2003 Honda Civic Body & Structure Problems

WHILE MY VEHICLE BEING STATIONARY, I CAN'T LOCK OR UNLOCK BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER DOORS FROM THE OUTSIDE USING MY KEY. IT HAPPENS EVERY 2 YEARS.

THIS CAR WAS TOTALED IN A CRASH MANY, MANY YEARS AGO ! I HAVE FILLED OUT AND MAILED IN TWO RECALL NOTICES TO THIS AFFECT AND I AM STILL GETTING RECALL NOTICES FOR THIS CAR. FOR THE THIRD TIME, THIS CAR IS LONG GONE, UPDATE YOUR RECORDS AND DO NOT SENT ANOTHER NOTICE.

THE PAINT HAS BEEN FADING AND PEELING SINCE ABOUT JANUARY OF 2014. CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF AND WASHED CLEANED REGULARLY (BUT NOT EXCESSIVELY) ITS WHOLE LIFE AND THE PAINT SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY ISSUES. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR HONDA'S MADE AROUND THIS TIME AND HONDA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND PAY TO HAVE IT PAINTED. IT IS NOT FAIR TO CAR OWNERS WHO DO NOT HAVE THE RESALE VALUE THE CAR IS WORTH BECAUSE OF A SIMPLE COSMETIC ISSUE LIKE THIS.

I NOTICED A FEW WEEKS AGO THAT THE HOOD HAD STARTED TO BOUNCE SOMEWHAT WHILE CAR WAS IN OPERATION, UPON INVESTIGATING I FOUND THE SUPPORT THAT THE HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY IS ATTACHED ( BULKHEAD / CROSS MEMBER) HAD A HAIRLINE CRACK APPEARING. WITHIN A MATTER OF A FEW WEEKS THE ENTIRE LATCH ASSEMBLY HAD BROKEN LOOSE. ONCE THIS HAPPENS EVEN THE SECONDARY LATCH IS USELESS, AT THIS POINT THE ONLY THING KEEPING THE HOOD FROM FLYING OPEN DURING THE COURSE OF DRIVING WHICH INVOLVES AIR TURBULENCE IS A VERY THIN GAUGE STEEL CABLE CONNECTED TO THE INSIDE HOOD RELEASE LATCH WHICH ISN'T MEANT TO RESTRAIN HOOD FROM FLYING OPEN. I'VE ALSO FOUND ONE DOCUMENTED CASE OF A HOOD FLYING OPEN WHILE CAR IS TRAVELING DOWN INTERSTATE IN OHIO, THIS WAS A 2004 HONDA CIVIC AND THE TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT NUMBER IS 10-119-89. I'VE CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA CORPORATION AND EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS REGARDING THIS SAFETY ISSUE ON JANUARY 19, 2016 . SO FAR I'VE ONLY RECEIVED A CASE FILE NUMBER (04405315) AND A LOT OF RUN AROUND. I'VE BEEN TOLD IN DIFFERENT CONVERSATION MY CAR IS 13 YEARS OLD AND OUT OF WARRANTY. I KNOW THAT. THE CAR WAS ALSO OUT OF WARRANTY WHEN BOTH AIRBAGS PRODUCED BY TAKATA CORPORATION HAD TO BE REPLACED. I FEEL THIS HOOD LATCH PROBLEM IS JUST AS DANGEROUS IF NOT MORE SO, IF ONES HOOD COMES UNLATCHED GOING DOWN A HIGHWAY OR WORSE A INTERSTATE THIS COULD VERY EASILY RESULT IN A MAJOR PILE UP PUTTING NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS AT RISK FOR LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO A LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP, BRYAN HONDA LOCATED HERE IN FAYETTEVILLE, NC. A SERVICE ADVISOR AND FIXED OPERATIONS DIRECTOR BY THE NAME OF TODD KUTHER HAS INSPECTED THE CAR, TOOK PHOTOS AND FORWARDED TO AMERICAN HONDA USING THE CASE FILE# (04405315)

