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2010 Honda Civic Electrical Problems

20 owner-reported electrical complaints from NHTSA data

20
Complaints
3
Fires
Mar 2014Dec 2017
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (20)

criticalELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Apr 2025

You purchased a 2010 Honda Civic from a private seller through Facebook Messenger and discovered the VIN on the vehicle doesn't match the VIN from your messages with the seller. When you tried to contact the seller about this discrepancy, your calls were blocked. You also found that the vehicle's mileage has been registered as both over 200,000 miles and over 300,000 miles in different records, though the seller claimed it had 133,000 miles at the time of sale. This suggests potential odometer fraud and title discrepancies that will need to be resolved with your state's motor vehicle department and possibly through legal channels.

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NHTSA #: 11655907
criticalELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FireFiled: Nov 2022

Your 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid caught fire spontaneously while parked in your driveway after sitting unused for two days. The fire started near the battery on the driver's side of the engine compartment and completely engulfed the engine bay. The fire department extinguished it, and your insurance company declared the vehicle a total loss. This issue may involve a battery or electrical component that can generate heat or spark when the vehicle is off.

NHTSA #: 11492311
highELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: May 2025

You purchased a 2010 Honda Civic as a private sale, and discovered a serious mileage discrepancy when registering the vehicle. The odometer showed 142,000 miles at purchase, but the actual mileage was 258,000 miles when you went to register it. This suggests the odometer may have been tampered with or rolled back. Addressing this will likely require involving your state's motor vehicle department and potentially pursuing legal action against the seller.

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NHTSA #: 11663032
highELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jun 2023

Your car's electrical system is causing problems with the air conditioning — the compressor belt won't engage due to an electrical fault. The fuse box is overheating and triggering the Check Engine light, which could indicate electrical issues affecting other vehicle systems. Fixing this will likely involve inspecting and replacing the faulty fuse box and fuses to restore proper electrical function.

NHTSA #: 11527558
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FireFiled: Apr 2021

DEALERSHIP BOUGHT USED CAR CATCHES FIRE AFTER JUST TWO DAYS OF PURCHASE: I BOUGHT A USED CAR WITH NO WARRANTY ON IT FROM A LOCAL DEALERSHIP EXACTLY TWO DAYS AGO. WHILE DRIVING ON THE SECOND DAY OF PURCHASE, THE CAR SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN AND FUMES STARTED TO COME OUT OF THE CAR RIGHT AND AS I STOPPED THE CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, FLAMES BEGAN TO FLICKER OUT OF THE ENGINE BAY AND WITHIN A MINUTE OR SO, THE ENTIRE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FIRE! I WAS ABLE TO CALL 911 AND GET OUT OF THE CAR IN TIME, BUT THE CAR'S GONE, COMPLETELY. I AM THINKING THAT THERE MAY BE SOME FAULTS IN THE CAR THAT WERE NOT SPECIFIED IN THE CAR FAX REPORT FROM THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THIS IS NOT AN EVERYDAY OCCURRENCE THAT A CAR SETS IN FIRE. NOW, AS MY INSURANCE DOESN'T COVER THIS TYPE OF FIRE DAMAGE (LIABILITY INSURANCE) I AM STUCK BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE AND I DEALER IS NOT READY TO CO-OPERATE. THIS IS A BIG FINANCIAL LOSS FOR ME AND I AM SEEKING HELP TO RECOVER SUCH BIG LOSS. THE EXPERIENCE WAS VERY TRAUMATIZING FOR ME AS WELL FOR MY GIRLFRIEND WHO WAS WITH ME. THIS HAS DEFINITELY LEFT US WITH PTSD.

NHTSA #: 11413457
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Filed: Jun 2019

TAKATA RECALL A ACCIDENT BUT AIRBAG DIDN'T USE, AND THEN I REPAIRED THE CAR, REPLACED THE DOOR. YESTERDAY I WENT TO DEALER TO SELL MY CAR, THEY TOLD ME THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT IS NOT MINE, THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED, AND MY ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEM, VEHICULAR AUDIO SYSTEM CABLE DOESN'T WORK TOO. MY FRIEND WAS INJURED AND WENT TO EMERGENCY ROOM, IT COSTED THOUSAND OF DOLLARS.

NHTSA #: 11228394
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Filed: May 2018

HIT A RUT, HOLE, SHALLOW. LIGHTS FOR AIRBAG(NEAR STEERING FRONT) WENT OFF. AIRBAG DID NOT ENGAGE. I WAS DOING A U-TURN, TURNING RIGHT OFF HIGHWAY AND THEN LEFT FOR U-TURN IN FRONT OF A GAS STATION. WHY THE STATION HAD LEFT A HAZARD FOR CUSTOMERS TO RUN IN TO AS I DID, A TURN, I DON'T UNDERSTAND. LOUD NOISE FROM RIGHT FRONT, AND BEFORE COMPLETED MY TURN. SOUND CAME AS I WAS TURNING.

