UsedScore

2010 Honda Civic: Solid

Owners filed 165 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 Honda Civic in its first five years on the road, about 63 for every 100,000 sold: 1.2× the rate of a typical Civic year. That's close to a typical year.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the brakes (43% of complaints, median 18,000 miles).

Complaint index
1.2×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Civic year
Rank
10th of 14
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
165
first five years; 63 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
8
campaigns
8th generation, 2006–2011 · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2009–2011 Honda Civic LX sedan (facelift)

Photo: 2009–2011 Honda Civic LX sedan (facelift) · IFCAR, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Brakes43% · 71 complaints · median 18,000 miles
  2. Air bags7% · 11 complaints · median 26,000 miles
  3. Engine10% · 16 complaints · median 31,000 miles
  4. Steering9% · 15 complaints · median 41,000 miles
  5. Visibility15% · 24 complaints · median 38,000 miles
  6. Body and structure5% · 9 complaints · median 16,000 miles
  7. Electrical8% · 13 complaints · median 24,000 miles
  8. Seats and belts2% · 4 complaints
  9. Speed control5% · 8 complaints · median 25,000 miles
  10. Suspension7% · 11 complaints · median 22,000 miles

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Air bags

Owners commonly describe air bags that did not go off in collisions, sometimes despite significant damage, and a separate recall for the passenger air bag that many say sat unfixed for months due to parts shortages. Several report being told to avoid carrying front-seat passengers in the meantime.

Warning signs:
Some owners noticed an illuminated air bag or side-airbag warning light before a crash or unexpectedly during driving, while others report no warning at all before a non-deployment.
What shops did:
Many owners say dealers told them replacement parts were unavailable for months and advised avoiding passengers, while others report air bags were diagnosed and replaced or the shop could not replicate a reported problem.
Mileage:
most between 25,000 and 100,000 miles, among 32 complaints that give it

“Dealer said they don't have parts. Haven't had parts "for months" and don't even know for sure if they'll get parts when honda says they will in two months.”

“I noticed the airbags did not deploy at all. I asked the police investigator why. He did not have an answer and thought it was very unusual.”

Brakes

Owners of this Civic commonly report that front brake pads and rotors wear out much faster than they expect, often accompanied by squealing or grinding noises. Dealers typically repair the pads and rotors but frequently classify it as normal wear not covered by warranty, leaving many owners to pay out of pocket repeatedly.

Warning signs:
Many owners first noticed squealing, grinding, or metal-on-metal noises, and some reported uneven pad wear, a burning smell, or a hot wheel before the wear was diagnosed.
What shops did:
Dealers frequently replaced the worn pads and resurfaced or replaced rotors, but many owners say the repairs were called normal wear and not covered under warranty.
Mileage:
most between 15,000 and 35,000 miles, among 84 complaints that give it

“Premature wearout of front braking pads and discs on 2010 honda civic with 22,000 miles”

“Again the metallic grinding sound heard from the front end at 19,344 miles”

Engine

Owners report sudden stalling, power loss, or rough running, often paired with vibration from failing motor mounts or AC/condenser trouble. Repairs ranged from part replacements to full engine swaps, with some owners saying the problem returned even after service.

Warning signs:
Many note vibration or knocking in reverse, rough idling, check-engine or IMA lights, smoke, or sudden loss of power before the failure.
What shops did:
Dealers often replaced motor mounts, AC condensers or compressors, IMA batteries, or in some cases the entire engine, though a few could not duplicate or diagnose the issue.
Mileage:
most between 25,000 and 75,000 miles, among 25 complaints that give it

“When started and put in reverse the car shakes and makes noise. The problem was diagnosed as bad motor mounts.”

“Rides rough shakes feels that it's going to stall. Very obvious when stopping for red lights.”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (8)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 19V502000June 20199,555 vehicles

    Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module

    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.

    Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 19V378000May 201919,138 vehicles

    Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module

    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.

    Fix: 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.

  • NHTSA 18V661000September 20181,355,406 vehicles

    Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module

    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.

    Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 18V268000April 20181,335 vehicles

    Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module

    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.

    Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 18V042000January 2018691,726 vehicles

    Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module

    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.

    Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 17V545000August 20173,257 vehicles

    Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module

    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.

    Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 17V030000January 2017977,708 vehicles

    Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module

    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.

    Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 16V346000May 20162,719,386 vehicles

    Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module

    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.

    Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Honda sent NHTSA 56 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2010 Civic. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • 19-003-1 · August 2019 · Warranty extensionCustomer Support Program For Front Passenger's Airbag Inflator for 2010-12 Accord and Other Listed Years and Models (Expires September 30, 2028)
  • A18-066 · June 2026Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Front Passenger's Airbag Inflator.
  • A20-016 · March 2020This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators.
  • A18-115 · May 2019American Honda is conducting an inspection of certain vehicles that have previously had the passenger's airbag inflator replaced as part of the Takata Passsenger's Airbag Inflator recall.
  • A19-002 · January 2019This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators.
  • A18100B · October 2018American Honda is conducting an inspection of certain vehicles that have previously had the passenger's airbag inflator replaced as part of the Takata Passsenger's Airbag Inflator recall.
  • A18-055 · June 2018This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators.
  • A18-052 · June 2018This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators.

All 2010 Civic bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2010 Honda Civic reliable?
Owners filed 165 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 Honda Civic in its first five years on the road, about 63 for every 100,000 sold: 1.2× the rate of a typical Civic year. That's close to a typical year. Ratings compare Civic years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2010 Civic problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the brakes (43%), the air bags (7%) and the engine (10%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2010 Honda Civic been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for the 2010 Honda Civic, the most recent in June 2019 (air bags). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Honda. The 2010 Honda Civic on NHTSA.gov · How we rate