THE CLEAR COAT ON THE PAINT JOB BEGAN CRACKING AND PEELING ON THE BUMPERS AND HOOD. *TR

I WAS DRIVING SOUTH BOUND ON THE 215 SHORTLY BEFORE THE EXIT, MILLS, THERE WAS A CONE LAYING ON ITS SIDE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD THAT I WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE FROM A DISTANCE BECAUSE THE COLOR OF THE CONE WAS FACING FORWARD . BY THE TIME I WAS ABLE TO REALIZE WHAT IT WAS, I COULD NOT AVOID IT AND GO TO ANOTHER LANE BECAUSE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF TWO CARS, WHICH PROBABLY WOULD HAVE CAUSED MUCH MORE DAMAGE THEN THERE IS IF I ATTEMPTED TO DO SO. AS A RESULT THE CONE CRACKED MY FRONT BUMPER ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE IN THE SHAPE OF A V, THERE WAS A LITTLE STEAM COMING FROM MY ENGINE AND THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME KIND OF LEAK NOW, AS WELL AS SOME BLACK RUBBER TYPE THING THAT LOOKS LIKE ITS SUPPOSED TO BE OVER THE TIRE WAS DRAGGING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

2003 BLUE HONDA CIVIC CLEARCOAT AND PAINT ARE DELAMINATING ON LARGE AREAS OF THE ROOF AND PORTIONS OF THE TRUNK AND HOOD. THE PAINT IS NOT EXHIBITING NORMAL OXIDATION FADING, THE CLEARCOAT IS ACTUALLY PEELING AWAY. *TR

THE CLEAR COATING PAINT ALL OVER THE ROOF AND THE TRUNK BECOMES CHIPPED. THE PROBLEM GROWS EVERY DAY. *TR

THE CLEAR SEALANT ON THE PAINT SUDDENLY STARTED TO ERODE. NOW LARGE SECTIONS OF THE ROOF, HOOD, AND REAR TRUNK AREA LOOK LIKE THE CAR HAS SOME KIND OF SKIN DISEASE. IT'S AN UNSIGHTLY MESS THAT HAS LOWERED THE CAR'S VALUE AND MAKES IT LOOK LIKE A JUNK HEAP INSTEAD OF THE WELL-MAINTAINED AND RUNNING CAR THAT IT ACTUALLY IS. I WOULD LIKE HONDA TO PAY TO FIX IT LIKE THEY DO FOR ANY OTHER ISSUE THAT THEY ARE NEGLIGENT ABOUT. *TR

ON THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE HOOD, THERE ARE THREE RUSTED BOLTS. DIRECTLY ABOVE ONE OF THE RUSTED BOLTS, THE HOOD IS RUSTING...AS THIS RUSTED AREA IS IN VERY CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE WINDSHIELD WASHING NOZZLE MECHANISM WHICH DELIVERS THE WINDSHIELD WASHING LIQUID TO THE WINDSHIELD, AT SOME FUTURE DATE, THERE WILL BE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. PLEASE REVIEW AND IMPLEMENT AN ACTION RECALL PLAN TO ADDRESS THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. THANKS IN ADVANCE. *JS

CARPET UNDER PASSENGER SIDE MAT BECOMES COMPLETELY SODDEN DURING AND AFTER EVERY RAIN. HAVING BLOWER ONLY OPERATE ON "RECIRCULATE" AS A HONDA BULLETIN SUGGESTED DOES NOT HELP THE PROBLEM. (ALSO, IN WINTER, OPERATING DURING WET COLD WEATHER ON RECIRCULATE DOES NOT ALLOW WINDSHIELD TO PROPERLY DE-FOG.) DOOR SEALS APPEAR TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE, WITH NO APPARENT WEAR, AND ARE IN PROPER POSITION. BECAUSE MAT IS NOT WET, APPEARS THAT WATER IS GETTING IN CAR STRUCTURE FROM BELOW, NOT FROM DOOR, FOR EXAMPLE. I FEAR THIS WILL CAUSE FLOOR OF CAR TO RUST AND ROT, AND CARPET IS BECOMING STAINED BY MOLD GROWING UNDER THE MAT. DIFFICULT TO KEEP THIS DRY WHEN ONE LIVES IN A RAINY CLIMATE. THINK THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR QUITE A WHILE, BUT I WAS UNAWARE BECAUSE THE MAT ON TOP WAS DRY.R

