-05-28
Owners notified: 2015-07-01

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Manufacturer 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. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1-800-382-2238, select option 4. Note: Vehicles that have had their driver frontal air bag replaced previously as part of a recall remedy prior to September 12, 2014 need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well. Vehicles that, on or after September 12, 2014, received a remedy for a prior driver frontal air bag inflator recall already received an inflator of a different design, and therefore are not included in this recall and do not require additional servicing. Note: This recall fully supersedes recalls 08V-593, 09V-259, 10V-041, 11V-260, 14V-351 and 15V-153. Honda's numbers for this recall are JQ9, JR0, JR1, JR2, JR3, JR4, JR5, JR6, JR7, and JR8.

Recall campaignNHTSA 14V700000

Air bags

Component: Air bags
Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Vehicles affected: 0
Reported to NHTSA: 2014-11-04
Owners notified: 2015-01-26

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengers frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 14V353000

Air bags

Component: Air bags
Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Vehicles affected: 133,207
Reported to NHTSA: 2014-06-20
Owners notified: 2014-09-12

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

Manufacturer remedy

Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflators in all affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during August 2014. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.

Recall campaignNHTSA 12V136000

Exterior lighting: headlights: switch

Component: Exterior lighting: headlights: switch
Manufacturer: HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.)
Vehicles affected: 1,375,217
Reported to NHTSA: 2012-03-30
Owners notified: 2012-04-27

Defect description

HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002 THROUGH 2004 CR-V; MODEL YEAR 2003 THROUGH 2005 PILOT; AND MODEL YEAR 2002 AND 2003 CIVIC VEHICLES. IN MARCH 2012, HONDA FILED A DEFECT REPORT TO RECALL CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002 THROUGH 2004 CR-V AND CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003 PILOT VEHICLES. IN AUGUST 2012, HONDA INFORMED THE AGENCY THAT IT WAS INCLUDING AN ADDITIONAL 820,789 VEHICLES INCLUDING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AND 2005 PILOTS AND MODEL YEAR 2002 AND 2003 CIVICS. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VEHICLES BEING RECALLED IS NOW 1,375,217. DUE TO TENSION FROM THE COMBINATION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS, WEAR ON THE SURFACE OF THE ELECTRICAL TERMINAL CAN OCCUR, YIELDING COPPER OXIDE, WHICH INCREASES ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE. INCREASED ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE MAY CAUSE THE TERMINAL ENDS TO MELT WITHIN THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR.

Safety risk

IF THE TERMINAL ENDS MELT WITHIN THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE, REDUCING DRIVER VISIBILITY AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

HONDA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE LOW BEAM TERMINAL HARNESS OR REPLACE THE LIGHTING SWITCH AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE ORIGINAL RECALL BEGAN IN APRIL 2012. OWNERS OF VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THE SEPTEMBER 2012 EXPANSION WILL BE NOTIFIED IN SEPTEMBER 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-999-1009.

Recall campaignNHTSA 10V364000

Electrical system: ignition

Component: Electrical system: ignition
Manufacturer: HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.)
Vehicles affected: 551,498
Reported to NHTSA: 2010-08-05
Owners notified: 2010-10-07

Defect description

HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003 HONDA ACCORD, CIVIC TWO AND FOUR DOOR, AND MODEL YEAR 2003-2004 HONDA ELEMENT VEHICLES. THE INTERLOCK LEVER OF THE IGNITION SWITCH MAY UNEXPECTEDLY DEFORM, WHICH CAN ALLOW THE INTERLOCK FUNCTION OF A VEHICLE WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO BE DEFEATED.

Safety risk

REMOVAL OF THE IGNITION KEY WHEN THE GEAR SELECTOR OF A VEHICLE WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS NOT BEEN SHIFTED TO THE PARK POSITION CAN ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE ORIGINAL INTERLOCK PIN AND LEVER WITHIN THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND REPLACE THEM WITH NEW, DESIGNED COMPONENTS. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 7, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.

Recall campaignNHTSA 07V512000

Fuel system, other: storage: tank assembly

Component: Fuel system, other: storage: tank assembly
Manufacturer: HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.)
Vehicles affected: 6,545
Reported to NHTSA: 2007-11-01
Owners notified: 2007-11-15

Defect description

ON CERTAIN COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG) VEHICLES, IN THE EVENT OF A SEVERE INTERIOR FIRE IN THE AREA OF THE REAR SEAT, THE CNG TANK MAY BE HEATED UNEVENLY, PREVENTING THE PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICE FROM VENTING THE CONTENTS OF THE TANK AS DESIGNED.

