2003 Honda Civic Engine Problems

2003 HONDA CIVIC. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO ENGINE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MOBILE AND, UNABLE TO BE TRANSPORTED TO HAVE THE AIRBAG INFLATOR SAFETY RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING BELT AND TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 178,000.

MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN GOING HOT SINCE NOVEMBER 2013. I HAVE REPLACED THE WATER PUMP, RADIATOR, FAN SWITCHES, HEAD GASKET, VALVE GASKET SEAL/COVER, ENGINE. WHEN I'M SITTING IDLE IN TRAFFIC FOR A WHILE IT WILL RUN HOT OR AT LEAST APPEAR TO RUN HOT BECAUSE THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WILL GO ALL THE WAY TO HOT. I HAVE READ A FEW BLOGS AND SPOKEN TO A HONDA SPECIALIST AND HE CONFIRMED WHAT I READ ABOUT CIVICS RANGING FROM 2001 TO 2004 ARE NOTORIOUS FOR RUNNING HOT. I WAS TOLD THAT YOU HAVE TO REPLACE EVERYTHING LIKE THE WATER PUMP OR RADIATOR AS WELL AS THE HEAD GASKET AT THE SAME TIME TO STOP THIS FROM REOCCURRING. I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE. I JUST WANT HONDA TO BE TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY BECAUSE IT IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THIS MATTER NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO AND A RECALL SHOULD BE CREATED. THESE ARE SOME OF THE BLOGS I HAVE READ. THANK YOU. HTTPS://ANSWERS.YAHOO.COM/QUESTION/INDEX;_YLT=A0LEVJUVDZNT5ZUAUWWPXQT.;_YLU=X3ODMTBYBNV2CXQWBHNLYWNZCGRWB3MDMGRJB2XVA2JMMQR2DGLKAW--?QID=20120131065715AA3DO5N HTTP://WWW.CIVICFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/36-MECHANICAL-PROBLEMS-VEHICLE-ISSUES-FIX-FORUM/329665-2003-CIVIC-EX-OVERHEATING-ISSUES.HTML HTTP://WWW.EHOW.COM/HOW_7714982_OVERHEATING-2003-HONDA-CIVIC-EX.HTML. *TR

CAR WAS IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. THE BACKSEAT OF THE 2003 HONDA CIVIC CAUGHT FIRE UPON THE FRONT IMPACT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD NOT DETECT WHY OR HOW THE FIRE STARTED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS FRACTURED AND LEAKING EXHAUST INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC ADVISED HER TO DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN TO HELP KEEP OUT THE EXHAUST FUMES. SHE THEN CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND NO ASSISTANCE WOULD BE PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,700 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 162,000.

THE AIR CONDITIONER ON MY 2003 HONDA CIVIC SI STOPPED WORKING SUDDENLY AFTER A LOUD BREAKING SOUND CAME OUT OF THE CAR. I TOOK IT TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP AND THE DIAGNOSIS IS THAT THE COMPRESSOR EXPLODED AND CAUSED METAL SHAVING TO GO INTO THE ENTIRE AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD ME THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM WILL NEED TO BE TOTALLY REPLACED. THE ESTIMATE FOR THE WORK IS $2600.00. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK ABNORMALLY AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT THEN RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED WITHOUT STALLING. THE DEALER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND THEY DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED A VALVE. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AFTER THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

2003 HONDA CIVIC EX. NO HEAT IN WINTER. OVERHEATS IN SUMMER. COOLANT OVERFLOWS THROUGH RESERVOIR. SEVERAL OTHERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. ITS NOT THE WATER PUMP, RADIATOR, THERMOSTAT, OR LINES. HONDA MUST FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

MY AIR CONDITION JUST DIED , ITS NOT A FUSE , MIGHT BE ELECTRICAL , MY MECHANIC SAYS EVEN AFTER 7YRS IT SHOULD NOT HAVE DIED. DRIVING AROUND IN 95 DEGREE WEATHER , LOTS OF RAIN WITH NO DEFROST EITHER. WIPERS WORK, NEED HELP TO FIX THIS PROBLEM -EXPENSIVE IF ITS A SENSOR?DO NOT KNOW THE PROBLEM AT ALL. *TR

THE FAILURE IS A SOFTWARE DEFECT, WHICH CAUSES THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING AT RANDOM, UNPREDICTABLE TIMES, UNDER UNPREDICTABLE CONDITIONS. IT HAS OCCURRED FOUR TIMES WITH MY VEHICLE, AND LUCKILY, NOT IN DANGEROUS CIRCUMSTANCES. THE ONLY WAY TO RESTART THE ENGINE IS TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP, PUT IT IN PARK, TURN OFF THE KEY COMPLETELY, WAIT A MINUTE, THEN TURN THE IGNITION TO START. IF IT WERE TO OCCUR IN TRAFFIC, AS ON THE INTERSTATE, THIS WOULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM, WHO SAYS HE CANNOT ADDRESS IT BECAUSE HE CANNOT OBSERVE IT OCCURRING, HE ALSO SAYS THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF HONDA CORP, SINCE IT IS A DESIGN ISSUE. *TR

AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER IS TOO LOW TO THE GROUND AND FULLY EXPOSED TO STONES, SAND AND ROAD DEBRIS THAT KICKS UP FROM THE HIGHWAY. MY CONDENSER ORIGINALLY HAD BLACK PAINT ON IT BUT IT NOW IS DENTED, LEAKS AND LOOKS SANDBLASTED AND IS BLOCKED FULL OF ROAD SALT CAUSING THE DEFROST FUNCTION AND THE AIR CONDITIONING TO FAIL AND FREON 134A TO BE EXHAUSTED INTO THE ATMOSPHERE CAUSING ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE BECAUSE OF THIS POOR UNPROTECTED DESIGN. RECOMMEND THE MANUFACTURER BE COMPELLED TO MAKE AVAILABLE SOME FORM OF PROTECTIVE MEASURE TO PREVENT THIS PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE WINDSHIELD DEFROST FUNCTION AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. *TR

CATALYTIC CONVERTER ISSUES HAD TO REPLACE IT TWICE IN THE LAST YEAR. *TR

CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND O2 SENSORS CONTINUALLY NEED REPLACEMENT. *TR

TRANSMISSION HESITATES. MANUFACTURER CHANGES THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, BUT DOES NOT REPAIR. MANUFACTURER WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM ONLY BANDAIDS THIS RECURRING PROBLEM. VEHICLE HESITATES AND SHUTTERS DURING ACCELERATION WHICH CAN BE DANGEROUS IN INTERSECTIONS AND IN GENERAL TRAFFIC. THIS IS OCCURRING ON SEVERAL YEARS OF THIS VEHICLE ACCORDING TO WEBSITES I HAVE READ. THE VEHICLE HAS ALSO GONE THROUGH TWO REPLACEMENT OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30MPH HE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER MALFUNCTIONED; HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. HONDA ALSO MAILED HIM A NOTICE REQUESTING TO RANDOMLY TEST HIS VEHICLE TO MEASURE THE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEMS PERFORMANCE. HE HAS FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. HE HAS NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,100.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CIVIC-HYBRID. THE VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD WHEN THE CONTACT REMOVES AND REAPPLIES HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE EGR VALVE WAS FAULTY. THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 39,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,500.

TL* - CONTACT STATED THAT ON THE EVENING OF APRIL 9, 2007 WHILE DRIVING AT 35 TO 40 MPH IN LIGHT HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM UNDER THE 2003 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON, AND TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE RPMS WENT UP TO 4000, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, AND WOULD ONLY DRIVE AT ABOUT 15 TO 20 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR HONDA TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 83,000.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM IDLE AT A STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND THEN SHUT OFF. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. PRESENTLY, THE VEHICLE WILL START,BUT WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A HONDA DEALER, AND DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER FOUND A SALVAGED TRANSMISSION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 158,000.*AK

NEW YEARS DAY, I GOT OFF THE FREEWAY AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND MY CLUTCH STIFFENED. SECONDS LATER THEY RESUMED THEIR NORMAL FEEL BUT MY BATTERY AND TEMP LIGHT CAME ON AND SMOKE/STEAM CAME OUT OF MY HOOD. I PULLED OVER AND OPENED THE HOOD...COOLANT RESEVOIR WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY EMPTY AND COOLANT HAD EXPLODED ALL OVER THE ENGINE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR WARRANTY REVIEW. THEY CALLED AND SAID NO COVERAGE, THEY BELIEVE THAT A ROCK HAD PUNCTURED THE RADIATOR AND HENCE IT WAS NOT A PARTS PROBLEM. SINCE, I HAVE REVIEWED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT ROCKS PUNCTURING CAR INTERNAL PARTS, SPECIFICALLY HONDA'S. THIS IS A POOR DESIGN AND IN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. IT SHOULD NOT TAKE A DEATH TO CALL ATTENTION TO A COMPANY WHO IS SELLING CARS WHICH ARE NOT PROPERLY DESIGNED FOR HIGHWAY DRIVING CONDITIONS. SINCE I HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF THE FREEWAY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER RIGHT AWAY AND CEASE ANY FURTHER DAMAGE. PARTS AND LABOR WILL COST ME 1000.00 FOR A 3 YEAR OLD CAR THAT WAS BOUGHT WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY (WHICH COST A COUPLE THOUSAND DOLLARS AT TIME OF PURCHASE). I AM OUTRAGED AND DISAPPOINTED WITH HONDA. *JB

IN AUGUST OF 2006 MY VEHICLE OVERHEATED FOR THE FIRST TIME. I PROMPTLY TOOK IT IN AND THEY FIXED AN "AIR HOSE LEAK". AFTER THAT MY CAR OVERHEATED EVERY FEW WEEKS WITHOUT WARNING AND AFTER COOLANT HAD BEEN FOUND LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE A NEW THERMOSTAT WAS INSTALLED. IT OVERHEATED A MONTH LATER AND THE WHOLE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM