general problems of the 2003 Honda Civic

Nine problems related to seats have been reported for the 2003 Honda Civic. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2003 Honda Civic based on all problems reported for the 2003 Civic.

1 Seats problem

Failure Date: 10/29/2014

Air bag light came on. Determined is was code 9-3 driver seat belt switch.

2 Seats problem

Failure Date: 07/01/2013

The driver seat started rocking as you drive the car. Dealer stated that the bushings are worn out and need to be replaced. Honda is not offering any assistance or recall on this known issues with the 2001 - 2003 vehicles.

3 Seats problem

Failure Date: 01/09/2007

Purchased 2003 Civic lx in July of 2006. Had 30,000 miles on it. The driver seat had a small rocking motion as if it was not bolted to the floor. Has gotten progressively worse in 6 months and 9000 miles of driving. Mechanic during oil change told me he had seen that a lot on this model of car, but had no idea what it was. Have an appointment to be checked, but feel Honda is responsible.

4 Seats problem

Failure Date: 04/07/2005

*** this is for a 2003 Honda Civic si *** (1) accident @ 55 mph. Drove too fast through a right curve going up a 10 degree hill on wet pavement. Car spun out of control, and hit a utility pole on the driver's side door immediately aft of the front right tire (and engine compartment). (2) failure was driver's side seat. As I drive aggresively often, I sit with the driver's side seat at a 90 degree angle. During the accident the seat jammed in a completely reclined position. After retrieving my belongings from the vehicle, the seat was not able to be adjusted to my usual 90 degree angle position. (3) nothing done, car was totalled.

5 Seats problem

Failure Date: 01/31/2004

Update - driver seat rocks back and fourth - failure continues - six months after purchase - no resolution from dealer or Honda. New 2003 Honda Civic lx with side air bags. Driver's seat rocks back and forth with 1/4 to 1/2 inch "play" - causing un-safe feeling - not secure at all. Dealer said nothing could be done to correct. Honda customer service said nothing could be done to correct.

6 Seats problem

Failure Date: 09/01/2003

New 2003 Honda Civic lx with side air bags. Driver's seat rocks back and forth with 1/4 to 1/2 inch "play" - causing un-safe feeling - not secure at all. Dealer said nothing could be done to correct. Honda customer service said nothing could be done to correct.

7 Seats problem

Failure Date: 07/23/2003

Drivers side seat rocks back and forth, first gear lunges out to neutral, shifting gears is not smooth and has rough grinding feel, clutch doesnt engage and disc engage properly.

8 Seats problem

Failure Date: 07/06/2003

I purchased a Honda Civic hybrid vehicle in March of the current year with the intention of saving gas and being kind to the environment. The customary brief test drive before puchasing the car led me to believe this would be a good car for my high mileage lifestyle. Within a month I started having aches and stiffness in my neck and lower back. At ten weeks I was in so much pain that I called a chiropractor, crying with pain, on a Sunday morning to beg for help. (I had not required chiropractic help for the previous 5 years). The chiropractor treated my back with heat and massage for over an hour and then went with me to my new car to check out the seats. She immediately pointed out that the design of the seat gave no back support and was too short in the seat to support the legs while driving. With the doctor's help and advice as to cushions I could purchase I was able to leave on the trip but could only drive an hour at a time. My cousin did most of the driving from bakersfield, California to portland, oregon (approximately 900 miles) while I sat in the passenger seat on special cushions with my feet up on the dashboard to relieve the pain. When I got back home I went back tot he chiropractor immediately, and have been treated twice a week for the past two weeks. I'm doing physical therapy and using a wide variety of support cushions. Relax the back stores have become my new best friend. But the Civic is still impossible to be comfortable in. Extra cushions are making the driving experience almost bearable but I could never do a long drive. Fortunately my high mileage life is split up into 1/2 to 1 1/2 hour trips. But it doesn't seem fair that I can't drive long than 90 minutes in my $23,000 car.

9 Seats problem

Failure Date: 01/30/2003

Front drivers seat comes loose where it is attached to the car. Had fixed once. Going in to get fixed again.


Other Seats related problems of the 2003 Honda Civic


Safety Ratings of Civic Cars
Fuel Economy of Civic Vehicles
Civic Service Bulletins
Civic Safety Recalls
Civic Defect Investigations