2013 Honda Civic

Above average

Owners filed 319 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags. No safety recall has been issued.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
24,000 milesMedian miles at failure

193 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 010,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags114
19124
Service Brakes26
100
Electrical System21
000
Structure › Body19
302
Steering19
100
Seats14
003
Engine14
000
Vehicle Speed Control13
303
Unknown or Other13
000
Fuel/Propulsion System12
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air Bags
Filed Aug 31, 2026OH

Airbag warning

Unknown or Other
Filed Aug 29, 2026AL

My Honda Civic is experiencing multiple serious system warnings, including Check VSA System, Check Power Steering System, Check Brake System, and Check ABS System. This appears to be a recurring issue reported by Honda Civic owners in different places, and I believe Honda needs to investigate the problem and take responsibility for properly addressing it because these systems directly affect vehicle safety and driver control.

Air Bags
Filed Aug 24, 2026192,600 milesMA

The contact owns a 2013 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the air bag warning light remained illuminated. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was 192,600.

Air Bags
Filed Aug 10, 2026OH

Receiving an error message to check my air bag system. Did show - which shows two error codes B0001-13 and B0002-13. Both of which are related to the driver’s side air bag. Spoke to the local Honda dealership which advised me the this issue isn’t covered under a recall or extended warranty - BUT the same issue is covered for passenger side air bags. This MAKES no sense when it is a KNOWN issue - for Honda to not fix both sides of the air bags. My Honda Civic has around 36,000 miles on it.

Air Bags
Filed Jul 14, 2026NJ

Air Bag light is on. Dealer said it it probably just a faulty relay switch and turned it off. It came back on. I'm listing the date as today, but this has been going on for over 5 years, no incident, but why is light on? I do not trust the airbag system.

Service Brakes
Filed Jun 23, 2026MO

The ABS misfired and locked my brakes without warning during normal driving. This was without pumping the brakes or any engagement of the brake system.

Air Bags
Filed Jun 22, 202692,000 milesMI

The contact owns a 2013 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the driver’s side air bag warning light remained illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the air bag inflater needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 92,000.

Electrical System
Filed Apr 22, 2026CA

Car inverter failure, 2013 civic hybrid inverter recall for said year but refuse to include in recall lemon

Air Bags
Filed Mar 19, 2026NC

I bought a 2013 Honda Civic used off the first and only owner, got it at about 98,000 miles. A month later the check airbag system light came on. Brought it to the mechanic down the road from me and it threw a B0001-13 code - driver side airbags faulty. I ran my VIN and it looks like there are no recalls, although there is an investigation into airbag deflators for cars from this year. Really frustrated as I paid a lot of money of this car and was hoping to move to Arizona with it. Now I'm scared to take it down the block.

Air BagsCrash5 injured
Filed Feb 16, 2026TX

A drunk driver hit my car along with six others, and my car spun into the highway wall and totaled the car with an impact probably 40 or 50 mph and airbags did not go off

Service Brakes
Filed Jan 28, 2026SC

I am writing to express my frustration and disappointment regarding the ongoing VSA/ABS module failure in my 2013 Honda Civic Si. This issue, common among Honda vehicles from 2013–2017, has caused significant stress, both financially and emotionally. The ABS module in my vehicle has malfunctioned, affecting the vehicle’s anti-lock braking and stability assist systems. This is a serious safety concern, as the failure could impair the car’s ability to brake effectively, especially in adverse driving conditions. The failure of this critical component puts my safety, and the safety of others, at risk.I took my car to two separate service centers, a certified Honda dealer and a Honda tuner shop, both of which confirmed the ABS module failure. They quoted over $2,200 for installation and reprogramming of a new module, which itself costs approximately $1,800. The car has had recurring ABS and VSA warning lights for several weeks prior to the issue becoming critical, and I was not informed by Honda about any recalls or known issues with the module. But this is common. As a loyal Honda customer, I am extremely disappointed that I have to shoulder the cost of what seems to be a widespread design flaw. I am requesting that Honda take responsibility for this issue and assist in covering the repair costs, as this is not an isolated problem but a defect in vehicles from this generation.

Air Bags
Filed Dec 22, 202547,412 milesWI

The contact owns a 2013 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the driver’s side inflator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 47,412.

