2011 Honda Civic Reliability Report

NHTSA data as of Sep 17, 2026Published Oct 15, 2026

Excellent

Ranks 8th of 25 Civic years we score.

Owner complaints: 171; 28 are recall notices
Per 10,000 cars: 10.5; 136,737 made for the U.S.
Vs the average car: 0.29×; same age, 1× is average
Serious outcomes: 51; crash, fire, injury, stall or tow
Recalls: 9
NHTSA crash rating: 3★; overall, out of 5

← 2010 Civic 2012 Civic →

Should You Buy the 2011 Honda Civic?

Yes. Our reliability score for the 2011 Honda Civic is 82 out of 100, which rates Excellent. Owners reported about a third as many problems as for the average car of the same age. It ranks 8th of the 25 Civic years we score.

The most reported problem is the brakes, mostly early wear (31 of 171 complaints). Owners also complain about the sun visors and airbags. 51 of the 171 complaints describe a serious outcome, such as a crash, a fire, an injury or stalling while driving.

It has 9 recalls. Honda also offers 3 warranty extensions that may still apply, for hood and front fender paint cracking and paint cracking, chalking or clouding. NHTSA rates it 3 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. For comparison, the 2010 scores 82.

Before you buy, check that the recalls were done, ask a Honda dealer about warranty extension 12-049 and get an independent inspection. The full checklist is at the end of this page.

Pros

Excellent reliability score of 82
About a third of the problems of the average car its age
Recent complaints at or below average
No do-not-drive or park-outside recalls

Cons

Brakes: early wear31 complaints
Sun visor: parts breaking or coming apart24 complaints
Airbags: no deployment in a crash10 complaints

How the 2011 Civic Earned Its Score

Every model year starts at 100. Each part takes points away when this year has more problems than the average car of the same age. How we score

Score breakdown
Item	Vs average	Points lost
Starting score		100
Serious problems	0.27×	−4
Everyday problems	0.32×	−2
Problems in the last two years	0.33×	−4
Recalls	1.7×	−8
Score		82

What Owners Report

We read all 171 complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2011 Honda Civic, one by one, and grouped them by the problem they describe. The most reported problems come first.

Brakes: early wear
31 complaints (18%)
Early wear, loss of braking and unusual noises. 10 of these 31 complaints describe a serious outcome, most often loss of braking. In 8 complaints, the dealer could not find or fix the problem, and in 8 it came back after a repair. Median mileage when it started: about 18,000 miles.
Sun visor: parts breaking or coming apart
24 complaints (14%)
Parts breaking or coming apart, a failure and not closing or latching. In 8 complaints, the problem came back after a repair. Median mileage when it started: about 46,000 miles.
Airbags: no deployment in a crash
10 complaints (6%)
No deployment in a crash, deployment with no crash and exploded instead of deploying. 1 of these 10 complaints describes a serious outcome: an airbag problem. Median mileage when it started: about 65,000 miles.
Unintended acceleration (cause not stated)
10 complaints (6%)
Sudden acceleration and surging. 4 of these 10 complaints describe a serious outcome, most often sudden acceleration or braking. In 4 complaints, the dealer could not find or fix the problem. Median mileage when it started: about 20,000 miles.
Frontal airbags: no deployment in a crash
9 complaints (5%)
No deployment in a crash, deployment with no crash and deployed late. 4 of these 9 complaints describe a serious outcome, most often an airbag problem. Median mileage when it started: about 95,000 miles.
Seat belts: stopped working
8 complaints (5%)
A feature that stopped working, the system not working when needed and parts breaking or coming apart. 1 of these 8 complaints describes a serious outcome: a crash. Median mileage when it started: about 72,000 miles.
Paint and rust: damage
6 complaints (4%)
Damage, paint fading and paint oxidation.
Stall (cause not stated)
5 complaints (3%)
Stalling. 4 of these 5 complaints describe a serious outcome, most often stalling or losing power while driving. In 3 complaints, the dealer could not find or fix the problem. Median mileage when it started: about 19,000 miles.
Airbag warning light
4 complaints (2%)
Warning lights.
Headlights: dim output
4 complaints (2%)
Dim output, problems that come and go and a feature that stopped working. Median mileage when it started: about 40,000 miles.
Side or curtain airbags: no deployment in a crash
4 complaints (2%)
No deployment in a crash, deployed but did not inflate and deployment with no crash. 2 of these 4 complaints describe a serious outcome, most often a crash. Median mileage when it started: about 103,000 miles.
Tires: early wear
4 complaints (2%)
Early wear, parts breaking or coming apart and vibration or shudder. 1 of these 4 complaints describes a serious outcome. Median mileage when it started: about 14,000 miles.
Transmission failure
4 complaints (2%)
A failure, slipping and would not shift into next gear. 1 of these 4 complaints describes a serious outcome: stalling or losing power while driving. Median mileage when it started: about 19,000 miles.
Uneven tire wear: early wear
3 complaints (2%)
Early wear and pulling or wandering. 1 of these 3 complaints describes a serious outcome: loss of steering control. Median mileage when it started: about 35,000 miles.
Instrument cluster: stopped working
3 complaints (2%)
A feature that stopped working, problems that come and go and a failure.

