RoadVitals

2012 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.
149
Latest Jun 30, 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.
33%
of 454 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.
34
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
26

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 2012 Honda Civic submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 149 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 149, in the owner's own words

Airbags
Filed Jun 30, 2026

We were not injured. We fixed the problem before we did get hurt..message came up.. “Check airbag system”. We had t replace our driver’s side airbag at the cost of over $1,500.

NHTSA ID
11747440
Incident
May 7, 2026
Airbags
Filed Jun 26, 2026

The contact owns a 2012 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the front passenger’s side seat weight sensor failed to operate properly. The contact stated that while the front passenger’s seat was occupied, the air bag enabled warning light was flashing off and on. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V332000 (Air Bags). The dealer was contacted; however, the contact was informed that the failure was not associated with the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID
11746744
Incident
Apr 29, 2026
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Mar 23, 2026

I purchased a vehicle from a private seller on offer up. The seller stated the vehicle was clean title, he also stated the vehicle was low mileage with 112,000. When I got the vehicle the tire sensor was showing on the dash and the air bag sensor. After purchasing the vehicle I later found out the vehicle was salvage, and the mileage is also roughly 180,000 miles or more.

NHTSA ID
11726572
Incident
Mar 21, 2026
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Mar 7, 2026

My passenger airbag light is on and stays on.

NHTSA ID
11722651
Incident
Mar 20, 2025
Airbags
Filed Sep 16, 2025

I have had this 2012 for a little over a year, within the past 6 months periodically the check air bag system warning lamp comes on if I make a sharp turn or move the steering wheel very fast. On the guage it says that the passenger side air bag is off..This issue just came out of no where, but generally the car runs great

NHTSA ID
11687556
Incident
Mar 3, 2025
Airbags
Filed Oct 26, 2024

I was 3 hrs away from home and I started my vehicle and the air bag light began flashing and beeping. The light was on the message board that indicates my speed, clock, fuel, etc. it basically is the information center for the car. I pushed the information button on the steering wheel to clear it but it kept blinking and flashing the entire way home. I also turned off the engine and restarted it but no luck with that either. It was a very distracting experience having to drive 3 hours like this. I made an appointment with my mechanic and he diagnosed it as the Occupant Passenger Detection Sensor. This will cost $800.00 to repair. The car is not drive able in this condition because of the safety of the air bag. I looked up recalls but it seems my car has none.

NHTSA ID
11622097
Incident
Oct 20, 2024
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Jun 23, 2024

Car is stating air bag system check on and off.

NHTSA ID
11595984
Incident
Jun 23, 2024
AirbagsElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 23, 2024

The IMA inverter system keeps malfunctioning without any clear reasons, and the car is in drive mode, which makes the electric motor unresponsive. Additionally, the braking system also malfunctions, leading to a lack of control over the vehicle. I have tried to repair it multiple times, but to no avail. It keeps malfunctioning without any apparent reason.

NHTSA ID
11595954
Incident
Jun 14, 2024
Airbags
Filed Feb 20, 2024

My airbag warning light comes on intermittently. When the light is on, the airbags are non-functional. It comes on at various times while driving, and at various speeds. The official diagnosis is a flaw in the "internal resistance in driver's airbag inflator." This is a well-established problem in this model, and Honda offers extended warranty coverage for the passenger side airbag for this problem. Yet Honda refuses to take any responsibility or action for the drivers side with the same issue. Numerous other manufacturers have issued recalls or other corrective action for the same part.

NHTSA ID
11573039
Incident
Nov 1, 2022
Airbags
Filed Feb 5, 2024
Crash reported2 injuries reported

We were making a left turn, and a SUV ran the red light across the street and ran through the intersection hitting us broadside at about 45 mph. We were traveling at about. 20-30 mph as we were going to the freeway onramp and had to get to speed. The SUV impact was by the front passenger side tire or just after. The impact was hard enough to bend the subframe to the left. The side air bags did not inflate. We have always had issues with the child safety sensor in the front passenger seat, could that have been the reason? The passenger in the seat was about 105 -110 lbs. and hit the door panel and glass as a result of the air bags no deploying. The hit was bad enough it killed the engine and the frame damage further disabled it.

NHTSA ID
11569996
Incident
Jan 23, 2024
Airbags
Filed Jan 31, 2024

Like others, I have had an airbag warning light appear intermittently. Apparently, my VIN is affected by this even though this and Honda's website indicates there are 0 recalls for my car. Dealership informed me that this indeed is a recall issue.

NHTSA ID
11569051
Incident
Nov 16, 2023
Airbags
Filed Jan 24, 2024

Airbag system appears

NHTSA ID
11567525
Incident
Jan 24, 2024
Airbags
Filed Nov 27, 2023

Light for Air Bag System fault keeps intermittingly coming on. I know it was a problem in the civic until 2011 but I have a 2012 and it may have been an issue or this year as well.

NHTSA ID
11556938
Incident
Nov 20, 2023
Airbags
Filed Oct 18, 2023
Crash reported1 injury reported

The contact owns a 2012 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at approximately 55 mph, his vehicle crashed into a stopped Ford F-150. The driver was sore where x-rays were performed and medical attention was provided. There was no fire. A police report was filed. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to an unknown location. The air bag warning light illuminated after the impact. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 196,000.