NHTSA #: 11093537
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Dec 2017

TAKATA RECALL I HAD AN AIR BAG RECALL BACK IN 2016. I NOTICED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OF THE CAR IS ALWAYS GIVING ME PROBLEMS. FOR EXAMPLE THE LIGHT INSIDE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE VEHICLE WORKS WHENEVER IT FEELS LIKE WORKING. SECOND THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDOW MOTOR I ALREADY CHANGED IT 3 TIMES AND IT'S STILL GIVING ME TROUBLE. I ALREADY SPENT TOO MUCH MONEY I GAVE UP ON TRYING TO FIX IT. ALSO I ALREADY LOST COUNT ON HOW MANY TIMES I HAVE CHANGED MY BRAKES MINDING THAT I HARDLY DRIVE MY CAR. IN ADDITION MY GAS NEVER LAST EITHER NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF GAS I PUT. TRIED ALL OF THEM AND IT'S ALWAYS THE SAME. I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY PROMISED ME I WOULD SPEND LESS GAS BUT THAT WAS NOT TRUE.

NHTSA #: 11054600
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,TIRES
Filed: Aug 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TPMS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA #: 10897082
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Aug 2016

MY CAR HORN TO HONK IS NOT WORKING. I REPLACED THE FUSE AND IT WON'T WORK. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS!! I CAN'T WARN CARS THAT ARE ABOUT TO CRASH INTO ME THAT I'M THERE. I CAN'T PREVENT ACCIDENTS WITHOUT HONKING. SOME CARS DON'T SEE ME IN THERE BLIND SPOTS. I FEEL LIKE IF SOMEONE CRASHES INTO ME HONDA WILL BE PART AT FAULT BC THE HORN DOESN'T WORK. I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM HONDA SAYING THE AIR BAGS ARE BEING RECALLED. I THINK THE HORN SITUATION SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BC THE HORN AND THE AIRBAG ARE LOCATED IN THE SAME PLACE. MY HORN MALFUNCTION BEFORE BUT IT HAD GOTTEN FIXED BY ITSELF.

NHTSA #: 10896709
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Oct 2015

WHEN I START THE CAR IT RUMBLES AND THE RPMS REV UP. I KNOW IT IS THE WIRES THAT GO FROM THE IGNITION COILS TO THE ENGINE THAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEMS BUT.. YOU CANT BUY THAT PART AT AN AUTO PART STORE BC THE WIRE HARNESS IS NOT PATENTED.. TO GO TO HONDA ITS $793. SINCE IVE ONLY HAD THE CAR I HAVE ONLY PUT 50K MLES ON IT. THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT IM HAVING THIS MAJOR OF AN ISSUE THIS SOON.

NHTSA #: 10779731
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
FireFiled: Aug 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND ALL THE DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT HAD TO EXIT THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW, WHICH WAS ROLLED DOWN. IN ADDITION THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA #: 10745763
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Aug 2014

PLASTIC PART OF CAR KEY HOUSING FELL FROM THE METAL PART OF THE KEY AND ENGINE SHUT OFF. AT HOME, AFTER THE KEY HOUSING FELL TO THE CAR FLOOR, I EXAMINED IT. THE PLASTIC KEY HOUSING HAD FINE CRACKS WHERE METAL PART OF KEY WAS SUPPOSED BE SECURED WITH A TINY SCREW THAT WAS STILL IN THE METAL KEY. THE FINE CRACKS WAS ENOUGH TO ALLOW THE HOUSING TO OPEN AND SLIP OFF THE METAL KEY. APPARENTLY, THE METAL END OF THE KEY ISN'T LONG ENOUGH TO BE A LEVER WHEN TURNING ON THE IGNITION. THE PLASTIC HOUSING OF THE KEY TWISTED WHEN TURNING ON THE IGNITION AND RESULTED IN THE CRACKS AT THE BASE OF THE KEY. WITHOUT THE PROGRAMMED CHIP ATTACHED TO THE METAL KEY, THE IGNITION SHUTS OFF. *TR

NHTSA #: 10628266
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Filed: Jul 2014

