While driving at approximately 35 mph, the vehicle encountered a pothole in the roadway. Upon impact, the driver's side steering wheel airbag deployed. However, the airbag experienced a catastrophic structural failure. Instead of inflating normally to protect the driver, the airbag fabric immediately ruptured, tore open, and "fizzled out" without providing any restraint cushion. A loud pop was heard, and there was powdery chemical residue in the cabin
2010 Honda Civic airbags problems
97 complaints (24% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 63,009. 23 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 97
- of this car's complaints
- 24%
- typical mileage
- 63,009
- crashes
- 23
- recalls
- 8
Which part fails
- Side/window1
- Frontal1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
Honda Civic airbags problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2010 Honda Civic airbags
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2014 Fit EV, 2010-2014 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
- Risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1‑888‑234‑2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are F5F and Q5E.
Recall number 19V502000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2013 TSX Sport Wagon, and 2010-2012 ZDX and 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, 2012-2014 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2013 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
- Risk
- An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator installation and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1‑888‑234‑2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are M4O, P4R, T4Q, and W4P.
Recall number 19V378000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Insight and Acura TSX and TSX Wagon, 2014-2015 Honda Crosstour and Pilot vehicles nationwide, as well as certain 2014 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, California, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Honda is also recalling certain 2011-2013 Acura TSX, TSX Wagon and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Insight, Fit and Pilot vehicles, 2011-2012 Honda Accord and 2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Lastly, Honda is recalling certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot, 2011-2013 TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord and 2010-2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
- Risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1‑888‑234‑2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are M2J and S2K.
Recall number 18V661000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 Honda Accord and Pilot, 2010 Accord Crosstour, 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 Element, 2007 and 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2012 Insight, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2012 Ridgeline vehicles. The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
- Risk
- An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1‑888‑234‑2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are K1P, and M1O.
Recall number 18V268000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX, ZDX, Honda Accord Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot vehicles, 2011-13 Acura TSX Sportswagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord,, 2010-2011 Honda Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles and 2013 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Honda is recalling certain 2010-2012 Acura TSX, Honda Accord, Accord Crosstour, Fit and Pilot, 2010-2011 Honda Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid and CR-V, and 2010 Acura ZDX and Honda Insight vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Unless included in Zones A or B above, Honda is recalling certain 2009 Acura TSX, Honda Accord, Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid, CR-V, Fit, and Pilot vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
- Risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 16, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1‑888‑234‑2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are B0K and L0J.
Recall number 18V042000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2008-2012 Accord, 2010-2012 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2012 Fit and Pilot, 2010-2012 Insight, and 2009-2012 Acura TSX vehicles that received replacement passenger frontal air bag inflators. One dealership may have incorrectly installed the replacement air bag inflators.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash, an incorrectly installed passenger frontal air bag inflator may deploy the air bag improperly, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began October 30, 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1‑888‑234‑2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are O07, Y0A, N06, G05, M04, Y01, and O09.
Recall number 17V545000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Acura TSX, 2011-2012 Acura TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Acura ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2012 Honda Accord Crosstour and Honda Insight, 2009-2012 Honda Fit, 2009-2012 Pilot, 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2012 Honda FCX Clarity and 2006-2011 Honda Civic, Civic Hybrid, Civic NGV vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, if not included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain 2009 Acura TSX, Honda Fit and Pilot, 2008-2009 Honda Accord, 2006-2009 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, and 2007-2009 Honda CR-V vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, if not included in "Zone B" above, Honda is recalling certain 2008 Honda Accord, 2006-2008 Honda Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV and 2007-2008 Honda CR-V vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
- Risk
- An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The manufacturer has mailed an interim notification, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1‑888‑234‑2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KE1 and KE2.
Recall number 17V030000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Acura TSX, 2011 TSX Wagon, 2010-2011 Acura ZDX, 2008-2011 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid, and Civic GX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2010-2011 FCX Clarity and Insight, and 2009-2011 Fit, and Pilot vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless already included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain model year 2008 Honda Accord, 2006-2008 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic GX, and 2007-2008 CR-V vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Vehicles not originally sold or ever registered in either Zones A or B are not subject to this safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
- Risk
- An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1‑888‑234‑2138. Honda's numbers for this recall is KA4, KA5, KA6, and KA7.
