2009 Honda Civic Airbag Problems

Which parts fail

• Frontal
  2
• Side/window
  2
• Frontal › Sensor/control module
  1

Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  719%
• 25k–50k
  411%
• 50k–75k
  719%
• 75k–100k
  1027%
• 100k–150k
  822%
• 150k+
  13%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2009 Honda Civic owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact was a former police officer who had been tasked with investigating a vehicle crash that involved a 2009 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while the owner was driving at a yet-to-be-determined rate of speed, he hit a dip in the road which sent the vehicle airborne and off the road. The vehicle then went through a guardrail and crashed into a light pole with a large concrete support post. A control box for an electric sign and the guardrail was damaged due to the accident. The passenger-side air bags did not deploy upon impact. The driver was treated for his injuries at the scene by paramedics. The passenger was taken to the hospital where he was treated for injuries to both his head and torso, the passenger died three days later as a result of his injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent tow yard and was a total loss. …

My husband made a left turn from a center lane and didn't see a vehicle coming at us because of the blind spot. We hit the other vehicle on the front right side. The airbags deployed and the side airbag exploded and burned my right arm badly. I now have injury scars from the passenger seat airbag exploding. I was taken by ambulance to the hospital.

No codes on the dash, police said the airbags malfunctioned. Car hit an embankment on the front right side then the car flipped over. The steering wheel did not deploy. All of the side airbags, both bottom and top side airbags came out still folded and did not inflate. Car is currently with State Farm insurance at their garage.

Tl* the contact owned a 2009 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while the driver was driving about 40-50 MPH, the vehicle rear-ended another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. There was no police report filed. The driver sustained chest pain and was taken by ambulance. The other two passengers sustained contusions from the seat belts and required medical attention. The vehicle was totaled and was towed to an auto body shop where it was diagnosed that the air bag sensor was damaged and sensed that the air bag did deploy. The technician also noticed that the air bag and the seat belt warning lights were on. The seat belt was replaced. The technician stated that the air bag sensor also needed to be repaired. The vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic for the air bag sensor repair. …

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Honda Civic. After a passenger entered the vehicle and fastened the front passenger seat belt, the contact heard a loud noise and saw smoke emitted from the front passenger seat belt. There was no visible fire or burning odor. The fire department was not contacted. The vehicle was taken to Honda of fayetteville (1384 w showroom dr, fayetteville, ar 72704). A diagnostic test was not performed, but an unknown component was replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. After starting the vehicle, the air bag indicator illuminated and another indicator illuminated, indicating that the passenger air bag was off. The vehicle was taken to Honda of fayetteville again where it was diagnosed that the SRS unit failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. …

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving approximately 33 MPH when the brakes were being applied the vehicle accelerated to 54 MPH. The contact stated she was unable to control the vehicle as the vehicle crashed into the guard rail, spinning around, crossing to the other side of the roadway, hitting the mountain side. The air bags did not deploy. The contact received injury to her right knee, shoulder, elbow, back and neck however medical treatment was not received. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to freeway Honda (1505 auto mall dr, santa ana, ca 92705 phone: [phone]) whom was attempting to diagnosis the failure however, when the insurance company inspected the vehicle and deemed it a total loss, all diagnoses was seized. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage 68,000.

My Honda Civic was hit on the drivers side door by a Ford ranger pickup truck. I was driving northbound on a city street in san luis obispo, ca and the truck was heading southbound and attempted to make a left hand turn across the lane that I was occupying when I was hit. The driver airbag in the truck deployed, but the side curtain airbag in my Civic did not deploy. I was injured by broken glass and impact of my left arm & shoulder against the driver door. The impact for was sufficient to bend both the a-pillar and b-pillar into the passenger compartment. I believe that the side curtain airbag in my Civic was defective. Note that a local Honda dealership offered to run a diagnostic test, but since the vehicle is drivable, and was towed to a car storage yard after the accident, the dealer was unable to inspect the vehicle.

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Honda Civic. While driving 50 MPH, the vehicle hydroplaned. The contact overcorrected and loss control of the steering. As a result, the vehicle crashed into a power line and rolled over. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained minor injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a towing yard. The contact called maita Honda at [phone] (located at 6100 greenback ln, citrus heights, ca 95621) and was informed that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000. The VIN was unavailable.

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Honda Civic. While driving approximately 25 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the front driver's side of the contact's vehicle. As a result, the driver side door became jammed and would not open. The contact activated the front driver's side power window. A bystander assisted and repositioned the contact from the vehicle through the driver's side window. The contact sustained a concussion and a severe knee injury that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The air bags did not deploy with the massive impact involved. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was notifed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 67,000.

Tl* the contact owned a 2009 Honda Civic. While driving approximately 33 MPH, another vehicle made an illegal turn. As a result, the contact crashed into the passenger door of the other vehicle. When the air bags deployed, the contact's right hand was fractured and a sharp piece of metal sliced the webbing between her thumb and forefinger that required stitches. The contact sustained cuts to the right arm, back ,and whiplash injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a collision lot. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000. Updated 09/22/16 updated 09/28/16.

Related recalls

Airbag complaints in other Civic years