2010 Honda Civic Hybrid Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid has 12 NHTSA complaints and 6 recalls, giving it a complaint index of 36 and a Good verdict, ranking 8th worst out of 12 model years. Electrical System problems dominate, making up 67% of complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 36/100
- #8 of 12 Civic Hybrid years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 12
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 6
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 1
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 1
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 42
- 40 city / 45 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
Top 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System8 (67%)
- Engine3 (25%)
- Airbags2 (17%)
- Visibility & Wipers2 (17%)
- Brakes1 (8%)
- Fuel System1 (8%)
- Other1 (8%)
- Steering1 (8%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (8%)
- Transmission & Powertrain1 (8%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report sudden dashboard warnings and engine shutdown at highway speed, with power steering stiffening right after.
- Some describe the car losing power and being unable to keep pace with traffic, requiring a restart to regain speed.
- Several note IMA (hybrid) battery failures triggering check engine and IMA warning lights, in one case with very low mileage.
- One owner reports the driver's side sun visor fracturing and dropping, blocking view of the road.
- One owner describes the hybrid battery assist failing to engage when the charge is below half, reducing acceleration when merging into traffic.
- One owner reports slow tire pressure loss traced to rim corrosion rather than a puncture.
2010 Honda Civic Hybrid recalls
6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V502000Jun 27, 2019Airbags9,555 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
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.
Remedy: 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.
- NHTSA 19V378000May 16, 2019Airbags19,138 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
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.
Remedy: 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.
- NHTSA 18V661000Sep 27, 2018Airbags1,355,406 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
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.
Remedy: 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.
2010 Honda Civic Hybrid fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 40 MPG
- Highway
- 45 MPG
- Combined
- 42 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $1,550
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2010 compared with other Civic Hybrid years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid reliable?
- Compared to other Civic Hybrid model years, 2010 ranks well. It has a complaint index of 36 and a Good verdict, ranking 8th worst out of 12 years tracked, with 12 total complaints on file.
- What are the most common problems with the 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid?
- Electrical System issues account for 67% of complaints, followed by Engine problems at 25%. Airbags, visibility/wipers, brakes, fuel system, steering, and suspension each account for smaller shares.
- Does the 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this year, all related to airbags, primarily passenger frontal air bag inflator replacement tied to the Takata inflator recalls.
- How does the 2010 model compare to other Civic Hybrid years?
- 2010 has a lower complaint index (36) than 2005 through 2009, which range from 55 to 100 and carry Avoid or Caution verdicts. Later years like 2013 and 2015 score even lower, at 18 and 9.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid?
- EPA rates it at 42 mpg combined (40 city / 45 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,550.