MY BLUE 2003 HONDA CIVIC LX'S CLEAR COAT IS FADING. THERE IS WHITE BLOTCHES ON 50 PERCENT OF MY ROOF, 20 PERCENT OF MY TRUNK AND IS SPREADING TO MY HOOD. AN INDEPENDENT PAINT SHOP SAID TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE A FACTORY PAINT JOB IT WOULD COST AROUND $3,000. I THEN TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SET UP A MEETING WITH A "REPRESENTATIVE" FOR ME. THE REP LOOKED AT MY CAR AND TOLD ME THAT HER "RULE IS TO LOOK FOR FACTORY DEFECTS ONLY." SHE SAID THAT THE COAT IS FADING BECAUSE OF WEATHER AND HAS FADED FASTER BECAUSE THE DARK BLUE ABSORBS HEAT. I INFORMED HER THAT I HAVE SEEN ATLEAST FIVE OTHER BLUE CIVICS OF THE SAME YEAR WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH THE PAINT. THIS MAKES ME THINK THAT THERE IS A DEFECT EITHER WITH THE CLEAR COAT OR THE APPLICATION. IT SEEMS UNLIKELY THAT A 5 OR 6 YEAR OLD CAR'S PAINT SHOULD BE FADING EVEN AFTER REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND CARE TO THE EXTERIOR. *TR

WHILE DRIVING, THE HOOD TO MY 2003 HONDA CIVIC EX CAME UNLATCHED AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD, SHATTERING THE WINDSHIELD AND OTHERWISE DAMAGING THE VEHICLE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE HOOD LATCH MECHANISM WAS DEFECTIVE. IT HAD NOTHING BUT TWO BOLTS CONNECTING IT TO THE TIEROD AND THE METAL THAT ATTACHED THE LATCH TO THE HOOD WAS NOT SOLDERED TO THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CAR REQUIRES $2700 WORTH OF REPAIRS COVERED BY INSURANCE WITH THE DEDUCTIBLE OF $1000 THAT I HAVE TO PAY PLUS BETWEEN $500 TO $1000 TO REPLACE THE HOOD AND THE LATCH. I HAVE PICTURES AND THE PARTS ARE STILL AVAILABLE. THE CAR HAS YET TO BE PREPARED. THE DRIVER SUFFERS FROM HEIGHTENED ANXIETY AS A RESULT OF THE INCIDENT. THANK YOU. *TR

ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO I NOTICED THE PAINT DETERIORATING FROM THE EXTERIOR ROOF OF MY VEHICLE. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THEY SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT ABOUT 6 WEEKS LATER FOR ME TO COME TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE THE MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVE VIEW THE VEHICLE PAINT ISSUE. THE PAINT IS CURRENTLY ONLY DETERIORATING FROM THE ROOF. THE DEALERSHIP DECLINED TO CORRECT THE ISSUE STATING THE VEHICLE WAS 1) OUT OF WARRANTY 2) ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE PAINT PROBLEM 3) CARE OF THE CAR WHILE AT THE DEALERSHIP, THERE WAS ANOTHER CUSTOMER WHO HAD AN ACCORD WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE ALSO SEEN OTHER CIVICS AND ACCORDS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THE SERVICE MANAGER NOR MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVE DID NOT PROVIDE INFORMATION AS TO WHY THE PAINT LOCATED AT THE AREA OF DETERIORATION WAS HAPPENING. THE SERVICE MANAGER DIRECTED ME ONLY TO WARRANTY EXPIRATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS POINTING TO THE RUBBER STRIPS AT THE EXTERIOR SIDE WINDOWS WHERE WATER SPOTS WERE LOCATED. *TR

