2003 Honda Civic vs 2003 Toyota Corolla
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2003 Honda Civic | 2003 Toyota Corolla |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 499 | 720 |
| Recall campaigns | 11 | 9 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 310 | 153 |
| Investigations | 6 | 4 |
| Crash reports | 90 | 101 |
| Fire reports | 5 | 9 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 25–41 | 28–31 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 79,500 mi | 90,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Honda Civic | Toyota Corolla |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 140 | 332 |
| Power Train | 101 | 61 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 37 | 92 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 34 | 77 |
| Electrical System | 51 | 34 |
| Seat Belts | 20 | 38 |
| Structure | 26 | 31 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 20 | 23 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 28 | 5 |
| Stalling | 27 | 21 |
| Airbag warning light | 27 | 36 |
| Hesitation / surging | 25 | 20 |
| Shifting problems | 9 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 6 | 7 |
| Overheating | 6 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 5 | 7 |
2003 Honda Civic
2003 Toyota Corolla
Compare all Honda Civic vs Toyota Corolla years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.