187 complaints reported

2002 Honda Civic Air Bags

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
187
Crashes
60
Fires
3
Injuries
43

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Apr 2025

The contact owns a 2002 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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Apr 2025
Feb 2025 Crash Fire

The death investigator's decedent owned a 2002 Honda Civic. The contact stated that after the decedent stopped at a stop sign, they attempted to make a left turn and struck another vehicle on the passenger side. The decedent's air bag was deployed which caused trauma to the decedent's neck. The decedent's vehicle caught fire shortly after impact. The other driver attempted to remove the decedent from the vehicle as authorities were called to the scene. The decedent received medical treatment at the scene and was later transported to the hospital. The decedent was pronounced deceased approximately 30 minutes after arriving at the emergency room. The other driver did not sustain any injuries. A police officer who arrived at the scene managed to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher. The fire department later arrived at the scene to ensure that the fire was extinguished. A police report was filed. The whereabouts of the vehicle after the accident were unknown. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. Upon investigation, it was discovered that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V370000(Air Bags) and NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V320000(Air Bags) which the contact linked to the decedent's death. The failure mileage was unknown.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2020
Jan 2025

SRS light came on. Vehicle didn’t have any change in driving performance.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Feb 2024
Apr 2024

The contact owned a 2002 Honda Civic. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 15V370000 (Air Bags) and 15V320000 (Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not contacted.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Apr 2024
May 2022

SRS light is on. Upon resetting, light comes back on in a couple days. Mechanic says the airbags will not fire with the SRS light on.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2020
Apr 2021

RECURRENT AND UNSOLVED ISSUES WITH THE SRS AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. IT WAS "REPAIRED" IN 2016, AGAIN IN FEBRUARY 2021, AND HAS RECURRED AGAIN IN MARCH 2021. I HAVE A HONDA CIVIC SI, WHICH WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE TAKATA RECALL PROGRAM. THE SI IS AN UNCOMMON MODEL OF THE CIVIC, AND I BELIEVE THIS IS THE REASON IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I HAVE CONTINUED TO HAVE ISSUES OVER THE YEARS WITH THE SRS WARNING LIGHT COMING ON, AND NOT BEING ABLE TO HAVE IT EFFECTIVELY REPAIRED. ACCORDING TO ONLINE FORUMS FOR OLDER CIVICS, THE SRS WARNING LIGHT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE. THOSE OWNERS RECOMMEND DIY REPAIRS AND WORK-AROUNDS. GIVEN THE LIFE-SAVING IMPORTANCE OF AIRBAGS, HONDA SHOULD BE REPAIRING/REPLACING THEM AS NEEDED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Apr 2021
Jan 2021 Crash Fire Injury

DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE TAKATA AIRBAGS EXPLODED DURING DEPLOYMENT. SHRAPNEL FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAKATA AIRBAG LODGED IN THE DRIVER'S NECK CAUSING FATAL INJURIES. THE PASSENGER SIDE TAKATA AIRBAG CAUSED A FIRE ON THAT SIDE OF THE AUTOMOBILE AS WELL.*DT*JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2020
Jul 2020 Crash Injury

TL* TAKATA RECALL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V501000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE ON HIS PASSENGER SIDE ENTER HIS LANE AND IMPACTED HIS REAR PASSENGER SIDE FENDER. THE CONTACT STATED HE STEERED TO THE LEFT CAUSING HIS BUMPER TO IMPACTED A SECOND VEHICLE'S REAR PASSENGER SIDE FENDER. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DID DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THE NEXT DAY HE SUSTAINED CHEST PAINS BUT HAD NOT SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED LOCAL DEALER ROBERTSON'S PALMDALE HONDA LOCATED AT 455 AUTO VISTA DR, PALMDALE, CA 93551, BUT WAS UNABLE TO CONTACT TO THEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 347,944. *DT*JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jun 2020
Nov 2019 Crash

2002 ACCORD COLLIDED INTO THE SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING THE ACCORD'S DRIVER AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. THE METAL CAP FROM THE DRIVER AIRBAG INFLATOR WAS BLOWN THROUGH THE DRIVER AIRBAG FABRIC AND INTO THE DRIVER'S NECK. THE DRIVER'S DEATH CERTIFICATE DESCRIBES THE CAUSE OF DEATH "COMPLICATIONS OF BLUNT AND SHARP FORCE INJURIES OF THE NECK". THE HOT INFLATOR MELTED A LOCATION ON THE DRIVER AIRBAG FABRIC. THE VEHICLE IS IN A STORAGE FACILITY IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2018
Jul 2019 Crash Injury

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED VIOLENTLY WITH A SUBSTANCE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT HAD TROUBLE BREATHING AND FELT BURNING TO THE CHEST. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE X-RAYS WERE TAKEN FOR THE CONTACTS SHOULDER HEMATOMA. THE CONTACT MENTIONED CURRENTLY ONGOING MEDICAL TREATMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE TOTALED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 19V501000 (AIR BAGS) AND 19V182000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER WAS UNAWARE OF THE REC ALLS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *DT*JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2019
Jun 2019 Crash Injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN THROUGH A STOP SIGN AND CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF ANY WARNING. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN AIR BAG RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE IN 2018 (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V320000 (AIR BAG)) BY THE MANCHESTER HONDA (860-645-3100, LOCATED AT 24 ADAMS ST, MANCHESTER, CT 06042). THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT AN UNKNOWN FOLLOW-UP RECALL NOTICE ABOUT DRIVER'S AIR BAG WAS RECEIVED AFTER THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. *BF *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jun 2016
Apr 2019

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC. SHORTLY AFTER THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR FLASHED AND THEN REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE BEGAN IN 2003; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY RECENTLY INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V182000 (AIR BAGS) ON MARCH 6, 2019. PAUL MILLER HONDA OF WEST CALDWELL (1170 BLOOMFIELD AVE, WEST CALDWELL, NJ 07006, (973) 808-9100) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER TO VERIFY IF THE PART WAS AVAILABLE TO RECEIVE THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *BF *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2003
Apr 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V182000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. CHARLIES MOTOR MALL (465 WESTERN AVE, AUGUSTA, ME 04330, (207) 622-7327) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Apr 2017
May 2018

FOR THE LAST MONTH MY AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jul 2018
Apr 2018 Crash Injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG EXPLOSION CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A CURB ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE STREET. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEFT EAR, WHICH CAUSED A TEMPORARY LOSS OF HEARING. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V320000 (AIR BAGS) AND 15V370000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 188,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2018
Feb 2018 Crash Injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING APROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE INJURIES SUSTAINED BY THE CONTACT AND THE OTHER DRIVER, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE AND DEEMED TOTALED. THE VEHILCE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Feb 2018
Feb 2018

SRS LIGHT ITS ON

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Feb 2018
Feb 2018 Crash

TAKATA AIRBAG ISSUE: I WAS IN A FRONT END COLLISION AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 20MPH ON A CITY STREET WITH NO ONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT FRONT END DAMAGE, RESULTING IN LOSS OF THE FRONT BUMPER, DAMAGE TO THE HOOD AND TO THE FRONT ENGINE COMPONENTS, INCLUDING LEAKING OF WINDOW WASHER AND TRANSMISSION FLUIDS. THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT IN MY ESTIMATION, IS SHOULD HAVE DONE SO. I WAS NOT INJURED SINCE I WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT. THE AIR BAG IS A REPLACEMENT AIR BAG THAT WAS REPLACED BY A HONDA DEALER IN VIRGINIA, AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL. I AM SIMPLY REPORTING THIS AS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE, SINCE I BELIEVE THAT THE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED AS NATURALLY AS A FACTORY INSTALLED ONE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2018
Jan 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG EXPLODED TWICE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT WAITED UNTIL THE AIR BAGS DEFLATED AND DROVE HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT, A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE, BUT NO FAILURE CODES COULD BE PRODUCED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jun 2017
Jan 2018

TAKATA RECALL

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Sep 2016
Dec 2017

SRS LIGHT WONT COME OFF. DEALER WONT FIX.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2016
Nov 2017 Crash Injury

RECEIVED NOTICES IN THE MAIL FOR NHTSA RECALL 14V-351, 11V-260, 14V-319, 15V-320, AND MAYBE OTHERS? BROUGHT VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE (INVOICES ATTACHED). ACCORDING TO CREDIT CARD RECEIPT, I PICKED UP VEHICLE FROM SERVICE STATION ON 12/19/2015. TO SUMMARIZE, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS SAID TO BE PART OF THE RECALL AND WAS THEREFORE REPLACED. THE DRIVER AIRBAG WAS SAID TO NOT BE PART OF THE RECALL AND THE ORIGINAL WAS REINSTALLED INTO THE VEHICLE. ON 3/10/2016, AN SUV DROVE OUT FROM A SIDE STREET WITH STOP SIGN AND OUR VEHICLES COLLIDED. THE SUV WAS STRUCK ON ITS LEFT SIDE TOWARD THE FRONT END AND MY VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE FRONT END TOWARD THE RIGHT SIDE. MY VEHICLE'S PASSENGER AIRBAG INFLATED BUT MY VEHICLE'S DRIVER AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PHOTOS ATTACHED. MY HEAD STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD TWICE DURING THE IMPACT OF THE ACCIDENT. THOUGH MY CONCUSSION SYMPTOMS HAVE IMPROVED A GREAT DEAL, I CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE SYMPTOMS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Oct 2016
Oct 2017 Crash Injury

WAS IN ACCIDENT NOV 21,16 AND DRIVER AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. IT WAS REPLACED IN THE RECALL. I WAS DRIVING 35 MPH AND WAS HIT IN FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BY A VEHICLE PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC SEE POLICE REPORT ATTACHED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Nov 2016
Aug 2017

I WENT TO HONDA DEALER TENAFFLY, NEWJERSEY. FOR FREE AIRBAG REPAIR, THEY MIGHT CHANGE/REPAIR THE AIRBAG BUT STILL THERE IS CHECK ENGINE SIGN OF AIRBAG, PLZ ADVISE HOW TO REMOVE THE SIGN BECAUSE ONLY THE DEALER CAN REMOVE SIGN.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Feb 2017
Apr 2017 Crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A LIGHT POLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS HAULED AWAY BY THE POLICE TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S AIR BAG WAS REPLACED PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2015

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2002 Honda Civic has 187 Air Bags complaints on file. 60 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.