Show 16 more problems

Struts or shocks failure
3 complaints (2%)
A failure that needed a new part, unusual noises and early wear.
A/C compressor: weak cooling
2 complaints (1%)
Weak cooling and a feature that stopped working.
A/C condenser: damage
2 complaints (1%)
Damage.
Engine: rough running or misfires
2 complaints (1%)
Rough running or misfires and smoke or a burning smell.
Fuel economy: high fuel use
2 complaints (1%)
High fuel use.
Fuel system: a bad smell
2 complaints (1%)
A bad smell and a fire. 1 of these 2 complaints describes a serious outcome: a crash.
Passenger airbag sensor: warning lights
2 complaints (1%)
Warning lights.
Parking brake: unusual noises
2 complaints (1%)
Unusual noises and damage. 1 of these 2 complaints describes a serious outcome: loss of braking.
Poor acceleration (cause not stated)
2 complaints (1%)
Hesitation and problems that come and go.
Steering: smoke or a burning smell
2 complaints (1%)
Smoke or a burning smell and problems that come and go.
Unexplained crash (cause not stated)
2 complaints (1%)
1 of these 2 complaints describes a serious outcome: a crash.
Vibration (cause not stated)
2 complaints (1%)
Vibration or shudder.
Wheel bearings failure
2 complaints (1%)
A failure that needed a new part and early wear.
Windows or locks or sunroof (operate by themselves): the system acting on its own
2 complaints (1%)
The system acting on its own.
Windshield: snow not cleared at windshield side
2 complaints (1%)
Snow not cleared at windshield side and shattering or cracking.
Windshield wipers: works on and off
2 complaints (1%)
Problems that come and go and a failure.

Reported Once (26)

Show the 26 problems reported once

12V battery: overheating
A/C: a fire
EVAP system: fault code
Cabin odor or mold: mold growth
Door latches: not opening or unlocking
CV axles: parts breaking or coming apart
Engine failure
Engine mounts: vibration or shudder
Engine sensors or computer: surging
Exterior trim: damage
Hybrid battery failure
Hybrid system (inverter, motor, IPU): a loss of power
Screen and audio: unusual noises
Loss of power (cause not stated)
Noise (cause not stated)
A/C compressor relay: sticking or stiffness
Acceleration issue (not described) (cause not stated)
Bearings failure
Front doors: swing back and hit occupant
Rear passenger door: unusual noises
Rear suspension: bottoms out
Trunk lid support bar: parts breaking or coming apart
Door lock actuators: stopped working
Seats: the system acting on its own
Tire pressure monitoring failure
Wiring, fuses or body control module: smoke or a burning smell

How the 2011 Honda Civic Compares With Other Years

The other Civic years of the 8th generation, 2006 to 2011, and the years just before and after it. When two scores are less than 3.5 points apart, treat them as about the same.

