Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Honda Civic owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Honda Civic. The contact rear ended another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 211,000.
On feb. 10, 2008, I was driving my Honda Civic lx on highway 400, junction 89, my car lost control, and because there were snow on the ground, I cannot stop the car, I keep on pumping the brake, as if I used the ABS, I would have slide down to the valley. However, I was not able to have control of the car at all and it hit head on the guard rail, the whole front and engine was completely crushed. With such kind of impact, the air bag should deploy, but it did not deploy, the car was unrepairable and is a total write off. The police and the ambulance took me to the hospital. However, this is not the first time that the air bag did not deploy, as one time a woman came out from a plaza without looking that it is all clear, her truck hit the right side and the right front of my car, the air bag did not deploy either.
Driving at 55 MPH a Ford focus pulled straight out in front of me and came to a stop. I was approximately 1 car length away when they did this so I did not have time to stop and could not pull out around them because I would have been in oncoming traffic. I t-boned this vehicle doing 55 MPH and they were stopped. My front end hit directly on their front drivers side. Their front left fender and tire were bent in and both of their front air bags deployed. My whole front end was crushed in and the center of my hood looked like I hit a tree. None of my air bags deployed. If I had not been wearing my seat belt I would have been more seriously injured than I was. Where are the sensors for air bag deployment? Shouldn't mine have deployed?
I was involved in an accident broadside another car with my front end. The front of my car ended up being totaled and my 1998 Honda Civic ex airbag did not deploy. I contacted both Honda corporate and they referred me to there 2 field specialists. There reply was my seat belt sensor told my airbag sensor it did not need to deploy. Honda said I had no case with them. I think all I got is the run around. I honestly want the answer to this question. Also to know why Honda does not stand behind what they make. I believe the airbag failed for some reason!! I have had 2 prior neck surgeries and received several injuries from this accident.
Tl* the contact owned a 1998 Honda Civic coupe. The contact stated while driving at 55 MPH, when she crashed into a truck. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained a fractured collarbone, left knee and right shoulder was bruised. The contact did seek medical attention for her collarbone. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact stated the towing company deemed the vehicle was loss. A dealer was not contacted. The VIN was associated with NHTSA campaign number: 20V026000 (air bags) and received a recall notice back in October. The manufacturer had not been informed of failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
In a severe head-on crash that totaled my 1998 Honda Civic ex both the driver's and passenger airbags failed to deploy. According to the police, body shop and other witnesses along with the supplemental restraint guide provided with the vehicle, the crash fit the exact description and criteria of one where the airbags should deploy. In investigating this problem on the NHTSA website, I came across a recall for this problem (dated October 97 - 3 months before I leased the car) I have all documentation for the vehicle and can find no reference to either this recall being performed nor receiving notice of said recall.
We were on a city street, approached an unknown dip in the road. The airbags deployed, the headliner is shredded. There is no structural damage to the bumper, fenders or hood. The SRS system light is on. The door locks won't work from the fob. The seatbelts do appear to be functioning correctly. I have waited for the recall to include 98's knowing that they would have to be included because of what happened to mine. I don't have pictures at this time but will provide.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Honda Civic. While driving 30 MPH, the driver and passenger side air bags deployed without warning. The impact damaged the windshield and smoke escaped from the air bags into the cabin of the vehicle. There were no injuries. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 232,000.
Tl contact owns a 1998 Honda Civic. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle was involved in a crash in which none of the air bags deployed. A police report was filed and the driver was reported injured. The vehicle was not inspected or repaired. The failure and current mileages were 180,000.
I was traveling on a wet road at 40mph. When applied brakes, the body of the vehicle jerked forward abruptly and the brakes locked up on me, causing the vehicle to skid off road. The vehicle hit concrete blocks and totaled the front end. The air bags failed to deploy. Ts
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 1998 Acura 2.2CL, 1998-1999 Acura 2.3CL, 1998-1999 Acura 3.0CL, 2001 Acura 3.2CL and Acura MDX, 1998-2000 Honda Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Sedan, Odyssey and Acura 3.5RL, 1999-2000 Acura 3.2TL, 1996-2000 Civic Coupe, 1997-2000 CR-V, 1997-1998 EV Plus, and 1998-1999…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag inflator, and replace it if necessary, with an inflator of a different design, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020.
Air bags › Frontal
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The front passenger air bag modules have been improperly assembled. The cloth flaps covering the folded air bag May have been tucked in too far.
Remedy: Dealers will repair the front passenger's air bag module to prevent this problem from occurring.
Airbag complaints in other Civic years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1998 Honda Civic?
NHTSA has 96 complaints about the air bags of the 1998 Honda Civic, 22% of the model year's 435 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (61 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Honda Civic airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 20V-026 (inflator module, Jan 17, 2020); NHTSA recall 97V-193 (frontal, Nov 1, 1997). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1998 Honda Civic airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 140,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 64 crashes, 0 fires and 42 injuries and 1 death to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.