I DRIVE A 2003 HONDA CIVIC EX. I GOT OFF WORK AT 5:30 P.M. AND GOT ON THE INTERSTATE AND HAD THE INCIDENT ABOUT 5:55. ON 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC, I WAS IN THE 3RD FROM THE RIGHT. THIS IS RUSH HOUR IN INDIANAPOLIS. NO WARNING AT ALL, THE HOOD ON MY HONDA FLEW UP AND SMASHED MY WINDSHIELD TO PIECES AND PUT A LARGE DENT IN THE TOP OF THE HONDA WHERE IT MEETS THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE HOOD STAYED UP, COMPLETELY TAKING AWAY ANY VISION IN FRONT. I IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED ON MY BREAKS AND THANFULLY DIDN'T HIT ANYONE IN FRONT OF ME. THANKFULLY NOBODY WAS TAILGATING ME. I MANAGED NOT TO SWERVE THE CAR AND STAY IN MY LANE. I COULD SEE A VEHICLE ON EACH SIDE OF ME AS I SLAMED ON THE BRAKES. I THEN PROCEEDED TO STEER MY WAY TO THE LEFT, CROSSING 2 LANES AND THEN GETTING MY CAR OVER TO THE SHOULDER. I USED MY SIDE MIRRORS FOR THIS. WHEN I GOT MY CAR OVER ON THE SHOULDER, MY HOOD CAME DOWN. INCREDIBLY LUCKY TO NOT HIT ANYONE AND NOT GET HIT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY CALLED ME ON THE 25TH. THEIR CLAIMS ADJUSTER SAID THAT THE HOOD LATCH HAD A DECENT AMOUNT OF WIGGLE ROOM! THIS SHOULD NOT BE. THERE SHOULD BE NO WIGGLE ROOM ON A HOOD RELEASE. I JUST TURNED 100,000 MILES A WEEK EARLIER. MY HOOD HADN'T BEEN UP FOR MONTHS. MY LAST OIL CHANGE WAS AROUND VALENTINES DAY. ONE OF THOSE FLUKE THINGS I HOPE. I WOULD HATE FOR SOMEBODY ELSE TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN TO THEM. I AM SO LUCKY THAT THERE WAS NO DAMAGE FORM ANOTHER VEHICLE. CAR SEEMED FINE MECHANICALLY. I GOT ON THE SHOULDER AND WAS PRETTY SHAKEN UP. BUT OKAY.

I TOOK THE CAR IN TO HAVE THE SRS SYSTEM CHECKED BECAUSE THE LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER DID A 40 POINT INSPECTION WHICH RESULTED IN THE RECOMMENDATION TO REPLACE THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNT DUE TO A "FAILURE" IN THE SYSTEM. I WAS TOLD THE MOUNTS (FRONT, SIDE AND BACK) FAIL ON THE HONDA ODYSSEY'S (NEWER MODELS, OURS IS AN '03) OFTEN. THE RESULT OF MOTOR MOUNT FAILURE IS EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT OF THE ENGINE WHEN UNDER "LOAD." I WAS TOLD THAT MEANS THE ENGINE MOVES WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DURING BRAKING, SHARP TURNS, BUMPS AND ACCELERATION. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT ONCE ONE MOTOR MOUNT "BREAKS" THE OTHERS HAVE MORE TENSION AND WILL ALSO FAIL. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE PART BE REPLACED BEFORE THE OTHER MOTOR MOUNTS FAIL AND CAUSE MAJOR PROBLEMS. THIS IS CURRENTLY NOT A RECALL OR FREE LIFETIME WARRANTY. OUR LOCAL HONDA MECHANIC TOLD US THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS SHOULD NEVER FAIL (ESPECIALLY ON SUCH A NEW CAR). HE SAID MOTOR MOUNTS SHOULD OUTLAST THE ENGINE/CAR AND HE HAD NEVER IN ALL OF HIS EXPERIENCE SEEN A MOTOR MOUNT FAIL. *TR