Year	Rating	Score	Vs average	Per 10k cars	Recalls	Most reported problem
2012	Excellent	84	0.27×	9.7	4	Steering: loss of steering control
2011 This year	Excellent	82	0.29×	10.5	9	Brakes: early wear
2010	Excellent	82	0.30×	13.7	8	Brakes: early wear
2009	Excellent	83	0.32×	13.3	8	Brakes: early wear
2008	Good	73	0.61×	24.7	7	Interior trim: parts breaking or coming apart
2007	Good	72	0.82×	35.0	10	Uneven tire wear: early wear
2006	Caution	68	1.1×	41.1	15	Engine failure: shattering or cracking
2005	Good	78	0.37×	11.5	10	Airbag warning light

See every Civic year

2011 Honda Civic Recalls

A recall can cover some or all cars of this model year. Look up a specific car by its VIN at NHTSA to see which recalls are still open on it.

Air bags: inflator module
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
NHTSA 19V502000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Jun 27, 2019. By the fourth quarter of 2020, 36% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Air bags: inflator module
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.
NHTSA 19V378000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued May 16, 2019. By the fourth quarter of 2020, 49% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Air bags: inflator module
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
NHTSA 18V661000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Sep 27, 2018. By the first quarter of 2020, 78% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Air bags: inflator module
An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
NHTSA 18V268000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Apr 26, 2018. By the third quarter of 2019, 85% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Air bags: inflator module
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
NHTSA 18V042000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Jan 9, 2018. By the second quarter of 2019, 72% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Air bags: inflator module
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.
NHTSA 17V545000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Aug 31, 2017. By the first quarter of 2019, 94% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.

Show 3 more recalls

Air bags: inflator module
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
NHTSA 17V030000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Jan 10, 2017. By the second quarter of 2018, 70% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Air bags: inflator module
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
NHTSA 16V346000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued May 24, 2016. By the first quarter of 2018, 64% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel pump
Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
NHTSA 11V176000 Owner letter (PDF)Issued Mar 15, 2011.

Honda Warranty Extensions and Programs

Repairs Honda agreed to cover or update outside a recall. Whether one applies depends on the VIN and the conditions listed. A Honda dealer can confirm.

Warranty extensionHonda 12-049
Hood and front fender paint cracking
The problem:
The factory paint on the hood and the front edge of the fenders can crack.
The fix:
A Honda dealer repairs the cracked paint for free.
Who qualifies:
The cracking must come from the factory paint process, not bird droppings or tree sap. Cars repainted after a crash or other repair are not covered. Coverage passes to later owners. Salvage or branded titles are not covered.
Coverage:
7 years from the original purchase date, with no mileage limit.
Honda's bulletin (PDF)
Warranty extensionHonda 14-034
Paint cracking, chalking or clouding
The problem:
The factory paint can crack or look chalky or cloudy on the hood and front fender edges. The roof, trunk and doors can look chalky or cloudy.
The fix:
A Honda dealer repairs the affected painted panels for free.
Who qualifies:
A Honda dealer inspection must find cracked, chalky or cloudy factory paint. Honda must approve each paint repair first. Rock chips, scratches, sap and bird droppings are not covered. Salvage or branded titles are not covered.
Coverage:
7 years from the original purchase date, with no mileage limit.
Honda's bulletin (PDF)
Warranty extensionHonda 15-006
Hybrid (IMA) battery
The problem:
The hybrid battery can wear out too early and hold less charge.
The fix:
A Honda dealer replaces the hybrid battery modules for free.
Who qualifies:
A Honda dealer must find a hybrid battery problem. The junction board is not covered. Cars that already had 10 years or 150,000 miles of battery coverage get nothing extra. The VIN must show as eligible.
Coverage:
10 years or 150,000 miles from the original purchase date, whichever comes first.
Honda's bulletin (PDF)
Customer support programHonda 18-052, 18-055, 19-003 and 20-016
Front passenger's airbag inflator
4 programs with the same terms. Which one applies depends on the VIN.
The problem:
The front passenger's airbag inflator can be faulty, and the airbag warning light comes on.
The fix:
A Honda dealer replaces the front passenger's airbag inflator for free.
Who qualifies:
The airbag warning light must be on. A Honda dealer test must show the inflator is faulty. Only replacement inflators that fail later are covered. Open inflator recalls must be done first. Salvage or branded titles are not covered.
Coverage:
18-052: Covered until January 31, 2027.
18-055: Covered until January 31, 2028.
19-003: Covered until September 30, 2028.
20-016: Covered until January 31, 2030.
Bulletin 18-052 (PDF)Bulletin 18-055 (PDF)Bulletin 19-003 (PDF)Bulletin 20-016 (PDF)
Customer support programHonda 18-066Ended
Front passenger's airbag inflator
The problem:
The front passenger's airbag inflator can be faulty, and the airbag warning light comes on.
The fix:
While the program ran, a Honda dealer replaced the front passenger's airbag inflator for free.
Who qualifies:
The airbag warning light had to be on. A Honda dealer test had to show the inflator was faulty. Only replacement inflators that failed later were covered. Salvage or branded titles were not covered.
Coverage:
The program ended on June 30, 2026.
Honda's bulletin (PDF)

