MyCarTSB

2003 Honda Civic Steering Problems

16 owner-reported steering complaints from NHTSA data

16
Complaints
6
Crashes
Jan 2004Dec 2003
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (16)

mediumSTEERING,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS
CrashFiled: Oct 2017

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.

NHTSA #: 11031963
mediumSTEERING,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Filed: Apr 2017

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.

NHTSA #: 10979907
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Jul 2015

WITHOUT ANY WARNING OF IMPENDING MALFUNCTION THE IGNITION FOB WAS UNABLE TO TURN INTO A POS TO START THE ENGINE WHILE PRESSING DOWN ON THE CLUTCH ALL TROUBLESHOOTING IDEAS WERE DONE AND ULTIMATELY A VERY EXPENSIVE ONLY CERTAIN MODEL HARD TO COME BY AND REALLY DIFFERENT FROM OTHER YEARS IN COST AND AVAILABILITY PART IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER TUMBLER WAS PURCHASED AND CAR DROVE FINE WITHOUT ANY FURTHER PROBLEMS UNTIL 07/2015 WHEN THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED AGAIN NEEDING THE SAME EXACT PART AS PRIOR COSTING AGAIN AN EXHUBERANT AMOUNT AND HARD TO FIND AT A REASONABLE PRICE . WE DO NOT DO ALL THE THINGS THAT MAY HAVE CAUSE IT WE DO NOT HAVE LARGE HEAVY AMOUNTS OF KEYS HANGING OFF OF KEY RING ONLY ALARM PLUS FOB IT HAS NOT BEEN EXPOSED TO ANY MOIST OR WET I HAVE READ IT A RECALL ON THE AUTOMATIC I AM HOPING IT WILL BE ADDED TO RECALL LIST FOR ALSO THE MANUAL 2003 HONDA CIVIC EX.

NHTSA #: 10734431
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Dec 2013

WHILE DRIVING AROUND A BEND, THE ENTIRE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. IT REQUIRED THAT I STOP, TURN OFF MY VEHICLE AND TURN IT BACK ON TO CORRECT. THIS HAPPENED A SECOND TIME A MONTH LATER AND THE KEY IS NOW STUCK IN THE ON POSITION IN THE IGNITION AND WILL NOT TURN ON OR TURN OFF. *TR

NHTSA #: 10555263
mediumSTEERING,SERVICE BRAKES
CrashFiled: Jun 2013

I LIVE ON A MAIN ROAD, SO I WAS THANKFUL THAT THERE WAS NO HEAVY TRAFFIC AT THE TIME, THAT IT LUCKILY WAS MINOR, AND NO ONE WAS INJURED, HOWEVER, THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE FATALITY. AS I WAS DRIVING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND TURNING RIGHT OUT ONTO THE ROAD, THE STEERING WHEEL STUCK IN THE TURNING RIGHT POSITION AND BOTH STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED TO WORK CAUSING ME TO CRASH INTO A PARKED CAR. I AM NOT SURE WHY THE STEERING AND BRAKES BOTH FAILED LIKE THIS? STRANGELY, MY CAR WAS DRIVING FINE AFTER THE INCIDENT AS THE POLICE OFFICER PULLED IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT IS SMASHED UP AND NEEDS BODY WORK AND POSSIBLY MECHANICAL WORK. I DID HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AS I DID NOT TRUST DRIVING IT AFTER THIS HAPPENED, AND I AM NOT SURE I WILL EVER FEEL SAFE IN THIS CAR. CURRENTLY, MY INSURANCE IS TAKING CARE OF IT, BUT THIS WAS A MALFUNCTION ON HONDA'S PART AND SHOULD BE DEALT WITH BY HONDA ON ALL FRONTS, COSMETICALLY, MECHANICALLY, FINANCIALLY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY SO THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE OR ME AGAIN. OTHERWISE, THERE IS NO JUSTICE OR PROTECTION FOR THE CONSUMER! THIS COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY BEEN AND COULD BE LIFE THREATENING. *TR

NHTSA #: 10520826
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Oct 2011

IF YOU TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF THE STEERING WHEEL THE CAR STARTS A SEVER DRIFT RIGHT OR LEFT. THE DEALER(CERRITOS HONDA) SAID THAT WE HAD TO GET USED TO IT AND THAT IT HAD A NEW TYPE OF STEERING SYSTEM..ALSO I FOUND OUT THAT HONDA IS HAS A LAWSUIT THAT INFERS THAT HONDA LIED ABOUT ITS GAS MILEAGE IN TOWN... *TR

NHTSA #: 10428403
mediumSTEERING
CrashFiled: Mar 2008

2003 HONDA CIVIC WITH STEERING PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT DEALER LOOKED AT IT AND TOLD HER TO CONTACT THE INSURANCE COMPANY FOR BODY AND SUSPENSION DAMAGE. SHE STATES THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT RETRACT AFTER MAKING TURNS. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT PREVIOUSLY, HOWEVER IT WAS NOT CLEAR, IF THE STEERING WAS DEFECTIVE FROM MANUFACTURING OR IF THE STEERING PROBLEM WAS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. *JB