NHTSA ID
11550575
Incident
Sep 11, 2023
Mileage
196,000 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed May 9, 2023

The airbag popped for no reason, and Honda was unable to fix it, 8 months in the dealership with no progress.

NHTSA ID
11521267
Incident
Oct 1, 2022
Airbags
Filed Apr 8, 2023

Air bag light came on sometime back. Took it to dealer from where we purchased the car and we were told a specific part had failed which came up during Airbag Diagnostics - 77900-TR0-A11 (Reel). Had it replaced per Dealer suggestion. Dealer 'OPEN ROAD HONDA, Edison, NJ'. However the light came back up again. Now the Dealer is saying the Airbag Control Unit is malfunctioning and now I have to replace this part. Please check if there are recalls associated with this model Honda Airbags.

NHTSA ID
11516110
Incident
Feb 1, 2023
Airbags
Filed Oct 29, 2022
Crash reported

I braked unexpectedly and only my license plate was curved, but the driver passenger bag component popped open. The airbag didn't deploy properly. So if I was in an actual accident, I would have died.

NHTSA ID
11491462
Incident
Oct 25, 2022
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Sep 21, 2022
Crash reported

1 airbags didn't deploy on highway accident on 1/11/2021. Honda usa rejected inspection upon request. 2 14 wheeler hit driverside on civic on hwy we almost died. 3 I reported accident of bags not deploying to Hobda USA. They denied case open for free inspection. 4 Airbags have not been inspected by no one. 5 unknown on the warning lamps . Dont know system.

NHTSA ID
11485582
Incident
Jan 11, 2021
Mileage
75,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 29, 2022
1 injury reported

The contact's girlfriend owns a 2012 Honda Civic. The contact stated that upon his girlfriend placing the vehicle into drive(D) while in her garage; the air bags deployed without warning. Black smoke emitted from the vehicle as his girlfriend exited the vehicle; the air bag hit his girlfriend in the face which resulted in a headache, she did not seek medical attention. She called the dealer and they informed her to bring in the vehicle for an inspection. The contact's girlfriend took the vehicle to the dealer on two occasions where they discovered that the air bag light had illuminated on the instrument panel but quickly disappeared prior to failure. His girlfriend was given an estimate for repair. The contact called Performance Kings Honda(9131 Fields Ertel Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45249) where he was given an appointment to have a second diagnostic performed on the vehicle. The contact attempted to reach the manufacturer but was unsuccessful. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.

NHTSA ID
11471611
Incident
May 5, 2022
Mileage
86,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 13, 2021

The contact owns a 2012 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to multiple local dealers and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.

NHTSA ID
11436568
Incident
Jan 1, 2012
Mileage
10,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 12, 2021

My light for airbag inspection came on shortly after purchase. When we asked about it during a routine service we were told that shouldn't be happening. We were told the airbags are still working and they do not know why that is happening but, they were not interested in taking care of the issue even tho the car was under warranty at the time and several recalls were being issued for other cars with the Takata Airbags in them. Because of this poor service we decided to stop using your service. Now, several years later I have become aware of all the problems others are having with your airbags and requested a call back from a supervisor because no one answering your phones has offered any responsible response to this problem. No one is able to get a hold of a supervisor. I was finally given a case # thru an email from an unknown person with no contact information. I am very upset that I was not notified about this safety concern sooner and do not accept the system that you are using to get out of fixing a problem you pretended to know nothing about. Every time I try to find out which airbags are in my car I am referred to Takata Lawsuit over dysfunctional exploding bags are going off in older vehicles. I simply do not trust your process after many attempts to contact a responsible party and told they will get to it but, no one gets back and they have show no concern at all on their part. I do not wish to wait any longer for a correct response. it is long past due.

NHTSA ID
11436441
Incident
Oct 12, 2021
Airbags
Filed Jun 27, 2021

Check Airbag System light will turn on as soon as I start driving. SRS Code 11-10 open in the driver's airbag first inflator.

NHTSA ID
11422519
Incident
Jul 29, 2020
Airbags
Filed Apr 14, 2021
Crash reported

COLLISION LEFT FRONT OF CAR, PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED, DRIVERS DID NOT. CAR WAS DRIVING ON A PARKING LOT STEERING TO THE LEFT AND I STRUCK CONCRETE PILLER PROTECTING LAMP POST

NHTSA ID
11408165
Incident
Apr 14, 2021
Mileage
149,900 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 5, 2021

CHECK AIR BAG SYSTEM WARNING MESSAGE POPS UP WHILE CAR IS TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD A SHORT SHORT DISTANCE. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
11399331
Incident
Mar 14, 2019
Mileage
60,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 15, 2021

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THE CAR SLID A BIT. THE VEHICLE PASSENGER REAR TIRE HIT THE SIDE OF THE SIDEWALK, CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO POP.

NHTSA ID
11396259
Incident
Feb 15, 2021
Mileage
1 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 .