Electrical System › Instrument Panel › Speedometer/Odometer
Filed Dec 19, 2025224,000 milesTN

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2013 Honda Civic. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 113,000. The contact paid for the vehicle in full, and when the Title arrived, it was later discovered that the mileage on the Title was 224,000. The contact reached out to the dealer. However, the dealer had not responded.

Air Bags
Filed Dec 6, 2025MI

The light for the air bag came on. I have not been in an accident. But this is the car of my 16 year old daughter. I did some research it looks like once the light come on the air bags may not deploy if in an accident. It is a sensor problem. Thank goodness she has not been in an accident but this is definitely a concern.

Service Brakes
Filed Nov 25, 2025VA

I was driving 35 MPH toward a busy intersection when I lost my brakes and power. A service message “IMA CHECK SYSTEMS” light lit up on the dash. I lost brakes and power while entering an intersection putting myself and other drivers in danger of an accident narrowly missing a container truck. The car shut off with my front end in the intersection. I was able to restart the car and drive it to the nearest garage. They connected the code machine to the vehicle showing “P1437.” I then had my car towed to the nearest Honda dealership. They told me my VIN was not listed under service bulletin 20-030 even though my car fit all of the parameters and showed the same code(s). After giving me a quote of $1900+ to fix the issue, they are claiming to have fixed the problem but I am questioning if the real issues were fixed and if I am responsible for any costs.

Wheels
Filed Nov 8, 2025MD

The lugnuts on the driver’s side front wheel must have become loose somehow. I was driving along and noticed a strange thumping sound. Before I could pull over the wheel became detached and was rolling away. I pulled off safely and called a tow truck. The tires were last rotated by Annapolis Honda 6 months prior to the date of the accident (11.4.25). The damage estimate – the front brakes and rotors need to be replaced. Also body damage to the front left quarter-panel and front bumper. Likely at least $4,000 in total costs. There were no warning lights, the vehicle was repaired at AAA car care center in Annapolis, MD and Caliber Collision in Edgewater, MD.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Sep 22, 2025GA

The hybrid motor DC to DC convert failed. When this fails it stops providing 12 V power to the rest of the vehicle resulting in multiple systems stopping or working very slowly. This vehicle does not have a traditional alternator. There was a TSB and an extended warranty offered to some models, but not all included in the VIN range for this vehicle. The vehicle was scanned and pulls the same codes as the TSB notes as the issue.

Service Brakes, Air › Antilock › Abs Warning Light
Filed Sep 21, 2025MO

Several warning lights on the dashboard illuminated: powersteering warning, ABS system warning, VSA warning. We had to pay almost $300 for dealer diagnostics which advised our ABS VSA module must be replaced, reprogrammed and brake fluid bleed otherwise our ABS brake system would fail. There are hundreds of similar complaints on-line of Honda owners with the exact issue costing over $3000 to make the repair. It will cost us almost $2600 for the repair. This appears to be a defect in Honda's VSA Module circuitboard across several models (Accord, Civic).

Air BagsCrash2 injured
Filed May 27, 202570,000 milesNY

The contact owns a 2013 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH, the contact was rear-ended by another vehicle, which caused the contact to crash forward into another vehicle. The contact and their spouse were taken to a local emergency room to be evaluated. The contact and their spouse sustained multiple injuries, such as whiplash and back injuries. In addition, the contact's spouse sustained an arm injury. A Police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

Air Bags1 injured
Filed May 1, 2025CA

I stepped on brakes and airbags opened up on my steering wheels made me hit

20 of 319 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2006
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
202628000Routine
202570210Routine
2024122310Routine
2023254400Above average
2022881430Above average
2021143420Routine
2020224510Above average
2019428410Above average
2018739641Fatalities reported
2017592660Above average
20161,080540Above average
2015380120Above average
2014291240Above average
2013 — this page319010Above average
2012454350High concern
2011168950Routine
2010396852Fatalities reported
2009395861Fatalities reported
2008916760High concern
20071,2049910Fatalities reported
20061,40215213Fatalities reported
20053141593Fatalities reported
20043501561Fatalities reported
20034992451Fatalities reported
200270224144Fatalities reported
20011,07927156Fatalities reported
20002871850High concern
19993381551Fatalities reported
19984351831Fatalities reported
19973731620High concern
19963051741Fatalities reported
19951991225Fatalities reported
19941351400High concern
19931461340Routine
1992981330Routine
1991110851Fatalities reported
1990911032Fatalities reported

Compare every Civic year →

Reading this record

Complaint volume is well above typical for a single model year.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.