NHTSA #: 10222829
mediumSTEERING,SUSPENSION
Filed: Sep 2007

CREAKING NOISE FROM FRONT OF CAR NEVER RESOLVED BY KEELER HONDA ALBANY, NY. *JB

NHTSA #: 10203104
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Nov 2006

WHILE MAKING A TURN AT < 5 MPH IN MY HONDA 2003 4DR-SEDAN, TO TAKE IT OUT OF THE PARKING LOT, THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND, FOLLOWED BY THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMING FREE. TURNING THE STEERING HAD NO AFFECT ON THE WHEELS. THE DEALERSHIP DID THEIR 1ST INSPECTION AFTER 7 HOURS OF THE VEHICLE BEING TO TOWED TO THEIR FACILITY, FOUND IT TO BE A FIRST-OF-ITS KIND FAILURE. THEY CONFIRMED THAT A BOLT HAD BROKEN IN HALF IN THE POWER STEERING COLUMN PINION BRACKET. *JB

NHTSA #: 10174249
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Nov 2005

MY CAR AND MANY OTHER'S HAVE A SERIOUS STEERING RACK DEFECT THAT CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE A SERIOUS CRASH OR MISHAP. IT IS A 2003 HONDA CIVIC SI. MY OWN CAR PERSONALLY HAS A CREAKING RACK WHICH I COMPLAINED TO VARIOUS HONDA DEALERS ABOUT SINCE I HAVE OWNED MY CAR. IT NOW HAS 31,000 MILES ON IT AND THE PROBLEM IS GROWING WORSE. HERE ARE SOME LINK'S TO OUR SPECIFIC PROBLEM'S. HTTP://WWW.EPHATCH.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=60800 HTTP://WWW.EPHATCH.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=70195. *JB

NHTSA #: 10142337
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Jan 2004

POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKS INSIDE THE CAR UNDERNEATH THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THE CONTAINER FOR THE FLUID RUNS VERY LOW. THE VEHICLE WILL NEED A POWER STEERING RACK WHICH IS A FRONT END PART. I WAS TOLD IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE. I FEEL UNCERTAIN. TO ASSURE THAT NO OTHER PART WILL GO BAD, IT IS NECCESSARY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM DEALT AND THE PART FIX. ESPECIALLY KNOWING THAT I TRANSPORT MY SON AND NEPHEW TO AND FROM SCHOOL. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT ANYTHING CAN TRANSPIRE, EVENTHOUGH I AM TOLD IT IS SAFE. I AM UNCOMFORTABLE WITH DRIVING , BUT IT IS MY VEHICLE AND I NEED TO GET TO WORK, SCHOOL AND DROP MY SON AND NEPHEW TO THIER SCHOOL, ETC. IN ADDITION, WHEN ACELERATING FROM 1ST TO 2ND THE VEHICLE IS HARSH, WHEN WARM.*AK

NHTSA #: 10055146
mediumSTEERING
CrashFiled: Dec 2003

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IT HIT A CURB, AND DAMAGED THE UNDER BODY OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA #: 10051835
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Oct 2003

2003 HONDA CIVIC COUPE-DURING SHARP CORNERING, THE CAR BECOMES UNSTABLE TO THE POINT IT WENT INTO A 4 WHEEL SLIDE OFF OF THE PAVEMENT. CONDITIONS DRY AND ROAD SURFACE CLEAN. CAR HAS EXHIBITED ERRATIC MOVEMENT OF THE CHASSIS DURING CORNERING SINCE THE INCIDENT. *LA

NHTSA #: 10043463
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Oct 2003

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH THE STEERING LOCKED. *PH THE STEERING WHEEL POPPED AND BEGAN TO MOVE FREELY. *TS THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *SCC *JB

NHTSA #: 10039869
mediumSTEERING
CrashFiled: Jul 2003

(HONDA REFLES MOTOR SCOOTER NSS250/A 2003)STEERING MECHANISM LOCKED FORCING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF MOTORCYCLE.*MR *TS (LAWYER STEPHEN KANDELL ON BEHALF OF CLIENT DAVID CALRK) *JB

NHTSA #: 10031967
mediumSTEERING,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,EQUIPMENT
CrashFiled: Jul 2003

WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. *AK THE CONSUMER HAD COME TO AN INTERSECTION, HAD HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, SUDDENLY THE STEERING LOCKED, AIMED THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT, WENT OFF THE ROAD, OVER THE CURB AND ALMOST REAR ENDED BY A TRACTOR TRAILER. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN THE DRIVING LANE. THE CONSUMER WAS ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED OUT ALONG WITH THE REMOTE STARTER WHICH ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO BE DRIVEN WITHOUT KEYS. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER FOR A BRAKE DEFECT. *SCC *JB

NHTSA #: 10022618

Other 2003 Honda Civic Issues