RoadVitals

1996 Honda Civic Airbags Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
70
Latest Jun 1, 2020
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
23%
of 305 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
39
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
28

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Honda Civic submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 70 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming airbag

The 25 most recent of 70, in the owner's own words

Airbags
Filed Jun 1, 2020
Crash reported1 injury reported

GAS IDLE DIDN'T RETURN BACK AND I GOT INTO A CAR ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
11326823
Incident
Jun 1, 2020
Airbags
Filed Feb 12, 2020

I HAVE 2 RECALLS AND I NEED THE NOTIFICATION FOR THEM GONE ASAP SO I CAN SHIP MY CAR OVERSEAS. THE ISSUES STATED ABOUT THE "AIR BAG" AND "FLOOR MATS" HAVE YET TO CAUSE A CONCERN TO MY DRIVING AND OR HANDLING ABILITY. I DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO GO THROUGH THESE RECALLS AS I AM MILITARY AND NEED MY VEHICLE SHIPPED BUT THE RECALLS ARE WHATS KICKING ME BACK.

NHTSA ID
11308881
Incident
Feb 10, 2020
Airbags
Filed Apr 24, 2019
Crash reported

THIS HONDA WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT YESTERDAY WITH BOTH SIDE AND FRONT IMPACT WHILE IN MOTION, BOTH IMPACTS BEING MAJOR. BUT NEITHER THE PASSENGER OR DRIVER'S AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED AT ANY TIME. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ON ABOUT THE AIRBAG PRIOR TO THIS.

NHTSA ID
11203305
Incident
Apr 23, 2019
Mileage
235,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 14, 2014
1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ERRONEOUSLY AND SHATTERED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE FACE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000. UPDATED 8/28/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. UPDATED 11/12/2014 *JS

NHTSA ID
10610440
Incident
Jul 12, 2014
Mileage
147,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 2, 2014

FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON THE SRS AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I HAD NOT BEEN IN ANY KIND OF CRASH OR ALMOST CRASH. THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH IT AND HONDA HAD DID A RECALL BUT MY CAR WAS OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD THAT HONDA SET UP SO THEY WOULD CHARGE ME $400.00 TO FIX. *TR

NHTSA ID
10586080
Incident
Mar 1, 2010
Mileage
200,000 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Jul 31, 2012
Crash reported1 injury reported

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL STREET IN MY 1996 HONDA CIVIC WHEN A 2004 GMC YUKON SUV CAME HURLING AROUND THE CORNER OF AN INTERSECTING STREET AHEAD OF ME. THE DRIVER OF THE YUKON FAILED TO STAY IN HIS LANE AS HE ROUNDED THE CORNER AND HIT MY HONDA CIVIC HEAD-ON. UPON IMPACT MY HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD SO HARD THAT IT LEFT A BUBBLE PROTRUDING OUT ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF MY WINDSHIELD. IN THE SHAPE OF MY HEAD ( I HAVE PHOTOS OF WINDSHIELD DAMAGE) RIGHT BEFORE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. I WAS ALSO WEARING A SEAT BELT WITH SHOULDER RESTRAINT. AS A RESULT OF THE COLLISION I SUSTAINED A BRAIN CONCUSSION. I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT A DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG AND SEAT BELT WITH SHOULDER RESTRAINT WAS DESIGNED TO KEEP MY HEAD OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD IN THE EVENT OF A HEAD-ON COLLISION. EVIDENTLY BOTH THE SEAT BELT AND AIRBAG FAILED TO PROTECT ME FROM HITTING THE WINDSHIELD IN THE COLLISION I WAS IN. (I HAVE A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT AND PRESENTLY AM STILL IN POSSESSION OF MY TOTALED OUT VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10468464
Incident
Jul 12, 2012
Mileage
223,500 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 13, 2010
Crash reported

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A CAR IN THE OPPOSITE LANE TURNED IN FRONT OF MY 1996 HONDA CIVIC LX AS I ENTERED THE INTERSECTION WITH A GREEN LIGHT TRAVELING ABOUT 40 MILES PER HOUR. I PROMPTLY SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES AND I HIT THE OTHER CAR ESSENTIALLY HEAD ON. THE IMPACT LEFT MY CIVIC'S FRONT BUMPER AND UNDERLYING METAL SUPPORT BEAM LYING IN THE INTERSECTION, ALONG WITH THE ANTIFREEZE THAT WAS RAPIDLY DRAINING EVERYWHERE. I HIT THE OTHER CAR'S FRONT PASSENGER-SIDE FROM ITS WHEEL WELL TO THE FRONT BUMPER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10343045
Incident
Jul 9, 2010
Mileage
134,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 27, 2009
Crash reported1 injury reported1 death reported

FRONT AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY IN CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10281966
Incident
Aug 9, 2009
Airbags
Filed May 31, 2006

