RoadVitals

2008 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.
177
Latest Jul 9, 2026
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.
19%
of 916 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.
45
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
39

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 2008 Honda Civic submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 177 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 177, in the owner's own words

Airbags
Filed Jul 9, 2026

The contact owns a 2008 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the vehicle was serviced by a dealer under an unknown NHTSA Campaign Number related to the airbags. After the recall repair, the passenger airbag warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. A dealer was contacted regarding the failure but informed the contact that no assistance could be provided. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 127,517.

NHTSA ID
11749407
Incident
May 10, 2025
Mileage
127,517 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 10, 2026

Got mail that my car needs to have the airbag recall done and I took it to Honda dealer in Selma for the recall, got the car back and noticed the passenger airbag light was left on. I called and talked to the service attendant that worked on my car and they said they couldn’t not do anything about it. Not sure on the date but this was about a year ago around around spring time.

NHTSA ID
11743222
Incident
May 17, 2025
Airbags
Filed Sep 22, 2025

The contact owned a 2008 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and turned off the engine. After the vehicle was restarted, the air bag warning light was no longer illuminated. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 159,000.

NHTSA ID
11689018
Incident
Sep 22, 2025
Mileage
159,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 4, 2025
Crash reported1 injury reported

The drivers air bag system or any other didn't deploy upon a rear collision with another vehicle, and yes the vehicle is available for any inspection.

NHTSA ID
11658782
Incident
Mar 1, 2024
Airbags
Filed Jul 31, 2023
Crash reported1 injury reported

The contact owned a 2008 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while in the right land, making a right turn, a bicyclist was coming towards the front passenger side of the vehicle however, to avoid injuring the bicyclist, the contact merged over the lane divider and hit the ground with force. The contact then stated that all the driver’s side air bags failed to properly deploy. The contact stated that the steering wheel cracked, and air bag inflator deployed from the steering wheel and the airbag deflated. As a result, the contact sustained injury to the chest and her lower back. Medical attention was required. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was towed to the contacts residence then towed to a tow lot and deemed a total loss by the insurance. The dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.

NHTSA ID
11535606
Incident
Jul 8, 2023
Mileage
103,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 20, 2023

Driver Inflator Module Has a crack line in it. honking horn /excessive heat.

NHTSA ID
11533439
Incident
Jul 14, 2023
Airbags
Filed Jul 31, 2022
Crash reported

I got into an accident and my air bags never deployed.

NHTSA ID
11476751
Incident
Oct 16, 2019
AirbagsBody & structureSteering
Filed Jun 18, 2022

Air bags:  passive restraint system items and devices that protect occupants in a crash such as front, side, side curtain air bag light stayed on after taken to a recall devices that may present a safety hazard. Body: Windshield panel flew away ,failure or detachment body and frame components flew away all body pain pilled away with no reason, and other structural components like inside of car sieling cover pilling off like that may present a safety hazard. Steering: devices and systems used to control vehicle direction to the driver's intent such steering rack/box leaking, hydraulic power steering pumps problem like alot noise and hoses leaking that may present a safety hazard.

NHTSA ID
11469921
Incident
Jun 18, 2022
Airbags
Filed Jun 2, 2022
Crash reported1 injury reported

I believe the airbags should have deployed. Maybe its a sensor thing as well because a while back my side airbag light would go on and off but it stopped. Anyway the ending of the crash, I lost control and smacked into a rail head on. Also causing my face to smash into the wheel busting my lip. Required stitches. Everyone. The tow people and police report thought it was undrivable. Because the frame was bent on the hood. My bumper was hanging on to the screws on the front so both sides were dragging. Radiator bent in half because that metal bar, behind the front bumper, bent into it.

NHTSA ID
11467094
Incident
Jun 1, 2022
Airbags
Filed May 20, 2022

The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Civic. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: (16V346000) (Air Bags) and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.

NHTSA ID
11465499
Incident
May 20, 2022
Airbags
Filed Mar 2, 2022

I accidently hit a curb on a dark road making a right turn after a stop and 1 second later side curtain airbags deployed. So I was less than 5mph There is no exterior damaged just hit the curb with the rear right wheel. Tire is perfectly fine. This should be a safety concern because airbags can cause serius injuries. They are too sensitive.

