2003 HONDA CIVIC Complaints

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE.*AK

WHEN COMING TO A STOP PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED. DRIVER DID NOT TOUCH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AT ALL. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE RESOLVED.*AK

GEAR SHIFT FAILED TO SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR. THERE WAS ALSO A LOUD TICKING COMING FROM THE ENGINE. PH *JB

THE ENGINE SHUT OF WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED OR SLOWED DOWN AT 10 MPH. ENGINE WILL NOT RESTART UNLESS CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. *TT *JB

2003 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID ON A SNOWY ROAD, COMING OVER A SMALL RISE WHILE GOING AROUND A MODERATE CURVE UNDER 40 MPH, THE BATTERY CHARGING FUNCTION, ACTIVATED BY DRIVER TAKING FOOT OFF THE GAS BEFORE CRESTING THE HILL, PRODUCED PROGRESSIVELY STRONGER ENGINE BRAKING EFFECT ON THE FRONT WHEELS, EQUIVALENT TO AN UNWANTED DOWN SHIFT AND CAUSING FISHTAILING AND POOR RESPONSE TO CORRECTIVE STEERING, SO THAT THE CAR SLID ACROSS THE ROAD AND INTO A SNOW BANK AND CONCRETE ABUTMENT. $6000 DAMAGE. IF ONCOMING TRAFFIC, COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS INJURIES OR FATALITY. DUE TO THE STRONG AND VARIABLE [HARD TO PREDICT OR CONTROL] BRAKING ACTION OF THE HYBRID'S CHARGING SYSTEM, THIS CAR SHOULD HAVE A SKID SENSOR ACTIVATING SOME KIND OF TRACTION CONTROL, INCLUDING INTERRUPTION OF THE CHARGING FUNCTION AS SOON AS A SKID IS DETECTED. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE ORDERED TO BE RETROFITTED TO ALL THE HYBRIDS. *JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD THE VEHICLE WILL NOT IDLE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE SYSTEM ON 2003 HONDA CIVIC EX. CONSUMER HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO GET THEM TO RESPOND. *MR PH THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. ONE TIME WAS GETTING OFF FREEWAY AND ANOTHER TIME AT THE DEALERSHIP WHEN DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING. AT DEALERSHIP VEHICLE CRASH WHILE PULLING IN. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS SUBSEQUESTLY SOLD BECAUSE OF THIS.CW

MY 2003 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID HAS A FAULTY SEAT BELT. THE BELT LOCKS UP AS THE PASSENGER TRIES TO BRING IT FORWARD. THIS CONDITION ALSO OCCURRED IN MY OTHER 4 HONDA CARS. THE SEAT BELTS ALSO TEND TO RATCHET UP AFTER BEING CONNECTED AND CAUSE DISCOMFORT TO THE PASSENGER AS THEY BECOME EXCESSIVELY TIGHT. THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT (1) THE RATCHETING OF THE SEAT BELTS IS ASSOCIATED WITH CHILD SAFETY PROTECTION AND (2) THE RATCHETING SHOULD ONLY OCCUR WHEN THE BELT IS EXTENDED FAR OUT FOR ATTACHING TO A CHILD SAFETY SEAT. I HAVE DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM IN THE PRESENCE OF THE SERVICE MGR. THE DEALER ALLEGES TO HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT; HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. I HAVE HAD OTHER EXPERIENCES WITH AMERICAN HONDA ALLEGEDLY REPLACING A PART (REFERENCE COMPLAINT # 10008215, IGNITION SWITCH RECALL) ONLY TO FIND THAT HONDAS STATEMENTS AND CLAIMS ARE HIGHLY QUESTIONABLE. I NOW ASK MYSELF WHETHER HONDA MIGHT BE ENGAGING IN DECEPTIVE AND FRAUDULENT PRACTICES TO PROTECT ITS PROFIT LINE IN DISREGARD OF THE SAFETY OF ITS CUSTOMERS. HONDA HAS FAILED TO RESPOND TO MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE ADVERTISED FUEL ECONOMY OF THE HYBRID. AFTER MEETING WITH A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, ERIC CATHERINE, FROM AMERICAN HONDA ON 3/24/03, THE REPRESENTATIVE MADE CERTAIN COMMITMENTS TO ADDRESS MY CONCERNS AND PROMISED TO GET BACK WITH ME IN A COUPLES OF DAYS. ONE OF THE COMMITMENTS WAS TO PERFORM A FUEL CONSUMPTION TEST ON MY HYBRID. AS OF 6/12/03, NEITHER THE REPRESENTATIVE NOR ANYONE FROM AMERICAN HONDA HAS LIVED UP TO THEIR COMMITMENTS. ACCORDING TO THE FUEL ECONOMY GUIDE POSTED ON THE VEHICLE, THE HYBRID IS SUPPOSED TO GET 48 MPG/CITY AND 47 MPG/HIGHWAY. EVEN THE FINE PRINT STATES THAT THE ACTUAL MILEAGE SHOULD RANGE BETWEEN 40 56 IN THE CITY AND 39-55 ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE BEEN TRACKING/DOCUMENTING MY ACTUAL MPG. MY MPG HAS NEVER EXCEEDED 35. SINCE FUEL ECONOMY IS THE PRIMARY REASON FOR PURCHASING THE HYBRID, POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS SHOULD BE EXTREMELY SKEPTICAL OF THE CLAIMS. *JB

AFTER BEING STOPPED FOR A FEW MINUTES AT A STOP LIGHTTHE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD. WHEREAS, I MIGHT BELIEVE MY FOOT LIFTED OFF THE BRAKE A LITTLE THAT SHOULD HAVE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL FORWARD AND NOT SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. AS A RESULT, I DID REAR END THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING. THE CONSUMER PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT(FIRESTONE P18570R14). *NLM