2011 Honda Civic Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Sep 29, 2026 · 169 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other Civic years
Far fewer complaints than other years 28th of 32 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
3 out of 5 stars

Owners have filed 169 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Honda Civic. That ranks 28th out of 32 Civic model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (51 complaints, 30%), typically at around 64,000 miles. Complaints mention 22 crashes, 5 fires, 20 injuries. There are 9 safety recalls covering this model year.

Honda Civic
Honda Civic Sedan (FE) Washington DC, USA. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: OWS Photography, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2011 Honda Civic problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Air Bags51 · ~64,000 mi
Service Brakes26 · ~19,500 mi
Unknown or Other21 · ~70,000 mi
Electrical System16 · ~31,000 mi
Visibility/wiper13 · ~48,000 mi
Structure10 · ~73,000 mi
Vehicle Speed Control10 · ~24,000 mi
Visibility8 · ~10,262 mi
Engine7 · ~39,000 mi
Seat Belts7 · ~81,170 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Air Bags problems5130%64,000“takata air bags” (14%)—
Service Brakes2615%19,500——
Unknown or Other2112%70,000——
Electrical System169%31,000——
Visibility/wiper138%48,000——
Structure106%73,000——
Vehicle Speed Control106%24,000——
Visibility85%10,262——
Engine74%39,000——
Seat Belts74%81,170——
Service Brakes, Hydraulic74%7,300——
Fuel/propulsion System53%52,000——
Seats53%38,000——
Suspension53%19,000——
Engine and Engine Cooling42%16,000——
Power Train42%13,750——
Steering42%82,500——
Wheels42%10,500——
Exterior Lighting32%40,000——
Latches/locks/linkages32%18,000——
Tires32%9,000——
Electronic Stability Control (esc)21%18,500——
Fuel System, Gasoline21%507——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2016, with 30 complaints
2011: 192011192012: 19192013: 182013182014: 14142015: 102015102016: 30302017: 152017152018: 12122019: 8201982020: 10102021: 2202122023: 442024: 2202422025: 442026: 220262

n = 169 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2011 Honda Civic recalls (9)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleJun 27, 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V502000 · 9,555 vehicles

Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2014 Fit EV, 2010-2014 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are F5F and Q5E.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleMay 16, 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V378000 · 19,138 vehicles

Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2013 TSX Sport Wagon, and 2010-2012 ZDX and 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, 2012-2014 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2013 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.

Risk: An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator installation and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are M4O, P4R, T4Q, and W4P.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleSep 27, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V661000 · 1,355,406 vehicles

Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Insight and Acura TSX and TSX Wagon, 2014-2015 Honda Crosstour and Pilot vehicles nationwide, as well as certain 2014 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, California, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Honda is also recalling certain 2011-2013 Acura TSX, TSX Wagon and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Insight, Fit and Pilot vehicles, 2011-2012 Honda Accord and 2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Lastly, Honda is recalling certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot, 2011-2013 TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord and 2010-2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are M2J and S2K.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleApr 26, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V268000 · 1,335 vehicles

Problem: 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. The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.

Risk: An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: 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. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are K1P, and M1O.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleJan 9, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V042000 · 691,726 vehicles

Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX, ZDX, Honda Accord Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot vehicles, 2011-13 Acura TSX Sportswagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord,, 2010-2011 Honda Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles and 2013 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Honda is recalling certain 2010-2012 Acura TSX, Honda Accord, Accord Crosstour, Fit and Pilot, 2010-2011 Honda Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid and CR-V, and 2010 Acura ZDX and Honda Insight vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Unless included in Zones A or B above, Honda is recalling certain 2009 Acura TSX, Honda Accord, Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid, CR-V, Fit, and Pilot vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 16, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are B0K and L0J.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleAug 31, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V545000 · 3,257 vehicles

Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2008-2012 Accord, 2010-2012 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2012 Fit and Pilot, 2010-2012 Insight, and 2009-2012 Acura TSX vehicles that received replacement passenger frontal air bag inflators. One dealership may have incorrectly installed the replacement air bag inflators.

Risk: In the event of a crash, an incorrectly installed passenger frontal air bag inflator may deploy the air bag improperly, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began October 30, 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are O07, Y0A, N06, G05, M04, Y01, and O09.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleJan 10, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V030000 · 977,708 vehicles

Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Acura TSX, 2011-2012 Acura TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Acura ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2012 Honda Accord Crosstour and Honda Insight, 2009-2012 Honda Fit, 2009-2012 Pilot, 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2012 Honda FCX Clarity and 2006-2011 Honda Civic, Civic Hybrid, Civic NGV vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, if not included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain 2009 Acura TSX, Honda Fit and Pilot, 2008-2009 Honda Accord, 2006-2009 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, and 2007-2009 Honda CR-V vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, if not included in "Zone B" above, Honda is recalling certain 2008 Honda Accord, 2006-2008 Honda Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV and 2007-2008 Honda CR-V vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The manufacturer has mailed an interim notification, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KE1 and KE2.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleMay 24, 2016 · NHTSA campaign 16V346000 · 2,719,386 vehicles

Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Acura TSX, 2011 TSX Wagon, 2010-2011 Acura ZDX, 2008-2011 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid, and Civic GX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2010-2011 FCX Clarity and Insight, and 2009-2011 Fit, and Pilot vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless already included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain model year 2008 Honda Accord, 2006-2008 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic GX, and 2007-2008 CR-V vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Vehicles not originally sold or ever registered in either Zones A or B are not subject to this safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall is KA4, KA5, KA6, and KA7.

Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pumpMar 15, 2011 · NHTSA campaign 11V176000 · 18,056 vehicles

Problem: Honda is recalling certain model year 2011 honda civic vehicles. To prevent fuel from leaking out of a vehicle's fuel tank into the evaporative emissions canister in the event a roll-over incident occurs, the fuel pump module is equipped with a roll over valve (rov). Due to improper ultrasonic welding of the plastic case that houses the rov within the fuel pump module, the case material may break or crack, which may cause the rov to separate from the case and fail to function, thereby increasing the risk of fuel leakage in a roll-over incident.

Risk: Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the fuel pump module and if necessary replace the module free of charge. The safety recall began on april 25, 2011. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2011 Honda Civic. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of the purchase, the vehicle was listed with a mileage of 142,000; however, it was discovered via a Carfax Report and Certificate of Tile of…

Electrical System · received Sep 29, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11767797

The contact owns a 2011 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in a parking lot, the engine was powered off with the key in the ignition, and the front driver-side air bag and front driver-side air bag curtain had independently deployed. No warning lights illuminated, and…

Air Bags · received Mar 3, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11721763

The contact owned a 2011 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while attempting to park in a parking lot, he was blinded by the sun and collided with the circular concrete base of a parking lot light on private property. The contact mentioned that the engine was revving high. The air bags did not…

Air Bags · received Dec 16, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11705296

On August 9 while grandson was in route on I20 toward Birmingham, Al. to attend grandparent funeral, driver air bag exploded. He struggled to take a close next exit. He pulled car to side of road and ran away from car. He said it was full of smoke and small pieces. He feared the car was going to…

Air Bags · received Nov 13, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11699122

unknown

Unknown or Other · received Nov 2, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11697076

Other Honda Civic years

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2011 Honda Civic?

Owners most often report air bags, service brakes, unknown or other problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 51 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2011 Honda Civic?

Yes, 9 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2011 Honda Civic a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Civic model years, the 2011 has far fewer complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 3 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.