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 2001 Honda Civic owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2001 Honda Civic. The vehicle was included in a manufacturer recall 19/076 (NHTSA Campaign Number was unknown) regarding the Takata Air Bag, and the remedy was completed on March 28, 2025. When the vehicle was being repaired, the contact stated that they used their personal diagnosis machine and received the code FF510001. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, they fell asleep, causing them to rear-end a vehicle in front. The air bags did not deploy, and the seat belt failed to retract. There were no injuries, and no medical attention was needed. The vehicle was not towed. The rear vehicle- ended was damaged and towed. A police report was filed. The dealer was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 186,689.
The contact owns a 2001 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 89,000.
I read and article about the advisory made by the Honda and the U.S. Government to "do not drive" for the 2001 through 2003 vehicles with Takata inflators that have a high possibility of exploiting and hurling shrapnel in a crash.
The contact owns a 2001 Honda Civic. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V501000 (Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were contacted.
On March 12, 2016 my wife and I were traveling home to santa cruz from oakland on highway 880. While stopped in stop-and-go traffic we were hit from behind by a vehicle traveling at high speed. Unfortunately, our air bags never deployed resulting in serious injury to my wife and myself. We had recently taken the car to the dealer, ocean Honda in soquel, california, after receiving notice that the air bags on the vehicle were defective and needed to be replaced. Our car was completely totaled as was the car that hit us. While none of our air bags deployed the air bags in the vehicle that struck us all deployed. I'm not sure all of our injuries could have been avoided if the air bags had deployed, but I'm sure the extent of our injuries would have been lessened. I don't know if the recall work done on our car was negligent, or if they just turned off the air bag system. …
Tl* Takata recall. The contact's son owned a 2001 Honda Civic coupe. The contact's son was the passenger of the vehicle. The contact stated that while her son's friend was driving 80 MPH, the driver lost control and crashed into a guardrail. The contact's son was ejected from the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained a fractured collarbone. Medical attention was received and the contact's son was airlifted to a hospital where he was pronounced deceased four hours later. The vehicle was towed by the police to a lot where it was sold to an auction. A police report was filed. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign numbers: 18V268000 (air bags), 15V370000 (air bags), and 19V501000 (air bags). The failure mileage was approximately 233,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 2001 Honda Civic. While driving approximately 15 MPH and attempting to accelerate through an intersection, another vehicle sped in front of the contact's vehicle. As a result, the contact t-boned the other vehicle. The contact's vehicle bounced and turned sideways. The air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was towed and deemed totaled. The contact received neck, rib, head, and knee injuries. Medical attention was received. A police report was filed. The contact's vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 19V501000 (air bags) and 19V182000 (air bags); however, the vehicle had not received the recall repairs prior to the crash. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 215,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 2001 Honda Civic. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the front driver's side of the contact's vehicle was struck by another driver. The air bags failed to deploy. The driver and passenger of the contact's vehicle were injured and required medical attention. Both occupants are undergoing physical therapy. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was visually diagnosed. The vehicle was deemed totaled. The vehicle was not repaired or replaced. The dealer and manufacturer were notified. There were two open recalls on the vehicle: NHTSA campaign number: 15V370000 (air bags) and NHTSA campaign number: 15V320000 (air bags). The approximate failure mileage was 220,000.
"tanaka recall" 10/04/2009 my son was in his automobiles passenger seat and his friend, who was driving, went off the road into a guardrail. This happened on route 8 at exit 21 in seymour , ct. The ct. Medical examiner reported that the driver had an airbag and that my son didn't in the passenger seat. We were informed by celia, owner of our west haven funeral parlor, that our son died immediately, hitting the top of the car near the seat belt bracket. Celia has a special endorsement with the state of ct. And works with the states medical examiner personally. We feel that our son's injuries/death could have been significantly different if his side and front airbag worked, period.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owned a 2001 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while idle on a highway, another vehicle crashed into the rear of the vehicle. The contact stated that the resulting force of the impact caused him to crash into the rear of another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact and the passenger sustained severe neck injuries, fractured ribs, and leg injuries that required medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact stated that the vehicle was serviced under the NHTSA campaign number: 15V370000(air bags). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 220,000.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver 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 › Driver side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
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.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018.
Show 3 more recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic vehicles manufactured March 21, 2000, to January 20, 2005, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX vehicles manufactured June 14, 2000, to August 19, 2004, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid vehicles manufactured February 24, 2002, to January 18, 2005, 2003-2007…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2007 Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2006 Ridgeline, 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2003-2006 Acura MDX, and 2002-2003 Acura 3.2TL vehicles.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Air bags
American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic, 2003-2004 Civic CNG and Element, 2002-2005 CR-V, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2005 Accord, Pilot, Civic Hybrid, and Acura MDX, 2005 Acura RL and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in geographic locations associated…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
NHTSA investigations
Rupturing driver's air bag inflators
This RQ investigation was opened to collect and analyze additional information to better evaluate the scope and timeliness of Honda's two safety recalls addressing rupturing of the driver's side air bag inflators (08V-593 and 09V-259).In an earlier response to RMD's request for information, Honda indicated that the second recall (09V-259), essentially an expansion of the first (08V-593), was necessary since later…
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Airbag complaints in other Civic years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2001 Honda Civic?
NHTSA has 310 complaints about the air bags of the 2001 Honda Civic, 29% of the model year's 1,079 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (60 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Honda Civic airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 19V-501 (inflator module, Jun 27, 2019); NHTSA recall 19V-499 (inflator module, Jun 27, 2019); NHTSA recall 19V-182 (inflator module, Mar 6, 2019). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2001 Honda Civic airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 118 crashes, 3 fires and 114 injuries and 5 deaths 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.