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 2002 Honda Civic owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Civic. The contact stated while trying to fasten the driver's side seat belt, the seat belt failed to release, not allowing the contact to fasten the seat belt. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was contacted and also stated that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed. The failure mileage was 76,000.
SRS Light on for a while in Honda Civic, Contacted Dealer as this car was messed with by another dealership last year during light swsitch recall, so wanted only other Dealership to diagnose the issue with SRS but diagnosis alone is $157 and since my auto mechanic cannot read the diagnosis Honda has put or installed this restricted setting on the car. Seat belts and seat bekt sensors may be bad and seat belt cant stick on driver;s side, indicating a safety issue, Transmission exhibiting trouble and revs up when shifting, hard to shift gears with automatic gear shift problems. This should not be happening and brand new engine had to be competely installed with new engine blocks, and new radiator and watter pump need due to failing.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Honda Civic. While driving at 18 MPH, the contact's vehicle crashed into the preceeding vehicle at a traffic light. The contact stated that the snowy road conditions were a major factor that contributed to the crash. The air bags did not deploy and the driver side seat belt did not properly engage at the time of impact. The contact sustained injuries to the nose, mouth, face, and head, which required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000.
I have had my SRS light on since I purchased this car in July of 2017. My seat belts do not lock at the appropriate times. I was also involved in a wreck driving in rain on the interstate and hydroplaned. I hit a median going about 50 MPH. No air bags ejected from the impact. The results of the impact were a dented fender, replacement of the driver side control arm, new ball joints, as well as a desperately needed tire alignment. I feel if this impact was hard enough to bend the control arm then my air bags should have ejected, but I'm no mechanic. Thank you.
I was on my way home from work and I had a horrible car accident I hit a 80,000 lb steel truck my air bags deployed so hard it broke my sternum come up hit my chin busting it open and chipping my front tooth. It also broke my shoulder in 3 places from the seat belt and air bag together. I have bad injuries from the accident and cannot work for a year or more.
I bought a new 02 Honda Civic ex. On aug 31 03 it had been raining and I looked down for a moment and when I looked up I was on the edge of the road jerking my car back onto the road my car slid impacting a mailbox on my passenger front side then preceded to flip several times. Neither airbag deployed (I was told due to the first impact was not to the front). While flipping my seatbelt released me throwing me out of the driver window landing face first in the middle of the road. My injuries my left arm was severely burned doctors conclude my seatbelt wrapped around my arm due to the flipping the seatbelt cut my arm 3/4 of the way almost amputating it. I went through 6 surgeries and now have radial nerve damage and limp wrist. I can not extend my fingers and will never be able to.I also broke that arm having an external cast since my arm was cut. …
For everyone wondering if the SRS sensor is something that needs to be recalled.. I will tell you yes!! I bought my 2002 Civic new and in August 2003 I totaled out my car. Neither air bag deployed and my seat belt (which I use to believe in) released while my car flipped several times and I was ejected. Since my seatbelt released in the middle of flipping somehow wrapped around and cut and burned my arm. My arm was almost amputated 3/4 of the way. Thank god for the 2 inches and my amazing doctors I was able to keep my arm after six surgeries including plastic surgery. My arm was also broke. I now have radial nerve damage which means I can not open and close my hand along with limp wrist. …
Takata recall: I rolled my car on my way to work in August of 2015. I had gotten a letter 2 weeks prior of an airbag recall. I called the local dealerships but due to high volume I was put on a waiting list. My airbags didn't deploy and my driver's seatbelt didn't lock. I suffered a fracture to the base of my skull and a traumatic brain injury. I couldn't work at all for 9 months and could only work 10-15 hours a week for several months after that. A week after the car accident I was fired from my job without severance pay and I called Honda headquarters and they told me to keep checking for class action lawsuits. I was driving on a backroad going 40 MPH and I hit some lose gravel. I over reacted and turned the wheel causing me to make a u turn. I hit my breaks hard to stop and make sure my seatbelt would lock. The momentum of stopping caused my Honda to roll. …
While driving, the consumer made a left turn and was hit head on by another vehicle. Upon impact, the left front air bag failed to deploy. The driver sustained a broken neck and was hospitalized. Driver was wearing her seatbelt. The front passengers seat was unoccupied. Making a turn at 15 MPH the vehicle was hit on the driver's side front. The driver is 5ft tall and sustained a broken sternum and broken neck from crash. Will fax photos of the crashed vehicle. The 80 year old driver did not strike the steering wheel. The sternum fractures are believed to be the result of the seat belt locking up during the event.cw
The SRS airbag light is always on, the seat belt buckle is sensing excessive resistance in the squib for the pretensioner. We have replaced the seat belt buckle once already, and it failed again. So the SRS airbag light is on which means my airbags will not go off if involved in an accident. Is this a safety issue? I see it as a safety issue and Honda will not do anything to fix the problem. Can you please let me know if this is an issue Honda should be made to repair?
Seat Belt complaints in other Civic years
Frequently asked questions
How common are seat belt problems on the 2002 Honda Civic?
NHTSA has 51 complaints about the seat belts of the 2002 Honda Civic, 7% of the model year's 702 complaints. The component named most often is front › buckle assembly (6 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Honda Civic seat belt problems?
No. NHTSA lists no seat belts recall for the 2002 Honda Civic, though it has 11 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2002 Honda Civic seat belt problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 67,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 11 crashes, 0 fires and 12 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.