NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Honda Civic. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
car inverter failure, 2013 civic hybrid inverter recall for said year but refuse to include in recall lemon
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
I stepped on brakes and airbags opened up on my steering wheels made me hit
The contact owns a 2013 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle failed to respond. The check emission system and check transmission system warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to exceed 65 MPH, the vehicle was losing motive power, jerking, and was slow to respond. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who removed and replaced the speed sensor. The vehicle was then taken to another independent mechanic who sprayed the wires and thought it would repair the vehicle; however, the warning light illuminated again. The vehicle was taken to a dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,156.
I got a recall on car seat from amazon where i bought it an others
The ABS module is defective. I was told by the auto repair shop that he has been getting a lot of Honda vehicles that have defective ABS modules and that it should have a recall on this vehicle. This is dangerous for my vehicle to be on the road. The auto place is having a hard time finding a replacement part for my car. If this is happening to many other cars this should be a recall.
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.
The driver seatbelt, the portion that accepts the buckle when you "buckle up" has become sloppy over time with excessive free play. This part is free to wobble around. I feel this is a passenger safety risk. The restraint and crash systems in a car work together, and with excessive ship and play in the restraint system, it could experience unexpected forces leading to an interesting or improperly restrained driver. I have spoken to two dealership service departments and neither of them actually inspected the seatbelt, I was only told it would not be replaced under warranty. I told them it is a safety issue, but they do not budge. The seatbelt was inspected by my mechanic who said the part would need replaced, saying there is excessive slop and play in the restraint system. No warning lamps or codes, airbags have never deployed, clean title. Going back to Honda dealer tomorrow to have them actually inspect the restaurant system and put in writing that they aren't willing to replace or repair it, when I went yesterday, neither of the two dealership service departments even visually inspected my seatbelt.
Recently purchased vehicle. When test driving airbag light did not light. Now airbag light goes on intermittently indicating fault in srs airbag protection system. Multiple owners of this vehicle have reported this problem on this make and model on internet.
Intelligent inverter unit need replace, there was a recall on Honda Civics with this problem. "But our civic was not on the recall list, which it should have been no reason was given why it was not, it fit all the recall criteria but was not recalled. Could have broken down on the highway in an unsafe area. Sterling Honda inspected the unit and said it needed to be replaced, which we did at a cost of $2500. Would like to know why it was not recalled. It fit all the recall criteras.
The airbag light comes on sporadically - almost all of the time when it's cold, and then on/off when it is warmer. Throws the code B0001-13 - Open or Increased Resistance in Driver's Airbag Inflator. Brought it to the dealership and they told me that I needed to get the whole driver's side airbag replaced (to the tune of $1300 dollars). With the plethora of recalls surrounding 2000s to 2010s Civics, I have a hard time believing this shouldn't be covered under some sort of recall, especially with the amount of other people online who have experienced the same issue.
Airbag system warning appeared in front of the dashboard without any accident or fault. We need the specific concerned government or entity for recall action of Honda company with this for safety purposed before its too late.
Purchased November 2023 not even 1 week warning lamps, messages / adaptive cruise control, road departure mitigation, brake systems, failure lights alarming at the same time. Took to dealer cleared sensors. A matter of days alarms going off again. Call dealer they want to keep vehicle for diagnostic. When they did diagnostic it was another problem. They repair guy also mentioned not to apply E-brake. He said their is a possibility that it may completely lock. I will be taking vehicle to another dealership for 2nd opinion.
Wheel bearing
The contact owns a 2013 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure occurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed front driver's side air bag clock spring and inflator. The contact was informed that the front driver's side air bag clock spring and inflator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 99,000.
Evap system light also comes on at lower temperatures, and sporadically at warmer temperatures. It used to happen only once every couple of weeks, but now it comes on (and eventually turns off again) every day. Throws the codes P0497 - Evaporative Emission System Low Purge Flow and P145C - Fuel Tank Pressure Sensor Range/Performance Problem. I've had my purge flow valve replaced, and not even two months later both errors have come back. My mechanic has looked at the car and cannot figure out what's going on, but lots of people online are having the same issue, which makes me think it's not just me.
Amid sliding briefly on ice, the driver side front and rear curtain airbags of my 2013 Honda Civic deployed. No collision or impact occurred to trigger this and, correspondingly, no external damage to the vehicle was sustained. Post-airbag deployment, despite the unexpected bodily impact, sudden jolt, and visual obstruction caused by the airbags, I was able to maintain control of the vehicle and maneuver to a nearby parking lot. Upon visual inspection of the vehicle, I confirmed no evidence of collision. The following day, Honda ran full diagnostics on the vehicle. The dealership indicated tests would reveal certain codes triggered w/ airbag deployment (what caused them to deploy). Inspection results, however, revealed no codes found in the proprietary computer, nor other detectable evidence of any cause. I asked whether a defect was possible and was told this could neither be confirmed nor ruled out. Per the dealer's explanation, only the presence of improper codes could reveal this with absolute certainty. In essence, the only explanation I received was that no explanation could be found. Honda denied my request to put these details in writing. I was given only a vague summary of the damage and a list of costs required for repair, totaling to over $10,000 (invoice attached). Geico said damages caused by airbag deployment are not covered by any policy unless a collision is reported. If deployment occurs w/o collision but other valid causal factor(s) are detected by inspection, damages may be covered under collision; However, if no cause is determined and no collision has occurred, damages are not covered. I am now left with a vehicle that is extremely unsafe to drive, over $10,000 worth of damage that neither insurance nor manufacturer will cover, and a left-side rib injury obtained by airbag impact, w/ associated ER costs. Although I obtained only minor physical injuries from this incident, myself and/or others could have been seriously injured or killed.
Passenger side curtain airbag deployed on its own as car slowed down approaching a stop sign. No accident occurred. Vehicle inspected by Honda dealership also reported no sign of accident occurring
Vehicle received large amounts of front end damage at approximately 45 mph and totalled with no air bag deployment
Wiper blade broke in an explosive fashion upon activating throwing plastic and metal components onto the drive way. Since this was in the drive way the components did not cause any harm to any other property but if this was the high way it is likely the components may have caused damage to other vehicles or motorcyclists. Wiper blade was purchased new 3 weeks prior to incident on 10-03-2023 and failed on 10-26-2023, in this time frame the vehicle had not been used frequently as it was having multiple parts repaired so the part should not have much wear and tear. The wiper blade is saved and available to test, it broke into 7 separate pieces in an explosive fashion including 2 metal wires, blade backing broke into 2 pieces, component that holds blade to mechanism broke to two pieces and a single rubber blade. Mechanism that holds blade in place was left in a jagged state. Concern was that if blade was allowed to continue operating it may have caused damage to glass. There are no warnings and component has not been notified to manufacturer yet but I will look into contacting manufacturer after completing this report during their next business hours.
The contact owns a 2013 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front driver's side air bag warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was acquired and equipped with air bags. The contact stated that the failure occurred intermittently and now the warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was scheduled for a service appointment in several days. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000.
My "Check Air Bags" light came on last week. It now stays on. I am unsure as to why. I have never had my air bag deploy. Is this due to the mileage on my vehicle, which is at 81,300+ miles?
I am writing to express my deep concern regarding a recurring issue with my vehicle's airbag system. Despite no physical damage to the vehicle and no apparent impact on the functionality of the airbag system, I am consistently receiving a "Check Airbag System" warning code. This message intermittently appears and disappears, causing significant uncertainty and raising serious safety concerns. Given the critical role of airbags in ensuring passenger safety, any inconsistency or potential malfunction in the system poses a significant risk. Even though there have been no visible signs of damage or issues, the persistent appearance of this warning message suggests an underlying problem that demands immediate attention. As a conscientious vehicle owner, I place the highest priority on the safety of myself, passengers, and fellow road users. Consequently, I implore Honda, as the manufacturer, to conduct a thorough investigation and promptly address the recurring issue with my vehicle's airbag system. Ensuring that the airbag system operates reliably and consistently is paramount to safeguarding lives in the event of an accident. Regrettably, when I approached the Honda dealership for assistance, I was informed that I would be held accountable for the cost of diagnostics and potentially the repairs. This response is unacceptable. Honda should assume responsibility for resolving a safety concern of this magnitude. I urge Honda to reconsider their stance and take decisive action to rectify this matter without imposing financial burdens on their customers. By assuming accountability and prioritizing safety above all else, Honda can uphold its commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction. Thank you for your immediate attention to this pressing issue. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Car sitting on level ground, driven previous day with no problem. Upon unsuccessfully trying to start car, I smelled strong gasoline odor. I turned off ignition and opened hood and observed nothing unusual. I backed car up enough to get out to check for gas puddle. There was a puddle about 24 inches across of gasoline where car had been parked. I have arranged to have vehicle towed to independent auto repair. Note: gas was leaking from above rear driver's side wheel.
The VSA modulator is a known issue from honda. Mine went out while going down the highway. So many have gone bad recently that the modular is hard to get due to backorder. Warning lamps: Check brake system, Check ABS system, Check VSA & Check Power Steering. First three were one after another. Check power steering was about 10 seconds after the others.
The assembly of the 2013 Honda civic ex was missing the rear bumper impact absorber. The component was not noticed until a collision removed the rear bumper from the car, exposing the interior of the assembly. The omission of the impact absorber in the bumper assembly from the manufacturer directly puts my safety at risk because this part is designed to absorb energy in a collision, and without the part I am more likely to be in a more serious accident. This problem was first noticed by the service shop who had confirmed that the part was missing from the assembly, and that it was a safety feature of the vehicle. The component had only been inspected by the independent service shop. There was no indication of the missing component before the accident
I have to turn on my car start driving it no more than like 15 to 10 mph and then it shakes it jerks and cut off and it does that repeatedly until I pass second gear
There are four lights with a warning that shows up and stay on Check Brake, Power Steering, ABS and VBS Systems. These four lights occurs immediately or even occasionally delayed but they appear everytime my vehicle is running. It is the VSA System per service repair shop. This is a known problem for the Honda Civic 2013 and also Honda Accord. My concern is when these lights are present there is a safety hazard issue. A recall should HAPPEN. My thorough research shows that it should’ve been a recall in the USA for vehicles in 2012-2013 regarding an expansion of VSA Non-compliance Recall: 2012-2013 Honda Fit done free of charge. This article was July 23, 2013 and it was a little over 48,000 vehicles. They all qualified for a repair if indicated. The repairs happened in Thailand but not USA. The repairs are very, very costly. I’m the only owner of my vehicle and purchased new.
All lights are on the 2013 Honda Civic LX. I took it to the dealer and turns out to be a faulty VSA Modulator... they quoted me $2000 for labor and parts. After extensive research, noticed many other Hondas in the same generation have the same issue. Should be a recall!
Ac compressor /condenser system - endangers engine as it can cause overheating in engine. Should have similar warranty for original parts as the Honda civic ac recalls for 2016-2019 models.
Dash looks like a Christmas tree. All came on at one time. Changed everything we can think of
Warning lights appeared on my dashboard one morning. I took it to a honda dealer in frisco tx and they advised that my VSA module that controls my ABS system has failed. They advised the part is on back order and could not provide any repairs due to that. Currently my ABS system does not function due to the the failed part that Honda can not replace. They also would not provide repairs even I could source a used part.
Air bag warning comes on intermittently . Has increased to a weekly occurrence. I’ve recorded 27 instances in the last 6 months that this has happened. Occurs when starting car after sitting and also just comes on when driving. Have had seat sensors and seat belt replaced which did nothing. Problem still exists. I am not going to put any more money into an unsafe vehicle. Research shows that this is a common consumer complaint and a safety problem . Airbags for this model were recalled through the 2012 model year. Certainly appears that the 2013 model year should have been included.
My Check air bag system light came on today. No one as been involved in an accident but it does worry me to know that while this light is on the air bag would not deploy if me or my child are involved in an accident. Would like to have this problem investigated and repair before anything bad were to happen.
The component that has failed is the abs modulator system. The problem with the abs modulator failing on me puts me and my family at great risk including death because the abs modulator works alongside with the brakes, power steering and the vsa system all of which are the main components to a cars safety. Yes I have take my Honda to a certified technician who informed me that the and modulator has gone bad and will need to be replaced immediately due my safety alongside everyone who is on the road. Lastly when I first purchased the car everything my worked fine and their were no problems whatsoever until one day I was driving down the road and suddenly the abs light, power steering light, vsa light, and brake light all turned on which led to my car having horrible performance alongside my brakes feeling sloppy as well as my steering literally moving even though I was going straight. Overall I hope that you will finally do something about this problem because it is very frustrating.
The contact owns a 2013 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph, the driver crashed into the rear of a Ford Focus. The front passenger air bag was partially deployed. The check air bag system and the passenger air bag off message were displayed. There were no reported injuries, police report filed, or fire. The contact called the local dealer who informed her to take the vehicle to a collision center. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 250,000. The VIN was not available.
Traveling down Interstate 49 in Arkansas. Hit a patch of "chicken byproduct" that was spilled on the highway. My car fishtailed. VSA module out of service. Did a vehicle diagnostic scan on it. Scanner said VSA module malfunctioning. No ABS past 30 mph. Took vehicle to shop. They said VSA module needed to be replaced. VSA is suppose to be a safety mechanism in the 2013 Honda Civic. I have read that I am not the only owner to have this problem. Should be a recall. They are expensive to replace.
B0001-13 a known defective airbag issue with no repair in sight according to other civic owners.
Airbag warning light comes on sporadically. Consistently when it is cold out, all the time after hitting the horn. There is an issue apparently with the driver side airbag inflator which occurs in this model year vehicle that both NHTSA and Honda is ignoring.
ABS (Antilock Brake System) failure which also affects the VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist).
Car gives the following codes: Check Power Steering, Check Brake System, Check ABS, Check VSA, it would turn on and off at random times starting around November 2022, was initially informed that it could be a software update by the local Honda dealer, with a 2-3 hour labor charge to update and it might fix it. Eventually the lights would remain on most of the time and I could now pay for a diagnostic which determined the VSA modulator was defective (Code DTC 121-11). This diagnosis was generated on March 18, 2023, as of this date, July 16, 2023 there is no ETA for the part to arrive but have been informed 9 other VSA modulators have been ordered and I am 6th in line, none have arrived to this particular local Honda parts department. Looking online there appears to be a trend of car owners of 2012-2014 Honda Civics and Honda Accords that have observed their VSA modulators fail. The modulator is only manufactured by Honda and currently it does not appear that there is any viable solution apart from purchasing a new part and programing it to the vehicle by the Honda dealer. From my understanding this component ensures the stability of the vehicle in different terrains and ensures the stability of the vehicle in wet conditions.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026