FRONT AIR SPOILER ON OUR 2003 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID WILL DETACH FROM VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. SPOILER, AT BEST, LOOSELY CONNECTS TO CAR. FURTHER, THE DESIGN OF THE SPOILER IS SO LOW THAT IT WILL SCRAPE CURB STOPS AND ORDINARY DRIVEWAYS FURTHER EXACERBATING THE PROBLEM. *TR

THE DOOR HANDLES HAVE CHROME WHICH SPONTANEOUSLY BEGAN TO PEEL AND CONTINUES CAUSING REPEATED PAINFUL AND ALARMING CUTS THAT OVBIOUSLY DISTRACT US FROM DRIVING.*AK

I WAS STRUCK ON MY FRONT BUMPER BY A DRIVER DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. HE WAS MAKING A 3-POINT TURN AND DIDN'T KNOW THAT I WAS BEHIND HIM. HE ACCELERATED INTO ME AND EVEN THOUGH MY CAR SUSTAINED MINIMAL DAMAGE, MY NECK RECEIVED ALL OF THE CRASH ENERGY. I HAVE HARD-COPY EVIDENCE OF MY NECK FROM MRIS AND CAT SCANS TAKEN 1 YEAR BEFORE THE ACCIDENT; I HAD A HEALTHY NECK. I NOW HAVE 3 DISINTERGRATING DISCS AND CONSTANT PAIN. THE TREATMENTS WILL BE OPEN-ENDED, I AM TOLD. THROUGH MY RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT HONDA CHANGED THEIR HEAD-RESTRAINT DESIGN ON THE CIVIC HYBRID 2003 (MY CAR). BEFORE THAT YEAR, THE REGULAR CIVIC HAD EXCELLENT RATINGS. THIS MODEL HAD A 'MINIMAL PASSING' RATING. I FEEL THAT THE LACK OF NECK SUPPORT WAS THE REASON THAT MY BODY SUSTAINED SUCH INJURIES.*AK

2003 HONDA CIVIC. DURING WIND, DOOR BLOWN FULL BACK AND BREAKING HINGE. DOOR AND SIDE OF CAR NEEDED FULL REPLACEMENT. *LA

PURCHASED A HONDA CIVIC 4DR LX ON SEPT. 20, 2003 AND TOOK IT TO THE CAR WASH ON 10/04/2003 ONLY TO HAVE WATER ON BOTH FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS (BOTTOM OF DOORS). ON 10/06/2003, I TOOK IT FOR A 48 HOUR RAINCHECK I HAD RECEIVED, AND AGAIN WATER HAD COME IN. WHEN I GOT HOME I DRIED IT UP AND AGAIN POUR A GALLON OF WATER ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS. SURE ENOUGH WATER WAS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DOORS. AFTER INSPECTING BOTH DOORS WATER WAS EVIDENT BETWEEN THE DOOR PANELS. IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THE INPECTION. I ALSO NOTICE THAT THE GAPS BETWEEN THE DRIVER BACK AND PASSENGER DOOR WERE DIFFERENT. THE PASSENGERS BACK DOOR GAP MEASURES 1/4 IN. WHILE THE DRIVERS BACK DOOR MEASURES 3/16 IN. *LA

The clear coat on your car's paint has started peeling and failing, particularly on the roof, trunk, and areas above the doors. This began about 5 years ago, and Honda declined to address it under warranty, claiming this issue only affects 2005 and later Civics. Addressing this would typically involve sanding down the affected areas and reapplying clear coat or a full paint refinish.