Used car guide

2003 Honda Civic: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2003 Honda Civics, from 6,408 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

6,408MOT tests in 2025
54%pass first time (all 2003 cars: 59%)
4,800typical miles a year
2.3×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2003 Honda Civics than on all cars registered in 2003.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.3× usual
    Honda Civic
    20.4% All 2003 cars
    8.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.6%, against 1.8% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Ball joint dust cover2.5× usual
    Honda Civic
    11.9% All 2003 cars
    4.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.5%, against 1.8% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Rust around suspension or steering mountings1.9× usual
    Honda Civic
    12.3% All 2003 cars
    6.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.3%, against 3.2% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints2.7× usual
    Honda Civic
    8.5% All 2003 cars
    3.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 1.1% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Track rod ends1.8× usual
    Honda Civic
    11.6% All 2003 cars
    6.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3%, against 2.7% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

Better than most

Flexible brake hoses: 2.4% here, against 6% of all 2003 cars. Sub-frame: 2.7% here, against 5.6% of all 2003 cars.

By area

The share of 2003 Honda Civic MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    56% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    43% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Brakes
    38% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    32% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Rust and bodywork
    13% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    12% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Looking at a Honda Civic?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20221,408Tyres 18%
20214,879Tyres 24%
20205,557Tyres 25%
201912,616Tyres 27%
201813,501Tyres 26%
201714,519Tyres 28%
201616,113Tyres 29%
201514,922Tyres 30%
201414,323Tyres 31%
201315,114Tyres 31%
201212,861Tyres 31%
201110,851Suspension 42%
201015,916Suspension 49%
200917,540Suspension 52%
200818,395Suspension 53%
200719,084Suspension 56%
200611,633Suspension 59%
200511,046Suspension 52%
20049,115Suspension 53%
20025,574Suspension 54%
20013,779Suspension 55%
20001,474Suspension 46%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2003 Honda Civics registered in 2003. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score