OUR SRS LIGHT CAME ON ONE SATURDAY WITH NO ACCIDENT OR REASON. WE TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD US THE CODE SHOWED THAT THE SRS COMPUTER MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $750. AFTER READING ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS, I WAS SHOCKED THAT THEY DIDN'T TELL US THAT THIS WAS A COMMON COMPLAINT AND THEY ARE SO QUICK TO CHARGE US THE MOST EXPENSIVE AMOUNT WHEN IT IS PROBABLY A WEAK BATTERY THAT SET IT OFF IN THE FIRST PLACE!! THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE FIXED BECAUSE WE DRIVE AROUND WITHOUT AIRBAGS FOR REASONS THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OWNERS!! JUST BECAUSE A BATTERY GOES WEAK, OR YOU SET AN ELECTRICAL DEVICE ON THE SEAT, OUR AIRBAGS SHOULDN'T STOP WORKING!!!! *JB

NHTSA ID
10158734
Incident
May 17, 2006
Mileage
92,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 28, 2006

AIR BAGS: FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE SRS LIGHT SUDDENLY CAME ON FOR NO REASON, TOOK IT TO A REPUTABLE HONDA DEALER. WAS TOLD I HAD TO REPLACE THE MODULE. COST IS AROUND $800 - $ 900. THE CAR SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENT. ON A LIMITED INCOME, I DON'T THINK I CAN FIX THIS SOON, DO NOT LIKE DRIVING THE CAR WITH THE SRS LIGHT ON, WORRIED BAGS MAY OR MAY NOT DEPLOY WHEN I NEED THEM TO. WORRY AIR BAGS MAY DEPLOY FOR NO REASON. *JB

NHTSA ID
10151481
Incident
Aug 15, 2005
Airbags
Filed Feb 26, 2006

THE SRS LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF. I'M AFRAID THIS MAY BE A SAFETY HAZARD. *JB

NHTSA ID
10151261
Incident
Feb 23, 2006
Mileage
120,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 20, 2006

I OWN HONDA CIVIC EX 1996 VIN [XXX]. THE SRS LIGHT TURNED ON AFTER REPLACING THE BATTERY. WHEN I TOOK IT TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS, THEY SAY THE COMPUTER IS FAULTY AND IT NEED TO BE REPLACED TO FIX THIS AND TILL THEN, THE AIRBAGS WON'T ENGAGE. MY CAR WAS NEVER EXPOSED TO ANY ACCIDENTS OR ABNORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. HONDA HAS A FAULTY COMPUTER SRS SYSTEM AND THIS CAUSES SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHERE AIR BAGS WON'T ACTIVATE. *JB UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
10150673
Incident
Feb 18, 2006
Airbags
Filed Apr 26, 2005

SRS LIGHT INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON WITH NO TROUBLE CODES. *AK

NHTSA ID
10118520
Incident
Apr 24, 2005
Mileage
89,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 8, 2005

AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE THE SRS WARNING LIGHT WOULD STAY ILLUMINATED UNTIL VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
10111094
Incident
Nov 25, 2004
Mileage
18,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 31, 2005

THE SRS LIGHT ON THE DASH OF MY 1996 HONDA CIVIC HAD COME ON 5 TIMES THE PAST 18 MONTHS. I HAD TAKEN IT TO A HONDA DEALERSHIP IN SAN BRUNO, CA ON ALL THESE INCIDENTS. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT TO THEIR SHOP, THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE CAUSED BY A WEAK BATTERY. THEN ON THE SECOND AND THIRD INCIDENTS, ALL THEY DID WAS RESET THE ALARM CODE. ON NOVEMBER 24, 2004 I TOOK THE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND COMPLAINED, AGAIN, ABOUT THE SRS LIGHT COMING ON. THIS TIME, I HAD BEEN TOLD THAT THEY PULLED OUT AN ERROR CODE OF DTC 8-5 AND HAD RESET THE ALARM CODE. I HAD BEEN TOLD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THEM IF THE SRS LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE SAME DELAERSHIP TODAY BECAUSE THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN ON JANUARY 27, 2005 (5TH TIME). THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY PULLED UP THE CODE DTC 8-5 AND CLEARED THE CODE. HOWEVER, THEY WANT ME TO SPEND $600 (PARTS AND LABOR) TO REPLACE THE SRS UNIT THIS TIME. I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS DEFINITELY A FACTORY DEFECT WITH THE SRS SYSTEM OF MY 1996 HONDA CIVIC.*AK

NHTSA ID
10108296
Incident
Jan 27, 2005
Airbags
Filed Oct 13, 2004

1996 HONDA CIVIC EX SEDAN, SRS LIGHT STAYS ON. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY HONDAS (ACCORDS, CIVICS FROM SEVERAL YEARS). DEALERS CHARGE $90+/- TO DIAGNOSE AND RESET, OFTEN DUE TO FALSE CODES. OR, WORSE YET, THEY MAY RECOMMEND VERY COSTLY REPLACEMENT OF SENSORS, COMPUTERS, ETC. AFTER WHICH THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON ANYWAY. MANY WEBSITES BLOGS, POSTS, ETC. INDICATE OWNERS ARE RESETTING THEIR OWN SRS LIGHTS, OR SIMPLY IGNORING THEM. SOUNDS LIKE A MAJORITY OF 90'S HONDAS & ACURAS ARE DRIVING AROUND WITH POTENTIALLY DISABLED AIR BAGS. HONDA AMERICA HAS AVOIDED RESPONSIBILITY TO THIS POINT. WE DRIVE WITH THE LIGHT ON, ALWAYS USING OUR SEATBELTS, AND HOPING THE AIR BAGS DON'T DEPLOY BY MISTAKE. SAD, FOR SUCH AN OTHERWISE EXCELLENT COMPANY.*AK

