2003 Honda Civic: sudden unintended acceleration

Filed Jun 6, 2014 · Acceleration · 36,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda civic. The contact stated that while attempting to decelerate, the engine continued to rev and suddenly accelerated. The contact indicated that the failure occurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 36,000.

Filed Apr 1, 2013 · Acceleration · 5,858 miles · MD · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda civic. The contact stated that while reversing at approximately 2 MPH, the engine rpms increased excessively and the vehicle suddenly accelerated without warning. The contact crashed into a tree, and the trunk was split in half. The contact was not injured. The vehicle was towed to a private mechanic where the failure was not able to be replicated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure and current mileage was 5,858.

Filed Nov 23, 2012 · Acceleration · 63,000 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda civic. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated independently without the accelerator pedal being depressed. The contact applied the brakes but the vehicle would not decelerate. As the contact removed her foot from the brake pedal, the vehicle speed increased. The contact merged onto a grassy area and shut the engine off. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnostic testing but was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

Filed Nov 23, 2012 · Acceleration · 130,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda civic. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated independently without depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact depressed the brake pedal but the vehicle would not decelerate. When the contact removed her foot from the brake pedal the speed increased. The contact merged onto a grassy area and shut the engine off. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage 130,000.

Filed Nov 9, 2012 · Acceleration · 123,000 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda civic. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated independently without the contact applying pressure to the accelerator pedal. The contact applied pressure to the brake pedal but the vehicle would not respond and accelerated farther. After shifting into neutral, the vehicle came to a stop. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate mileage was 123,000. Updated 01/02/2013*lj the consumer stated a mechanic cleaned the throttle body. The vehicle began perfoming as it should. Updated 1/7/2013

Filed Aug 3, 2010 · Transmission · 64,000 miles · MD

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda civic hybrid. The contact stated when attempting to accelerate from a complete stop, the vehicle would sporadically lunge forward. The dealer burnished the clutch and the failure was resolved. Approximately one year later, the failure recurred. The dealer made the exact same repair to the vehicle. The failure recurred and the dealer then advised replacing the clutch. The manufacturer advised they would take the liability for a percentage of the repair costs but the contact declined. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000 and the current mileage was approximately 75,000.

Filed Feb 16, 2010 · Acceleration · 47,531 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda civic hybrid. While parking the RPM's began to increase rapidly and the vehicle lunged forward. The contact was forced to shift gears into park to avoid crashing into another vehicle. The contact confirmed that the pedal was not stuck when the vehicle accelerated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and stated that there were no failures. The dealer concluded that the floor mat pushed the accelerator pedal down causing the RPM's to increase; however they trimmed the floor mats around the pedal. The failure mileage was 47,531. The consumer stated she put the vehicle in reverse while attempting to parallel park, the vehicle lurched backwards on a flat steer after her foot was off the accelerator. She quickly braked to avoid hitting the parked car that was behind her. The vehicle did stop, but simultaneously the engine accelerated greatly to an RPM far greater than flooring the accelerator. She quickly out the gear shift in park and turned the ignition off, which stopped everything. The consumer stated the sudden acceleration, occurred three separate times. All three incidents happened, at very low speeds. The consumer has since sold the vehicle. Updated 12/02/14

Filed Feb 26, 2009 · Acceleration, Transmission · 52,000 miles · CA · crash · 1 injury

2003 honda civic hybrid. Original owner car has 52 k. Recently I experienced a near death accident because the engine rapidly accelerated by itself as I exited a slight uphill driveway. As I approached the end of the driveway I stopped before turning onto the road, I heard a thud or clunk and then the car lurched and sped rapidly into the road which was wet from rain. The car skidded and fishtailed l tried to apply the brakes but they were unresponsive. I tried the emergency brake which did not respond either. The car did a 360 turn and had gone almost 200 yards from where it exited the driveway. The engine sounded like it was going to blow up. I could smell smoke. All of this happened in under 30 seconds. By some merciful force, the car hit the mud embankment on the side of the road and thankfully no other cars were on the road. I jumped out of the car because the engine was still racing and I could not turn it off, I ran across the road because I wasn't sure if the car would blow up or keep going. After a few seconds I ran over again and could turn it off but the emergency lights did not work . The car was towed to the oakland, ca honda dealer where I purchased it. They performed a basic diagnostic test and told me the car is ok to drive and nothing is visibly wrong with it except for the dent on the front bumper. They have closed the case. In the past this car has been serviced several times for a recall due to a problem with the CVT (continuously variable transmission) because it judders after coming to a stop. I do not believe that honda has adequately researched my case. A car should not accelerate as mine did and I believe that the fact this model has already had a recall on the transmission warrants a more than cursory evaluation. Honda is risking the safety of hundreds and thousands of peoples safety by not trying to determine why my vehicle sped out of control by itself. I plan to investigate further in thanks that I am alive.

Filed Aug 24, 2003 · Acceleration · 850 miles · CA · crash

Within the 8 days we owned this car, it had accelerated twice while my teenaged daughter was driving. These incidents happened when she was accelerating after having stopped at a stop sign. Being an inexperienced driver she did not realize the problem, only commented the car felt like it was driving funny. When the incident on 08/08/03 happened, I was driving with my younger daughter in the car. We were pulling into a parking space in front of a restaurant at a very slow rate of speed, when the car suddenly accelerated, causing us to jump up onto the sidewalk and run into a cement picnic table, denting the front bumper. I had to slam on the brakes to stop the car from driving through the front window of the restaurant and possibily injuring or killing the people inside. We took the car back to the dealership, where their diagnostic technicians were unable to duplicate the problem. We were told there is nothing wrong with the car and to come and pick it up as there was nothing further they could do for us. We found on this the federal safety agency website that there were six other similar incidents of this model of car having sudden acceleration during slow speed or stopping situations. We provided this information to the dealership, but they are still unwilling to help us.

Filed Jul 10, 2003 · Acceleration · 5,580 miles · CO

Consumer states that while driving fuel supply was "full on" as if depressing gas pedal to the floor. The vehicle suddenly accelerated, causing consumer to utilize parking brake in order to stop.

Filed Jun 6, 2003 · Acceleration · 12,000 miles · VA · crash · 1 injury

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.

Filed Mar 27, 2003 · Acceleration · 700 miles · PA

The vehicle experienced sudden acceleration, when the brakes were applied. *jb the was no way to engage the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal at the same time, and was traveling at a low speed when the brake was engaged. The engine had gone up to over 3k RPM's. The dealer couldn't duplicate. Scc