2010 Honda Civic Hybrid Problems & Complaints

Use caution1.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the Civic Hybrid at the same age

Owners have filed 12 complaints about the 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is 1.5× as many as a typical Civic Hybrid model year at the same age — above average, so look closely at the problem areas below before you buy. The most reported problem area is the electrical system (8 complaints, typically around 51,000 miles). 6 recalls cover this model year.

12complaints
6recalls
1crashes
0fires
1injuries
0deaths

Most common 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid problems

  • Electrical system~51,000 miles
    867%
  • Engine & cooling~51,000 miles
    217%
  • Windows, wipers & sunroof~40,000 miles
    217%
  • Air bags~2,000 miles
    217%
  • Wheels & tires~30,000 miles
    18%
  • Steering~51,000 miles
    18%
  • Transmission & drivetrain~1,000 miles
    18%
  • Fuel & propulsion system~112,000 miles
    18%
  • Speed control & acceleration~53,000 miles
    18%
  • Other / not specified~53,000 miles
    18%
  • Brakes~40,000 miles
    18%

Share of the 12 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Honda Civic Hybrid complaints by model year

2003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015202551354855646428121129558
Owner complaints per model year, Honda Civic Hybrid. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best Civic Hybrid years: 2011, 2015, 2014. Years to avoid: 2010, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2009. Compare all years →

2010 Honda Civic Hybrid recalls (6)

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 19V-502 · Jun 27, 2019 · 9,555 vehicles

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…

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 19V-378 · May 16, 2019 · 19,138 vehicles

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.

Remedy: 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. The recall began July 5, 2019.

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 18V-661 · Sep 27, 2018 · 1,355,406 vehicles

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,…

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 18V-042 · Jan 9, 2018 · 691,726 vehicles

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…

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 16, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 17V-030 · Jan 10, 2017 · 977,708 vehicles

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…

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The manufacturer has mailed an interim notification, and will send a second notification when parts are…

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 16V-346 · May 24, 2016 · 2,719,386 vehicles

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…

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid:

Pedestrian alert sounds

NHTSA investigation DP22005 · opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · led to recall 22V-063

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.

What 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid owners say

Electrical system

Ever since new, the Hybrid system is unreliable. If the Hybrid battery charge is below 1/2, which is often, the battery assist does not come on when accelerating. There is heavy traffic where I live and I have to enter a divided roadway from a side road. I often find myself nearly hit by oncoming traffic when the Hybrid system doesn't kick in. Now that the car is older, the problem is much worse. In the past I could predict when the Hybrid system was likely not to provide the acceleration assist needed to safely enter the highway and wait for a longer break in traffic. Now the charge indicator will be 100% one minute and showing only two bars out of about 12 then next second. I don't feel I can safely drive the car any more. My wife's car is a Toyota prius Hybrid and it always has consistent acceleration. Her 2006 vehicle runs just as good as it did when it was new. …

112,000 miles · Jan 2015

The instrumental panel indicator, the parking brake, the climate control system, and the audio system are malfunctioning. On a road trip in July, the air conditioner (ac) stopped blowing out cold air while we were driving on the highway. However, if we put it on auto or fan, we would get cold air as though the ac is working. A few weeks later, the radio turned on by itself while I was driving on a city street even though I did not turn it on or did I hit a bump, which could reasonably explain it coming on. The radio was a one time event. And lastly, the brake light has been randomly and continuously came on and off on the instrumental panel while I'm driving as though I had left the parking brake on. …

40,000 miles · Jul 2016

2010 Honda Civic Hybrid engines & fuel economy

EngineTransmissionDriveMPG city / hwy / combined
1.3L 4-cyl hybridCVTFWD40 / 45 / 42

EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid a good car?

Based on 12 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2010 Civic Hybrid rates use caution: 1.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the Civic Hybrid at the same age. It is one of the Civic Hybrid years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.

What is the most common problem with the 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid?

The electrical system — 8 complaints, 67% of all complaints for this model year, most often about propulsion system › traction battery. Next are the engine & cooling (2) and windows, wipers & sunroof (2).

How many recalls does the 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid have?

There are 6 recalls for the 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid, the most recent from June 27, 2019 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.

What are the best and worst years of the Honda Civic Hybrid?

The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011, 2015 and 2014. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2010, 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2009. See the full Honda Civic Hybrid years comparison.

At what mileage do 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 40,000 miles; 63% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.