NHTSA ID
10095724
Incident
Oct 7, 2004
Airbags
Filed Sep 18, 2004

1996 HONDA CIVIC SRS LIGHT ON. RESOLVED ONLY AT DEALER COST OF $1100 TO REPLACE CONTROL MODULE. RESEARCH ON INTERNET INDICATES THIS IS A POPULAR RECURRENT PROBLEM YET THERE ARE NO RECALLS OR TSBS. PLEASE HELP. NEED TO KNOW WHERE TO GO FOR POSSIBLE REIMBURSEMENT OR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. THX.*AK

NHTSA ID
10091224
Incident
Sep 18, 2004
Mileage
87,184 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 29, 2004

THE SRS LIGHT ON MY 1996 HONDA CIVIC REMAINS ON. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER TWICE DURING THE LAST TWO WEEKS. THE FIRST VISIT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CHARGED ME $89.00 TO RUN A "DIAGNOSTIC". I WAS TOLD THE SRS WAS "RETOOLED" AND THE SYSTEM SHOULD BE OKAY. TWO DAYS LATER THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. SERVICE PERSONNEL TOLD ME I NEEDED TO BRING THE CAR IN AGAIN SOON. THERE WAS NO CHARGE, BUT I WAS TOLD IF THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, THE MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE COST IS USUALLY $460.00, I WAS TOLD. ALSO I'D NEED TO CALL AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT IN ADVANCE SINCE THE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT STOCK THE MODULE- IT WOULD HAVE TO BE ORDERED. WHEN I ASKED IF THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE, SERVICE PERSONNEL ANSWERED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. TWO DAYS LATER THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THAT WAS LAST WEEKEND. I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE. AN INTERNET SEARCH I PERFORMED HAS TURNED UP QUITE A FEW CONSUMERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AS WELL AS SIMILAR RUN-AROUNDS FROM DEALERS: HTTP://WWW.AUTOFAN.COM/FORUM_THREAD.ASP?MESSAGE=7364 WILL THE AIRBAGS WORK ON IMPACT? IF I HAVE THE MODULE REPLACED, WILL THE SYSTEM WORK? THESE ARE MY CONCERNS. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY HONDA IS NOT BEING REQUIRED TO ADDRESS AND REMEDY THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10079041
Incident
Jun 15, 2004
Mileage
89,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 15, 2004

THE AIRBAG/SUPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM CHECK LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE LIGHT WAS RESET. A CHARGE OF $90.00 HAD TO BE PAID FOR THE LABOR COST. THEY SAID THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN BECAUSE I HAD JUS REPLACED THE CAR BATTERY. THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM AND RESET THE WARNING LIGHT. I WAS OF THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE SUPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM HAS A 10 YEAR WARRANTY, THEREFORE I DON'T BELIEVE I SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHARGED. THE DEALER IS ADAMANT THAT THEY PROPERLY CHARGED ME.

NHTSA ID
10069814
Incident
Dec 15, 2002
Airbags
Filed Nov 5, 2003

THE SRS LIGHT STAYED ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED IT WAS CAUSED BY THE SRS UNIT'S COMPLETE FAILURE WHICH WOULD RENDER THE AIR BAG INOPERATIVE IF THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAG COMPONENT IS A SAFETY ITEM AND IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MANUFACTURER. *PH *NLM

NHTSA ID
10040747
Mileage
75,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 19, 2003

SRS COMPONENT FAILURE. AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON - TOLD SENSOR UNIT NEEDS REPLACING. AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY UNLESS REPLACED. COST APPROXIMATELY $500. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 85000 MILES.

NHTSA ID
10007822
Incident
Apr 7, 2001
Mileage
69,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 8, 2002

I THINK SRS SHOULD HAVE WARRANTY, WAS RESET BUT LIGHT CAME BACK ON. *AK

NHTSA ID
763917
Incident
Dec 1, 2001
Airbags
Filed Apr 1, 2002
Crash reported

WHILE TRAVELING AT 45 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE DID NOT YIELD AND HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8006747
Incident
Mar 18, 2002
Airbags
Filed Mar 8, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING, STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH DRIVER SIDE CORNER. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURIES TO CONSUMER. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY AIR BAGS NOT TO DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID
8005282
Incident
Jan 23, 2002
Airbags
Filed Jun 27, 2001

SRS LIGHT FLASHING, CHANGED THE LIGHT, NOW THE COMPUTER NOT WORKING.

NHTSA ID
9003018
Incident
Jun 6, 2001

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .