Service Bulletin - Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Driver's Airbag Inflator for 2007-11 CR-V and Other Listed Years and Models.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2011 Honda CR-Z airbags problems
severe 15 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
3crashes
4injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 15 airbags complaints filed for the 2011 Honda CR-Z, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 4 model years of Honda CR-Z we track for airbags problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 15.
Airbags accounts for 39% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 5 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement driver's airbag inflator only.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement driver's airbag inflator only.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗DEALER MESSAGE - CERTAIN VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THE DRIVER'S AIRBG INFLATOR SAFETY RECALL ARE UNDER STOP SALE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗DEALER MESSAGE - OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE IS AVAILABLE FOR THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG INFLATORS SAFETY RECALL OF APPROXIMATELY 1.7 MILLION AFFECTED VEHICLES.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2011 CR-Z has documented airbag failures during collisions. One owner hit another vehicle at 40-45 mph in a frontal collision; the airbag did not deploy until the car came to a complete stop, allowing his head to strike the driver-side window. A second owner was involved in two separate collisions (July 2017 and September 2017)—one a power surge over a curb and another struck by a semi-trailer on the driver's side—and reported the airbag failed to deploy in both incidents despite direct impact.
A third complaint involved poor seatbelt pretensioning during a frontal collision. The seatbelt locked but did not pull the driver back and hold him snug to the seat; instead, it held him midway from the seat back to the steering wheel. When the airbag deployed at full force in this position, the center of the bag impacted the driver's sternum directly.
Starting in March 2016, Honda issued Takata airbag recall notices (NHTSA Campaign 16V061000) for inflator replacement. Owners reported extreme delays: multiple missed ETAs (late May, June, summer 2016), parts unavailable after four months, and one owner waiting over eight months with no appointment. Several owners remained in rental vehicles for months unable to drive their cars. Dealer and Honda communication was poor; one owner discovered the recall by chance during a routine oil change four months after purchase and recall issuance.
Failure modes owners describe
Airbag deployment failure in frontal collisions
Driver reported airbag did not deploy until vehicle was fully stopped after high-speed frontal impact at 40-45 mph, resulting in head strike on driver-side window. Second complaint involved two separate driver-side collisions (July and September 2017) where airbags failed to deploy in both incidents despite direct impact.
When: At time of collision; complaint #1 occurred at 17:17; complaint #3 incidents July 2017 and September 13, 2017
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag did not deploy during frontal collision; Airbag deployed after vehicle stopped rather than at impact; Driver struck head on window due to late deployment; No airbag deployment in two separate driver-side collisions with direct impact
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Takata airbag recall (NHTSA Campaign 16V061000) issued; complaint #3 mentions recall completion question
Improper airbag deployment and seatbelt pretensioning failure
During frontal collision, seatbelt did not pretension properly (did not pull driver back and hold snug to seat). Airbag deployed at full force while seatbelt held driver midway between seat back and steering wheel, causing airbag center to impact driver's sternum directly rather than after full deployment.
When: During frontal collision event
Symptoms owners cite: Seatbelt locked but did not pretension properly; Seatbelt held driver in midway position from seat back to steering wheel; Airbag impacted chest/sternum at full force instead of after proper deployment; Driver injury from improper airbag contact
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Takata recall (NHTSA Campaign 16V061000)
Takata recall parts shortage and excessive repair delays
Widespread owner complaints of extreme delays in obtaining Takata airbag inflator replacement parts for recall NHTSA Campaign 16V061000. Multiple owners reported waiting 4+ months with no parts arrival, multiple missed ETAs (May, June, summer 2016), and dealers unable to provide specific timelines. Several owners in rental vehicles for extended periods unable to drive their own cars.
When: Recall notices received March-June 2016; delays extended into August-September 2016 and beyond
Symptoms owners cite: Parts ordered but not available for months; Multiple ETA delays from dealers; Dealers unable to provide specific repair timelines; Vehicle stranded and undrivable pending recall repair; Owner unable to determine when repair would occur
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 16V061000 (AIR BAGS)
Repairs/costs cited: Airbag inflator replacement; owners reported being in rental vehicles for 4+ months waiting for parts
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Takata recall NHTSA Campaign 16V061000; manufacturer exceeded reasonable repair timeline; Honda corporate and dealers provided poor communication and no compensation; one dealer (Walser Honda) refused repair citing salvage title and prior deployment
Poor recall communication and notification failures
Multiple owners did not receive recall notices from Honda or dealers. One owner purchased vehicle mid-January 2016, recall issued early February 2016, but was never notified by dealer (Fletcher Jones) or Honda until discovering it by chance in June 2016 during routine oil change. Another owner stated recall letter received but dealer communication was inadequate regarding parts availability.
When: Recall notification window March-June 2016
Symptoms owners cite: No notification from Honda after recall issuance; No notification from dealer despite vehicle in their system; Owner discovered recall by chance during unrelated service visit; Lack of proactive communication from dealer regarding part delays
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 16V061000
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Takata recall 16V061000; inadequate notification and communication from Honda and dealerships
Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 9 most recent
Takata recall. The letter from Honda came early in the year. It said contact the dealer. Dealers say there is nothing they can do. Need a replacement car until they can fix my car. Call dealers many times.
Takata recall taking way too long ! I do highway driving 100 miles a day & need it fixed now or arrange a loner free of charge asap! I hear a squeeking noise coning from the front of the vehicle at the speed limit of 65 - 70 MPH ! *tr
Takata recall - received notice from Honda in march 2016. When I tried to set appointment told late summer. It is now 8 months and still no appointment. The odds of my having a major accident with the airbag gets greater each day goes by. This could make for one bad law suit!!!!! Need your help on this matter now. Enough said . Thank you r. Kennedy
****revision to previous complaint**** I was recently involved in a frontal collision in this vehicle. I am fine, however, the seat belt did not hold me to the seat properly. As the impact happened the seat belt locked and held me midway, from the back of the seat to the steering wheel, and did not 'pretension' me properly (pull me back and hold me sung to the seat. Because of this, while the…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Honda cr-z. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v061000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool…
Takata recall, I was involved in two driver side collisions, the first happened july the second september 13th this year. My airbags did not deploy in either instances both direct impact with driver's side. The first incident my car had a power surge forward over a curb into my property demage to the car and house the airbags did not deploy. Police asked if my airbags deployed I was…
Takata recall I received a letter from Honda regarding this recall in march of 2016. I consider myself a reasonable man but its been more than 5 months and still no parts available. The letter states the parts will be available in the summer of 2016. My dealer has been less than helpful. Honda corporate has been even less helpful. I am making payments and paying insurance on a vehicle I can't…
Takata recall, I have called in march to moses Honda in huntington wv and told no parts available. Called again in may no parts available. Talked with tucker. Now its september and being given run around. Can you help frank
Takata recall have been waiting for my airbag inflator to come in since march 2nd. I have been in a rental for over four months. I have called gillman Honda san antonio monthly for an update on it eta. It was first late may/early june, then it was late june, then it was summer, then it was "we don't know". The inflator has been ordered, but has yet to arrive after four months. I received the…
Had airbags trouble with your 2011 Honda CR-Z?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2011 Honda CR-Z?
It's a meaningful issue. 15 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Based on the 15 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 33,753 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Honda/CR-Z.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.