NHTSA ID
11454866
Incident
Jan 20, 2022
Airbags
Filed Sep 20, 2021
Crash reported

On March 4th, 2019 I totaled my car during rush hour on I-44 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. I hit the back of an F-150 pickup which resulted in totaling my car. My front bumper was pushed in and the hood of my car was bent in half. None of my airbags activated. My car was towed to Service King located in Moore, Oklahoma where the damage was assessed and reported to State Farm Auto the car was totaled. I didn't know where to report the airbags until I saw a story on our local news about NHTSA to investigate 30 million vehicles for defective air bag inflators. That is the purpose of this message. Several months before my accident, I took my car into Eskridge Honda in Oklahoma City due to an airbag recall. They checked and replaced the front passenger airbag saying the rest of the airbags were fine. I have pictures of the front of my car along with pictures of the inside of my car showing that none of the airbags activated [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID
11433645
Incident
Mar 4, 2019
Airbags
Filed Aug 25, 2021

The Driver Airbag lamp is on and it has been recommended by dealer that the Driver Airbag Inflator needs replacing. Yes it is available for inspection up on request. The Driver Airbag Inflator may fail. Yes the dealer has confirmed that the Driver Airbag Inflator needs replacing. The vehicle and the Driver Airbag Inflator has been inspected by the dealership. Yes, there is a warning lamp on the dash for the Airbag.

NHTSA ID
11430471
Incident
May 10, 2021
Airbags
Filed Jul 17, 2021

He estado llamando dejando mensajes para que me den una cita para arreglar el problema de las bolsas de aire y nadie a regresado mis llamadas también lo he hecho en línea y dicen que una persona me llamara en la semana y nadie me llama. Nose como lograr que arreglen ese defecto si nadie se contacta conmigo

NHTSA ID
11425243
Incident
May 1, 2021
Airbags
Filed May 3, 2021

MY PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND I BELIEVE IT'S A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. IT WON'T TURN ON NO MATTER IF SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT OR NOT

NHTSA ID
11415060
Incident
Jan 21, 2021
Airbags
Filed Feb 4, 2021
Crash reportedFire reported

WE HAD A CAR ACCIDENT ON CHRISTMAS DUE TO ICE ON THE ROAD AND ENDED UP HITTING 2 TELEPHONE POLES! NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AT ALL! WE HIT THE POLES HEAD ON! I HAVE HAD THE AIRBAGS FIXED FROM THE RECALL AND NEVER BEEN IN ANOTHER ACCIDENT TO HAVE TO HAVE AIRBAGS FIXED SO THERE WAS NO REASON THEM TO NOY DEPLOY!

NHTSA ID
11394601
Incident
Dec 25, 2020
Mileage
228 mi
AirbagsPowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 23, 2020

I WENT TO A MECHANIC TODAY, I HAVE 'PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT FLASHING' HE TOLD ME HONDAS HAVE RECALLED FOR AIRBAGS IN DEALERSHIPS SO I CHECKED MY VEHICLE REPORT IT SAYS THAT I HAD 2 RECALLS IN 2019 AND I DID THEM BUT I DIDN'T. 'RECALL SUBJECT: AIR BAGS: PASSENGER SIDE FRONTAL REPORT RECEIPT DATE: 06/27/2019 NHTSA CAMPAIGN: 19V502000' I BELIEVE I HAD THAT PROBLEM WHEN I BOUGHT MY CAR, MY PASSENGER LIGHTS OFF BLINKING WHILE I'M DRIVING EVEN THO NO PASSENGERS THERE. SO I WAS TRYING TO CHECK MY RECALLS ON THE HONDA WEBSITE IT SHOWS THAT I DON'T HAVE ANY. ALSO, I HAVE A PROBLEM WHEN I DO REVERSE ENGINE LIGHT STARTS FLASHING P0812 CODE BUT NO PROBLEMS EXCEPT CODE

NHTSA ID
11384764
Incident
Dec 29, 2018
AirbagsEngine
Filed Sep 19, 2020

HONDA EXTENDED A WARRANTY FOR 2006-2008 CIVICS TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE ENGINE BLOCKS. I HAVE A 2008 CIVIC THAT HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE SO I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS ISSUE UNTIL NOW. THEY WILL NOT HONOR THEIR REPLACEMENT WARRANTY, NOR DID THE DEALERSHIP SAY ANYTHING TO ME WHEN I HAD MY CAR SERVICED THERE SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR SINCE 2015. WHY WOULD THEY NOT SAY SOMETHING? NOW I'M LEFT WITH A CAR THAT IS USELESS AND I BET THE DEALERSHIP I HAVE PURCHASED MORE THAN 5 CARS FROM WILL TAKE IT AS A TRADE IN. IT WAS IN MOTION PARKED TO GO IN THE STORE AND CAME OUT TO ALL OF MY ANTIFREEZE ON THE PAVEMENT. HAD TO LIMP IT SOME SO IT WOULDN'T CAUSE MORE DAMAGE.

