Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (buckles, retractors, anchors and pretensioners).
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.
Takata recall vehicle: Honda Civic lx 2001. I had previously responded to 2 recall notices and had airbags inspected by the oakland, ca Honda dealership. On one occasion unknown part had been replaced. In a collision, as I was proceeding straight ahead at 30 MPH on an oakland city street, an oncoming SUV, proceeding through red light, traveling est. 30 MPH, struck the right front wheel of my vehicle. The airbag did not deploy and the seat belt did not lock. My chest consequently hit the steering wheel resulting in a sternal fracture, requiring 48-hour hospitalization and est. 14 days of pain medication. Further information available.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Honda Civic. While driving on a wet road at 45mph, she lost control of the vehicle and crashed into an embankment. The vehicle flipped over three times. The contact was injured from being ejected from the seat belt and out of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The passenger was also injured and hospitalized. A police report was available. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to an impound lot by the police. The VIN was not available. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 100,000.
While driving at 40 MPH consumer's vehicle crashed into the back of a sport utility vehicle. Driver's side front clipped the right rear section of the vehicle in front. Consumer was wearing seat belts but the belt did not lock. Also, upon impact,air bags did not deploy. Consumer sustained neck and shoulder injuries due to striking the steering wheel. Consumer was cited for failure to control the vehicle.
My son was critically injured in an accident in 2014 with this vehicle. He was on a country road and missed a sharp curve entering a field. The airbag did not deploy, the seatbelt did not hold and the seat back collapsed. He was ejected from the vehicle. This vehicle was totaled as a result of this accident and I have notified Honda multiple times. I still receive recall notifications.
Our 2001 Honda Civic ex was involved in an accident. A pickup truck turned in front of our vehicle and our front-end hit his side. The air bag(s) did not deploy nor did the seat belt work properly. The driver's head in the Honda hit the windshield and the driver's neck hit the steering wheel.
Seat belts are very difficult to fasten. It takes several quick jabs with the belt into the receiver to get belt to lock in place so belt is engaged. Otherwise belt cannot be worn vehicle was stationary, this all started as soon as I received ownership of vehicle in about 2007.
After being involved in an accident whereby the front end of the vehicle rear ended another at approximately 40 MPH. The passenger side air bag deployed, the driver side did not. The seat belt retractor gave way and the consumers body was thrown forward.
"Takata recall" I totalled my car because the steering locked while I was driving. I lost control and flipped it. I was stuck in the seat belt because it would not release. I have airbag dermatitis from the airbag chemicals.
My horn stopped working and my SRS light came on about a year and a half ago. The dealer originally told me it had to do with the wiring... Costing me $300 which I could not afford to repair. I took the car in for the air bag recall and now they are saying the SRS light is on because of a defect in the seat belt buckle ($200)- but why would that make my horn stop working? There are a lot of complaints and this needs to be recalled as this is incredibly unsafe and obviously widespread!!! Honda also needs to recall the transmission problems. I had fought them and they paid for half of the repair costs when my transmission dangerously and quickly went out in the middle of traffic during rush hour about three years ago. These are major safety issues!! Unfortunately I cannot afford the repairs but I am scared to drive the car with the SRS light on. …
Related recalls
Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Certain sedans and coupes fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 209, "seat belt assemblies." certain rear seat belt buckles were improperly manufactured.
Remedy: In a previous recall (01v-380), only right and left buckles were inspected. The rear center buckle should also be inspected and corrected if necessary. This recall is being conducted only for the center buckle.
Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Vehicle description: certain sedans and coupes fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 209, "seat belt assemblies." certain rear seat belt buckles were improperly manufactured.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace the seat belt assemblies that were improperly manufactured. Only buckles that are marked (on the back side of the buckle) with an assembly number beginning with 00185,…
Seat Belt complaints in other Civic years
Frequently asked questions
How common are seat belt problems on the 2001 Honda Civic?
NHTSA has 41 complaints about the seat belts of the 2001 Honda Civic, 4% of the model year's 1,079 complaints. The component named most often is front › retractor (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Honda Civic seat belt problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 02V-051 (buckle assembly, Feb 8, 2002); NHTSA recall 01V-380 (buckle assembly, Dec 13, 2001). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2001 Honda Civic seat belt problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 70,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 9 crashes, 0 fires and 10 injuries to seat belts 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.