2003 Honda Civic: engine stalls while driving

Filed May 21, 2021 · Electrical · 164,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid. The contact stated that the vehicle would not immediately start up. On several occasions, while driving, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled without warning. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 164,000.

Filed Oct 5, 2017 · Airbags, Electrical · 131,000 miles · NY · crash · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owned a 2003 honda civic. The contact took the vehicle to huntington honda (1055 jericho turnpike, huntington, ny 11743, phone number: (631) 423-6000) to be repaired for an unknown air bag recall. While driving from the dealer, the contact noticed that the air bag was sticking out of the steering wheel and the horn failed to function. While driving 25 MPH, the gear shifter failed to shift out of park, the radio failed, and the steering wheel seized. The vehicle stalled without warning. While making a left turn, the contact crashed into a high curb, which pushed the engine back. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained a broken foot that required medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to nardy honda smithtown (559 middle country rd, st james, ny 11780, phone number: (855) 738-2920). The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 131,000.

Filed Aug 1, 2015 · Fuel system · 85,525 miles · CA

Regarding 2003 honda civic ex manual trans at times without any warning the car will act as though it has no fuel and once it starts will drive fine then after stopping for example at a intersection when ready to accelerate once again the car will act as if it is going to stall in 1st but seem to get burst of fuel and propel very suddenly drive normal for a few seconds and then do same scenario of being out of gas if gas is depressed somewhat as though im attempting to race it will start to resolve and it hapeens so quick im not even ready to go to 2nd gear once I do it acts slightly the same way but not as bad maybe 25% less I then make it to third and then 4th with no problems. And also let me assure you the car is never at anything lower than 1/2 tank to full fuel wise. Along with these symptoms described twice for 3 days it has just not started again as thoug h it were empty and then im ready to have it towed after checkimg it every day and both times on the 3rd day it starts as though there was no prob with it.

Filed Sep 12, 2014 · Transmission · 31,563 miles · NJ

Transmission failed and car died while driving on highway at 55 MPH with no warning. Was in slow lane and able to get onto shoulder without getting hit. Transmission had to be replaced.

Filed May 10, 2011 · Transmission · 119,000 miles · RI

Have an 03 civic hybrid with CVT transmission. I got it certified used at about 36,000 miles and it was supposed to have fresh trans fluid and I believe it did. The powertrain is warranted to 100,000 miles since it was certified used. I am at 74,000 now. At about 66,000, when it should have been due for it's transmission fluid change, it was making a slipping/grinding sound when starting off, especially on a hill. It had previously been very smooth and quiet. It gradually became a problem. It was not all of a sudden. It was hard to know for sure that it was not my imagination, except for it being real obvious on an incline and it was getting worse. The dealer's mechanic heard the sound, too, and said let's start with the fluid change it was due for. The change made it great again, but only for a few thousand miles. When I went back they said they had learned about a process called burnishing the transmission band. I believe they put their foot on the brake while putting on the gas, almost to the point of stalling (I think) to clean up the band. Mine would be the 2nd car they would do it on. It also requires a change of fluid after because it is supposed to take the crud from the parts and put it into the fluid. They did it for free since I had already asked them to work on this problem, and I had paid for the fluid change to fix the same problem. Again, after their work it was nice and quiet and smooth, but about 3,000 miles later it is coming back again. I don't know if their process did anything, or if it was just the fresh fluid that helped like it did the first time. I am concerned repetitions of the process might decrease the life of the transmission. The best outcome for me would probably be a complete transmission failure at 99,000 miles because then I can get a new one. Anybody having similar problems?

Filed Sep 20, 2010 · Engine · 52,000 miles · AZ

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.

Filed Aug 26, 2007 · Transmission · 55,319 miles · VA

While my vehicle was still under warranty, I took my car to the dealer with a slipping/shuddering problem. They changed the transmission fluid and the problem seemed to go away. The problem re-curred and I took it back again. Again they changed the fluid. By the third time I took the vehicle back a third time, for the same problem, the vehicle was out of warranty. Now I am finding out, only after researching the issue myself, that the belt is the problem and that the issue is consistent with 2003 to 2005 models. The problem is becoming worse and now my car is bucking when I try to start out from a stop. I am afraid to drive because of the fear or the car stalling at inopportune times and I am distracted by the issue.

Filed Aug 26, 2007 · Transmission · 55,319 miles · VA

This was also filed under the general header powertrain, but since I saw more complaints here I thought I should file it here instead as there seems to be more strengths in numbers and this problem is dangerous and needs to be addressed. My car has been shuddering/bucking/slipping. It started before the car was out of warranty. With all of the stories I have read it has become clear to me that honda was aware of the problem and that the transmission fluid change was a way of stalling the consumer until the warranty had run out. I took my car in, had the fluid flushed and it temporarily fixed the problem. This was done a second time and after the warranty had run out a third time. Each time there was only a temporary fix. Now the problem has become dangerous. The car hesitates, races and bucks. I am afraid to drive it as I don't know if it will quit on me while making a left turn and I am afraid that the car will stall in front of oncoming traffic. This is especially dangerous in congested city driving where quick turns are frequently necessary. I am not a risk taker and I am still hesitant to make turns even when there is plenty of room for a highly conservative person such as myself.

Filed Dec 23, 2006 · Electrical · 113,470 miles · CA

Suddenly lost power when driving, stalled-started again, all lights came on dashboard when driving, engine light stayed on. Repairs @ gardena, told it was electrical, honda-control module engine replaced, o2 sensor, w-bulb (12v 21w) drove car less than 2 hours same problems occurred (day car was picked up).

Filed Aug 5, 2005 · Electrical · MA

The auto stop feature I n the consumer's honda hybrid engaged when slowing down resulting in the vehicle stalling.*mr the consumer is concerned that he may be rear ended when this failure occurs.

Filed Jun 27, 2005 · Electrical · 29,000 miles · CA

Dt: 2003 honda civic is stalling on the highway or on public streets. The vehicle is hesitating/stalling when the clutch is engaged or between shifting gears. The speeds are 0-70 when the vehicle is hesitating. There is no warning before the car dies. The vehicle has shown the code once and the code shown cylinder #1 misfired. The vehicle has been taken to the dealership 4 times for this problem. The vehicle is also having problems starting. The vehicle has not started twice, and both times it had to be rolled and started by the owner. The vehicle is having electrical problems; the owner thinks that the wiring harness is bad. The dealership told the consumer that the wiring harness is different. The vehicle has power surges. The owner is in the process of having the vehicle turned back in to honda, using the reference to the lemon law. The owner has parked the vehicle. The owner feels like the vehicle is unsafe to drive. The vehicle is 11 months old and was purchased used.

Filed Nov 30, 2004 · Engine · 15,534 miles · FL

The vehicle was smoking from the muffler, the engine light came on, and it felt like it was stalling. The manufacturer told the consumer to get a second opinion. The dealer maintained that no defects were found. *ak the vehicle overheated.