NHTSA Investigations

Defect investigations by NHTSA that cover this model year, with what they found.

Pedestrian alert sounds on hybrid and electric vehicles
Closed
A petition asked NHTSA to apply its pedestrian alert sound rule to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. NHTSA opened a defect petition in January 2023. It lists Honda hybrids and electric cars, including Accord, Civic and CR-V hybrids. The petitioner withdrew in June 2023. NHTSA closed the case in August 2023 without a finding.
NHTSA DP22005 Opening report (PDF)Closing report (PDF)Jan 27, 2023 to Aug 7, 2023

NHTSA Crash Test Ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for this model year. See the 2011 Civic ratings on NHTSA.gov.

4-door FWD, CNG 4-door FWD and Hybrid (IMA) 4-door FWD

Overall3/5

Frontal crash4/5

Side crash2/5

Rollover4/5

2-door FWD

OverallNot rated

Frontal crashNot rated

Side crashNot rated

Rollover4/5

Check Before You Buy

A checklist for the 2011 Civic, from its recalls, Honda's programs and the problems owners report most.

Confirm the Recalls Were Done

Ask the seller for proof that each of these recalls was repaired.

Air bags: inflator module NHTSA 19V502000
Air bags: inflator module NHTSA 19V378000
Air bags: inflator module NHTSA 18V661000
Air bags: inflator module NHTSA 18V268000
Air bags: inflator module NHTSA 18V042000
Look up the VIN at NHTSA to see all 9 recalls and which are still open.

Ask a Honda Dealer

Ask whether each of these warranty extensions applies to this VIN, and whether the work was done.

12-049: hood and front fender paint cracking
14-034: paint cracking, chalking or clouding
15-006: hybrid (IMA) battery

On the Test Drive

Brake firmly from a moderate speed. A soft, hard or pulsing pedal, or a brake warning light, is a warning sign.
Confirm every airbag recall on this VIN has been repaired before you buy.

Ask the Seller

Ask whether any of these were ever repaired, and ask to see the receipts.

Brakes
Sun visors
Airbags
Also ask for the service records, especially oil changes.

Before You Pay

Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you choose.
Decode the VIN to confirm the model year, engine and trim.
Check the title for salvage, flood or rebuilt branding.

What to do next

All Civic Years →Best years and years to avoid, side by side.Compare With Other Years →Put up to four model years side by side.Find Warranty Extensions →Repairs Honda may still cover for this year.Decode a VIN →Confirm the exact year, engine and trim of a car.