NHTSA ID
11359918
Incident
Sep 19, 2020
Mileage
80,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 20, 2020
Crash reported

TL* THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2008 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING 5 MPH, HE HAD HIT A CURB AND BOTH FRONT AND REAR SIDE PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONSUMER MENTIONED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS NOT OCCUPIED. THE CONSUMER STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONSUMER'S RESIDENCE. THE CONSUMER STATED BEFORE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER WOODHOUSE FORD OF OMAHA, INC. (3633 N 72ND ST, OMAHA, NE 68134) THEY INFORMED HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER AN UNKNOWN AIR BAGS RECALL AT O'DANIEL HONDA (123 BEVERLY DR. OMAHA, NE 68114). THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE DEALER WOODHOUSE FORD AND THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000. *LN*JB *LN *AS

NHTSA ID
11310377
Incident
Dec 13, 2019
Mileage
138,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 27, 2019
Crash reported1 injury reported

TAKATA RECALL PRIOR TO RECALL, CAR WAS TOTALED DUE TO HEAD ON COLLISION ~ 02/16/2012 IN INTERSECTION WHERE LARGER APPROACHING VEHICLE TURNED LEFT AT UNKNOWN SPEED INTO MY CAR. AIRBAG 'DEPLOYED' SUCH THAT I SUSTAINED TWO BROKEN RIBS ( RT 7,8) AND EXTENSIVE BRUISING WITH PIECES OF PARTS DEBRIS STUCK IN MY CLOTHING. AS THE CAR WAS JUNKED I DIDN'T HAVE THE CORRECT VIN WHEN THE RECALL NOTICE WAS PUBLISHED; MY LOCAL DEALER RECENTLY PROVIDED IT.

NHTSA ID
11246712
Incident
Feb 16, 2012
Mileage
60,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 24, 2019
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE AT A STOP, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED. THE AIR BAGS EXPLODED, BUT DID NOT INFLATE AND DEBRIS CAME OUT OF THE AIR BAGS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CUT TO THE LEFT ARM AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE IMPOUND LOT AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. *DT*JB *BF 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

NHTSA ID
11203483
Incident
Jan 2, 2019
Mileage
96,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 20, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIR BAG ABRUPTLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR AN IMPACT. THERE WAS NO INJURY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 0943434. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID
11190241
Incident
Mar 20, 2019
Mileage
90,000 mi
AirbagsBrakesOther / unspecified
Filed Jan 30, 2019

THE TPMS LIGH DOES NOT TURN OFF AFTER CHECKING IT. I HAVE 5 RECALLS FOR AIRBAG AT THE PASSENGER SEAT THAT I DID NOT KNOW OF.

NHTSA ID
11173137
Incident
Nov 22, 2018
Mileage
1,300,078 mi
AirbagsElectricalSeat belts
Filed Sep 25, 2018

CHANGED THE PASSENGER AIRBAGS AT RECOMMENDED DEALER BY HONDA. THEY SUPPOSEDLY CHANGED IT AND SHOULD HAVE DONE THE PROPER CHECKS TO MAKE SURE ALL IS WELL BUT IT WAS OBVIOUSLY NOT DONE AS THE CAR ENDED UP LOCKING UP SEATBELTS ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER FROM A MINOR POTHOLE THAT THE CASE MANAGER IS CALLING A COLLISION. I COULDNT BELIEVE HE INSISTED THAT THIS (HITTING A POTHOLE AND AIRBAGS GOING OFF) HAD HAPPENED TO HIM ALREADY TRYING TO MAKE IT SEEM NORMAL. MORE IMPORTANTLY, FROM THE CODES THAT THE SHOP INFORMED ME OF, SEAT SENSOR ON PASSENGER SIDE WAS NO GOOD AND ALTHOUGH NO ONE WAS SITTING ON IT IT LOCKED BELTS AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO INFLATE. THEY ARE WITH MY CAR 60 DAYS AND COUNTING.... NEVER HONDA AGAIN.

NHTSA ID
11131153
Incident
Aug 1, 2018
Mileage
40,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 27, 2018
Crash reported

THIS VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT IN 2008 (CAR WAS 3 MONTHS OLD) AND WRITTEN OFF AS TOTALED BY STATE FARM AND I NEVER SAW IT AGAIN. SO CAN NOT VERY WELL DO THE AIR BAG RECALL. AND BY THE WAY, THE AIR BAGS WORKED PERFECTLY. I WALKED AWAY AND BOUGHT ANOTHER ONE.

NHTSA ID
11122651
Incident
Aug 1, 2008
Mileage
1,000 mi

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 .