2010 Honda Civic problems
The 2010 Honda Civic has 396 NHTSA owner complaints and no active recalls. Here's where owners say it breaks.
The 2010 Honda Civic has 396 NHTSA owner complaints on file (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). The most-reported system is airbags at 89 complaints, typically surfacing around 75,691 miles (~$1,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 Civic | 1,203 | 3 |
| 2008 Civic | 916 | 0 |
| 2009 Civic | 395 | 1 |
| 2010 Civic (this page) | 396 | 0 |
| 2011 Civic | 168 | 1 |
| 2012 Civic | 454 | 3 |
| 2013 Civic | 315 | 0 |
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
- Brakes: 81 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 15,000–30,000 mi
- Reliability score 7.2/10 — around the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Buying a used 2010 Honda Civic? Check these first
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
What to inspect on this specific car
- airbags — 89 owner reports · tends to show around 75,691 mi · ~$1,100 to fix
- brakes — 81 owner reports · tends to show around 27,297 mi · ~$450 to fix
- visibility — 49 owner reports · tends to show around 41,444 mi · ~$350 to fix
- body — 37 owner reports · tends to show around 81,829 mi · ~$1,500 to fix
⚠ The one to take seriously: airbags is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 75,691 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Recalls to confirm are done
Run the VIN from the listing — no active recalls on this model right now, but confirm none were opened after this car was built.
Verdict for buyers: 7.2/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →Ask anything about your 2010 Honda Civic
A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints
Your road ahead on this 2010 Honda Civic
When owners report each system failing, in actual miles — so you can see what's likely behind you, what's due around now, and what to budget for next. Enter your mileage to mark where you are.
- ~18,800 mibrakes~$450
- ~39,000 mivisibility~$350
- ~42,000 misteering~$700
- ~50,000 mielectrical~$850
- ~56,716 micruise control~$600
- ~65,000 miengine~$3,100
- ~75,000 miairbags~$1,100
- ~90,000 mibody~$1,500
"Typical" = median owner-reported failure mileage from the NHTSA complaint record for this exact year and model. Not a maintenance schedule — a heads-up on where this model's failures cluster.
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
When rains, water leaks into interior. Both back seats get wet & in a truck gets puddles of water. The wiring gets wet, which is dangerous because of safety issues. Please, let me know how to fix it. We have this issue since 2013, the car was purchased. The car was certified…
I received a letter from Honda in july 2016, stating that my passenger airbags were being recalled and the parts would be ready in late summer/early fall 2016. The letter stated that I should not allow anyone to sit in my passenger seat until the airbags were replaced as…
Today, my 2010 Honda civic needed new front brakes at relatively low mileage - 26000 miles. At first I was shocked. Now, I am deeply disturbed because today, I learned of a class action suit filed in the eastern district of california regarding brake issues in 2008, 2009 and…
On or about december 21, 2017 and on december 25, 2017 (at approximately 5:20 pm eastern time), the engine of my 2010 Honda fit accelerated rapidly for no apparent reason while I was driving on a city or suburban street. On both occasions, I was driving at 20-25 miles per hour.…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2010 Honda Civic reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.2 out of 10 based on 396 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2010 Honda Civic is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2010 Honda Civic?
The 2010 Honda Civic is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Brakes: 81 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 15,000–30,000 mi; Reliability score 7.2/10 — around the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What should I check before buying a used 2010 Honda Civic?
Inspect the airbags first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 89 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 75,691 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
Is the 2010 Honda Civic a good used car to buy?
It scores 7.2 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 396 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is airbags. Typical failure occurs around 75,691 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
What's the most common problem on the 2010 Honda Civic?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 89 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 75,691 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The steering is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 49,874 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Honda Civic has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2010 Honda Civic?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 396 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $700, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.