YearToAvoid

2016 Honda Civic Airbags Problems

NHTSA lists 28 airbag complaints for the 2016 Honda Civic, about 3% of its 1,080 total complaints. These complaints link to 13 crashes, 1 fire, and 12 injuries, with a median failure mileage of 30,628. A related recall (26V332000) covers seat weight sensors tied to airbag deployment.

Airbags complaints
28
3% of 1,080
Crashes reported
13
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
12
Median mileage
30,628 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical airbag symptoms owners report

  • Airbags fail to deploy during rear-end or front-impact collisions, even at highway speeds.
  • Drivers report a "check airbag system" warning appearing after a few minutes of driving.
  • Some owners describe airbags deploying unexpectedly from minor road impacts, such as hitting a water-covered bump, causing injury.
  • In multi-occupant crashes, only some airbags deploy, such as the passenger side firing while the driver side does not.
  • Owners involved in crashes report seat belts failing to restrain occupants at the same time airbags did not deploy.
  • One complaint describes brake failure occurring simultaneously with airbag non-deployment during a rear-end collision.

When 2016 Honda Civic airbag complaints were filed

First complaint Sep 23, 2016, latest Jul 13, 2026.

2016 Honda Civic airbags complaints: complaints filed per month2Sep 2016Jan 2017Dec 2017Apr 2019Jul 2020May 2021May 2023Jan 2026
28 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2016 to Jul 2026; peak Jan 2017 (2).

Airbags recalls for the 2016 Honda Civic

  1. NHTSA 26V332000May 21, 2026Airbags98,892 vehicles

    Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.

    Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.

Airbags complaints by Civic model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201096 (24%)
  2. 201151 (30%)
  3. 2012149 (33%)
  4. 2013114 (36%)
  5. 201457 (20%)
  6. 201558 (15%)
  7. 201628 (3%)
  8. 201724 (4%)
  9. 201823 (3%)
  10. 201911 (3%)
  11. 202029 (13%)
  12. 20219 (6%)
  13. 20229 (1%)
  14. 20238 (3%)
  15. 20242 (2%)
  16. 20253 (4%)

Frequently asked questions

How many airbag complaints does the 2016 Honda Civic have?
NHTSA lists 28 airbag-related complaints for the 2016 Honda Civic, about 3% of the 1,080 total complaints filed for that model year.
Are 2016 Honda Civic airbag problems linked to crashes or injuries?
Yes. The 28 airbag complaints are associated with 13 crashes, 1 fire, and 12 injuries, with a median failure mileage of 30,628.
Is there an airbag recall for the 2016 Honda Civic?
Yes, recall campaign 26V332000 covers airbag-related seat weight sensors; dealers will replace the sensors free of charge, with notification letters mailed July 7, 2026.
What do owners say happens with the airbags?
Owners most often report that airbags failed to deploy during collisions, including rear-end and front impacts, and some report a check airbag system warning message.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.