2011 Honda Civic: Solid

Owners filed 77 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Honda Civic in its first five years on the road, about 33 for every 100,000 sold: 0.8× the rate of a typical Civic year. That's close to a typical year.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the air bags (12% of complaints, median 2,000 miles).

Complaint index
0.8×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Civic year
Rank
2nd of 14
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
77
first five years; 33 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
9
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. Air bags12% · 9 complaints · median 2,000 miles
  2. Brakes35% · 27 complaints · median 16,000 miles
  3. Electrical9% · 7 complaints · median 25,000 miles
  4. Fuel and propulsion8% · 6 complaints · median 35,000 miles
  5. Speed control9% · 7 complaints · median 20,000 miles
  6. Engine10% · 8 complaints · median 25,000 miles
  7. Visibility14% · 11 complaints · median 14,000 miles
  8. Powertrain5% · 4 complaints
  9. Suspension5% · 4 complaints
  10. Steering1% · 1 complaints

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 of this 2011 Civic describe air bags that sometimes fail to deploy in a crash, deploy unexpectedly with no impact, or deploy without inflating fully. Many also mention a Takata-related recall notice and long waits for replacement parts to become available.

Warning signs:
Some report an illuminated air bag warning light before or after the incident, and a few describe a sudden loss of vehicle control or brake failure just before the air bags did or didn't deploy.
What shops did:
Owners report dealers often could not diagnose or repair the issue, and many recall-related complaints describe long waits because replacement parts were unavailable.
Mileage:
most between 30,000 and 105,000 miles, among 28 complaints that give it

“When they got deployed the air bags did not inflate”

“the front driver-side air bag and front driver-side air bag curtain had independently deployed. No warning lights illuminated, and there was no impact”

Brakes

Many owners of this Civic report needing to replace front brake pads and rotors far sooner than expected, sometimes multiple times within a couple of years. A few also describe more serious incidents where the brakes felt unresponsive or failed to stop the car, leading to collisions.

Warning signs:
Owners report squeaking, grinding, scraping or popping noises, a burning smell, metal-to-metal contact, and pedals that felt soft or sank to the floor before failing.
What shops did:
Dealers frequently replaced pads and resurfaced or replaced rotors, sometimes repeatedly, and often told owners the wear was due to driving habits rather than a vehicle problem; some diagnostic visits found nothing wrong.
Mileage:
most between 10,000 and 30,000 miles, among 29 complaints that give it

“Brakes beginning to squeak again. Brakes replaced two times since purchase of car- 2011 new honda civic.”

“Brake pedal went all the way to the floor without any resistance and the car didn't slow down.”

Electrical

Owners describe dashboard lights and gauges flickering or failing, along with occasional stalling, smoke, or burning smells tied to the car's wiring. Several say dealers struggled to reproduce or fix the problem, leaving them uncertain about the cause.

Warning signs:
Owners report flickering or blank gauges, popping sounds from the audio system, smoke or a burning plastic smell, and sudden stalling or loss of power while driving.
What shops did:
Dealers often could not duplicate or diagnose the issue, though in a few cases they replaced a wiring harness or asked owners to pay for diagnostics.
Mileage:
most between 20,000 and 50,000 miles, among 10 complaints that give it

“The instrument panel lights suddenly began to flicker”

“The car simply shuts off. This occurs regardless of the level of fuel, even when it is full.”

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

  • 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.

  • NHTSA 11V176000March 201118,056 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump

    Honda is recalling certain model year 2011 honda civic vehicles. To prevent fuel from leaking out of a vehicle's fuel tank into the evaporative emissions canister in the event a roll-over incident occurs, the fuel pump module is equipped with a roll over valve (rov). Due to improper ultrasonic welding of the plastic case that houses the rov within the fuel pump module, the case material may break or crack, which may cause the rov to separate from the case and fail to function, thereby increasing the risk of fuel leakage in a roll-over incident.

    Risk: Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.

    Fix: Dealers will inspect the fuel pump module and if necessary replace the module 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 53 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2011 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.
  • A21120B · June 2023Service News - The navigation clock and date are incorrect.
  • 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.

All 2011 Civic bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2011 Honda Civic reliable?
Owners filed 77 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Honda Civic in its first five years on the road, about 33 for every 100,000 sold: 0.8× 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 2011 Civic problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the air bags (12%), the brakes (35%) and the electrical system (9%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2011 Honda Civic been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 2011 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 2011 Honda Civic on NHTSA.gov · How we rate