Safety risk

THIS COULD RESULT IN A TANK RUPTURE, EXPLOSION, AND EJECTION OF THE TANK FROM THE VEHICLE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEAT INSULATOR MATERIAL TO THE REAR SEAT BACK. AN INTERIM OWNER LETTER WAS MAILED TO OWNERS BEGINNING NOVEMBER 26, 2007. WHEN PARTS ARE AVAILABLE, OWNERS WILL BE RENOTIFIED ASKING THEM TO BRING IN THEIR VEHICLE FOR REPAIR. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Air bags	120	120,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission	72	74,000 mi
Electrical system	37	120,000 mi
Vehicle speed control	28	63,000 mi
Unknown or other	20	111,300 mi
Exterior lighting	19	125,600 mi
Structure: body	19	130,000 mi
Power train	17	108,212 mi
Seat belts	16	87,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling	14	80,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic	14	4,193 mi
Air bags: frontal	13	28,000 mi
Tires	13	51,000 mi
Service brakes	12	126,738 mi
Seats	11	20,000 mi
Steering	11	120,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine	10	16,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline	10	71,971 mi
Power train: manual transmission	9	8,000 mi
Engine	8	175,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	7	100,021 mi
Suspension	7	24,000 mi
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module	5	40,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition	5	76,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)	5	105,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system	5	101,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages	5	99,000 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner	4	4,995 mi
Power train: clutch assembly	4	64,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition: switch	3	—
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system	3	80,000 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights	3	140,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	3	1,000 mi
Air bags: side/window	2	30,000 mi
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator	2	25,893 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: radiator assembly	2	40 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor	2	82,100 mi
Equipment	2	52,000 mi
Equipment adaptive/mobility	2	70,540 mi
Equipment: electrical	2	4,000 mi
Fuel system, other	2	500 mi
Hybrid propulsion system: inverter	2	72,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch	2	13,744 mi
Parking brake	2	60,000 mi
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly	2	60,000 mi
Seat belts: front: retractor	2	60 mi
Seats: front assembly: recliner	2	39,000 mi
Structure: body: bumpers	2	3 mi
Structure: body: door	2	1,400 mi
Tires: sidewall	2	12,500 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal	2	5,580 mi
Vehicle speed control: cruise control	2	44,000 mi
Visibility	2	25,400 mi
Visibility/wiper	2	65,000 mi
Air bags: on-off switch assembly	1	—
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery	1	48,000 mi
Electrical system: starter assembly	1	70,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring	1	66,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood	1	—
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline	1	17,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control	1	70,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe	1	15,534 mi
Equipment: electrical: anti-theft devices	1	—
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.	1	—
Exterior lighting: headlights: switch	1	115,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	1	2,600 mi
Lane departure: warning	1	—
Latches/locks/linkages: trunk lid: lock	1	13,744 mi
Seats: front assembly: head restraint	1	80 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: fluid	1	2,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components	1	2,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder	1	47,658 mi
Steering: column	1	4,000 mi
Steering: column locking: anti-theft device	1	11,000 mi
Steering: electric power assist system	1	31,750 mi
Steering: hydraulic power assist: power steering fluid	1	—
Structure	1	155,000 mi
Structure: body: door: hinge and attachments	1	—
Structure: body: hood: hinge and attachments	1	99,000 mi
Suspension: front	1	45,000 mi
Suspension: front: macpherson strut	1	—
Suspension: front: shock absorber	1	500 mi
Suspension: front: springs: coil springs	1	9,336 mi
Suspension: front: wheel bearing	1	28,000 mi
Tires: tread/belt	1	37,644 mi
Tires: valve	1	—
Unknown	1	—
Vehicle speed control: cables	1	35,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: linkages	1	—
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system	1	48,200 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: heater core	1	500 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: windshield: electrical heating element	1	48,200 mi
Visibility: glass, side/rear	1	—
Visibility: power window devices and controls	1	8,000 mi
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices	1	—
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly	1	17,000 mi
Visibility: windshield	1	10,000 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer	1	—
Wheels	1	98,000 mi

The 2002 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2004 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Open investigations

An investigation is not a recall. It indicates that NHTSA is currently evaluating an alleged defect but has not reached a final determination.

EA21002Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module

EA15001Air Bag Inflator Rupture

Air bags: frontal

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.