Problems · by component

2009 Honda Civic air bags problems

96 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2009 Honda Civic cite air bags, 24% of all 398 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 7 recalls on this component.

Complaints
96
24% of all complaints
Crashes
25
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
27
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“No codes on the dash, police said the airbags malfunctioned. Car hit an embankment on the front right side then the car flipped over. The steering wheel did not deploy. All of the side airbags, both bottom and top side airbags came out still folded and did not inflate. Car is currently with State Farm insurance at their garage.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 28, 2023Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11514335
“My husband made a left turn from a center lane and didn't see a vehicle coming at us because of the blind spot. We hit the other vehicle on the front right side. The airbags deployed and the side airbag exploded and burned my right arm badly. I now have injury scars from the passenger seat airbag exploding. I was taken by ambulance to the hospital.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 11, 2023Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11501286
“The contact was a former police officer who had been tasked with investigating a vehicle crash that involved a 2009 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while the owner was driving at a yet-to-be-determined rate of speed, he hit a dip in the road which sent the vehicle airborne and off the road. The vehicle then went through a guardrail and crashed into a light pole with a large concrete support post. A control box for an electric sign and the guardrail was damaged due to the accident. The passenger-side air bags did not deploy upon impact. The driver was treated for his injuries at the scene by paramedics. The passenger was taken to the hospital where he was treated for injuries to both his head and torso, the passenger died three days later as a result of his injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent tow yard and was a total loss. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was unknown.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 25, 2022Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11494876
“GOT HIT IN THE SIDE FROM MAKING A U TURN, MODERATE SPEED. CONCERN IS THAT MY SON, WHO WAS DRIVING, REPORTED THAT THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED BUT DID NOT INFLATE. HE BUMPED HIS HEAD (NO PERSONAL INJURY REPORTED), WHICH IS HOW HE KNOWS THE BAGS NEVER INFLATED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 10, 2020Air bags, StructureCrash reportedODI 11328172
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 33 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 54 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AS THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE GUARD RAIL, SPINNING AROUND, CROSSING TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROADWAY, HITTING THE MOUNTAIN SIDE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURY TO HER RIGHT KNEE, SHOULDER, ELBOW, BACK AND NECK HOWEVER MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS NOT RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO FREEWAY HONDA (1505 AUTO MALL DR, SANTA ANA, CA 92705 PHONE: (714) 547-3555) WHOM WAS ATTEMPTING TO DIAGNOSIS THE FAILURE HOWEVER, WHEN THE INSURANCE COMPANY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DEEMED IT A TOTAL LOSS, ALL DIAGNOSES WAS SEIZED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 68,000. *BF *AS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 29, 2020Air bags, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11326518
“I GOT A RECALL NOTICE AND TRYING TO CALL AND SCHEDULE THE REPAIR FOR LAST ONE YEAR. THE RECALL NOTICE CLEARLY SAYS I WILL GET A FREE LOANER VEHICLE BUT EVERY TIME I TALK TO DEALERSHIP OR HONDA CUSTOMER CARE THEY DENY THE CLAIM AND SAY THAT I AM NOT ABLE TO GET A LOANER VEHICLE DURING THE REPAIR. THE NOTICE LETTER ALSO SUGGESTED THAT I CAN SCHEDULE THE REPAIR AND GET A LOANER VEHICLE BY TEXTING AT [XXX]. BUT WHEN I TEXTED THE PERSON DENY IT AND SUGGESTED THAT I NEED TO TALK TO CUSTOMER CARE OR HONDA DEALERSHIP. WHICH I ALREADY DID AND THEY DENY ME THE LOANER VEHICLE. I WANT COMPENSATION FOR MY TIME AND ALSO WANT MY REPAIR TO BE DONE AND I WANT A LOANER VEHICLE AS SUGGESTED IN THE NOTICE LETTER. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 31, 2020Air bagsODI 11306385

Showing 6 of 96 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 6, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

7 recalls on this component

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Jun 27, 2019NHTSA 19V502000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported May 16, 2019NHTSA 19V378000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Apr 26, 2018NHTSA 18V268000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Jan 9, 2018NHTSA 18V042000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Aug 31, 2017NHTSA 17V545000

Air bags: inflator module

Remedy pending

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.

Air bagsReported Jan 10, 2017NHTSA 17V030000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported May 24, 2016NHTSA 16V346000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 6, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.