Recall number 16V346000 · Recall details
What 2010 Honda Civic owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I hit a bumb and my engine started smoking and then airbag triggered on both driver and passenger side
Driving on the highway, smooth road, hit nothing and the entire driver side airbags deployed.
The contact owns a 2010 Honda Civic. The contact stated while her daughter was driving 20 MPH, the driver-side air bag curtain deployed without any impact, causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle and struck the curb on the passenger side. The inside of the vehicle was damaged due to the deployment of the air bag. The contact was able to drive the vehicle home. The contact was severely injured and had to seek medical attention. No police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and they stated that the air bag deploy because she struck the curb. The failure mileage was 142,000.
I purchased a used Honda Civic last summer. This year I started receiving recall notices. I did not respond until the notice told me that they could provide a loaner because I don't have a ride to drop off and pick up the vehicle. I have made at least 4 attempts over the last couple of months to remedy the airbag situation, but the Honda representatives were not willing to set up a loaner vehicle. Then when they finally seemed like it would happen, I was told that I don't have the right insurance and they won't do it for that reason. I know the company needs to fix millions of these air bags and are trying to save money but, I need them to fix mine too. Now they say they can't accommodate my situation. I am asking Honda to please fix my airbag. The attached flyer states that it is dangerous and deadly and that they would do it. Thank you
Airbag deployed unexpectedly while I was driving through a construction zone - I think it was right when I drove onto a metal construction plate. This would have been very bad if a car was right behind me. I do not have the car for inspection, since due to the cost of replacing the airbag system my insurance declared it a total loss and picked it up for salvage although the car was otherwise in great working condition with no other damage. However I have many pictures of my car from all angles that were taken for insurance purposes. No one else inspected the car in person before it was picked up since my insurance wanted to do a virtual inspection. There were zero warnings of the problem before it happened.
2010 honda civic lx. Consumer stated that front airbags did not deploy during collision. The consumer stated the vehicle the vehicle was struck on the passenger's side. The vehicle spun through a grass median, across 3 lanes and crashed into a guardrail head on. The passenger's air bag deployed, but did not inflate. A powdery substance spewed from the airbag. The front driver's side air bags did not deploy. Two of the vehicle's occupants received non life-threatening injuries.
Dealers will not replace passenger air bag at no cost.
While driving to work on December 20th, all of my curtain air bags and driver side air bags deployed without cause or warning. I brought it in to a Honda dealership to be inspected and I was told I was at fault even though it was an equipment error. There were no lights on my dash indicating the sensors on my 2010 Honda civic were not functioning properly. Thankfully I was not on any highway during the the incident or more serious trouble could have occurred. There was a ringing in my left ear for days after the incident.
The contact owned a 2010 Honda Civic. The contact's wife stated while driving 45-50 mph and suddenly the vehicle hydroplaned, the contact's wife lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a tree, the vehicle then rolled three times then crashed into a telephone pole where the vehicle came into a stop. The frontal air bags did not deploy but the side air bags did deploy. The contact sustained inquires to her c3 and c4 vertebrae's, bruising to the body that was treated medically at a hospital. A police report was filed and the vehicle was towed to a tow yard where the vehicle was determined destroyed. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with, the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 18V042000 (AIR BAGS) however the VIN was not included. The contact stated no warning lights were illuminated. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 250,000.
Questions about the 2010 Honda Civic airbags
Does the 2010 Honda Civic have airbags problems?
Owners have filed 97 complaints about the airbags of the 2010 Honda Civic, 24% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 2010 Honda Civic airbags problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 63,009 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2010 Honda Civic airbags?
Yes, 8 recalls: 19V502000, 19V378000, 18V661000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Honda Civic have bad airbags?
The Honda Civic model years with the most airbags complaints are 2001 (310 complaints), 2002 (242 complaints) and 2006 (181 complaints).
Is there a class action lawsuit over the Honda Civic?
Yes. Class action says Honda and Acura keyless entry makes cars easy to steal and asks for theft protection (November 12, 2026).
Other 2010 Honda Civic problems
Brakes 90Visibility 52Body 43Engine 29Electrical 23Steering 19Acceleration 15Suspension 14Transmission 12Wheels 12Tires 9Seat belts 8Seats 6Lights 5Driver assistance 4Fuel system 4Locks 3
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2010 Honda Civic?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history