RIDES ROUGH SHAKES FEELS THAT IT'S GOING TO STALL. VERY OBVIOUS WHEN STOPPING FOR RED LIGHTS. VIBRATION OCCURS IF I PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL. SOMETIMES IT STOPS IT BUT IT DOES REOCCUR. ALSO THE A/C MAKES THE CAR VIBRATE EVEN MORE. WAS SERVICED HOWEVER HAD TO BRING IT BACK, PAYING $160. , IN AUGUST 2012 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY TOOK IT FOR A RIDE FELT SOMETHING IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND PROCEEDED TO REALIGN FRONT WHEELS. RODE WITH A MEMBER OF THE SERVICE DEPT FOR A GOOD 20 MINUTES AND NOTHING HAPPENED TO THE CAR. WHEN I DROVE THE CAR HOME IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND, TO DATE, IT IS STILL HAPPENING. A MEMBER OF THE SERVICE DEPT TOLD ME IN CONFIDENCE THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND THE A/C BUT THEY HAVEN'T FOUND HOW TO FIX IT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF OTHER CIVICS COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *JS

NHTSA #: 10608645
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Mar 2014

THE IGNITION-LOCK SYSTEMS ALLOWS MY CAR TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE WHEN I REMOVE THE KEY WITHOUT EVER PUTTING MY CAR INTO PARK. IT HAS ROLLING IN THE PARKING LOT. I VISIT MY LOCAL DEALER AT HONDA TARRYTOWN, THEY TOOK THE CARE FOR 6 DAYS CHANGE THE KEYS, THE COMPUTER, LOCK ASSY, CONTROL MODULE AND AT THE END OF THE DAY THE KEY STILL COMES OUT WHILE IN DRIVE. INITIALLY THEY TOLD ME EVERYTHING WAS COVER UNDER GUARANTEE. I AGREE TO ALL THE REPAIRS BUT THEY WANTED ME TO PAY $2,400 BECAUSE THE PART WERE NOT COVER. I ENDED UP PAYING $136.02 TO COVER THE DIAGNOSTICS. I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY. IT WAS THE WRONG DIAGNOSTIC AND THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. *TR

NHTSA #: 10572634
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Oct 2013

I BOUGHT THIS CERTIFIED/PRE-OWNED AT HONDA OF BOWIE, [MD]. I DROVE IT FROM UPPER MARLBORO TO HYATTSVILLE AND PARKED IT. AN HOUR LATER IT DID NOT START WHEN I GOT BACK IN THE CAR. I CALLED COLLEGE PARK HONDA BUT THEN CALLED HOB. THEY SENT A FREE TOW TRUCK AFTER I CALLED, IRATE. AT HOB, THE SALESMEN SAID THE BATTERY WAS "NOT UNDER WARRANTY." AT MY INSISTENCE THEY REPLACED IT FREE. A TECHNICIAN SAID IT HAD A FAULTY CELL IN IT. I HAD NOT EVER HAD THIS BEFORE. MY FIRST BATTERY IN MY 1997 HONDA LASTED 153,000 MILES! THE SALESMEN WERE NOT SYMPATHETIC AT FIRST. THE CASHIER WAS ANNOYED I WANTED HONDA CORPORATE'S # AND THE HEAD MANAGER. OTHER THAN THE 2 TECHNICIANS AND 1 SERVICE REP, IT WAS A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE TO OCCUR. *TR

NHTSA #: 10548749
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Sep 2013

I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE KEY OUT OF MY CIVIC 2010'S IGNITION WHILE IT WAS STILL IN DRIVE. ALSO, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DOES NOT ALWAYS ENGAGE FULLY, CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO ROLL. *JS THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES IN THE PAST, AND I HAVE CALLED MY LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS THE MAIN HONDA CORPORATION TO REPORT. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO LOOK AT THIS SAFETY DEFECT WITHOUT A $105 DIAGNOSTIC FEE, WHICH I CANNOT AFFORD. I HAVE CALLED HONDA INC. TO REPORT THE INCIDENT, THEY REFUSE TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY AND WILL NOT INSPECT MY VEHICLE. *JS

NHTSA #: 10545494
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Filed: Sep 2013

I PURCHASED A NEW 2010 HONDA HYBRID, I HAVE HAD 3 IMA BATTERIES REPLACED. THE LAST ONE THEY REPLACED CAME WITH A SOFTWARE UPDATE THAT HAS REDUCED MY MPG FROM OVER 40MPG TO 30MPG AND LESS POWER. I BELIEVE THIS IS IN VIOLATION OF STATED WINDOW STICKER MILEAGE CLAIMS, LEMON LAWS AND POSSIBLY AIR QUALITY LAWS, NOT TO MENTION THE LOSS OF POWER DANGERS. *TR

NHTSA #: 10544616
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Nov 2012

I DROVE MY CAR ONTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY, SPEED LIMIT 70 MPH. ENTERING THE HIGHWAY MY CAR ACCELERATED FROM 70-79 BY ITSELF WITH MY ABS KICKING IN AT THE SAME TIME. NOT ALLOWING ME TO BRAKE. NEARLY CAUSING A PILE UP, I EXITED IMMEDIATELY TURNING INTO A SHOPPING CENTER TO PARK MY CAR. WITH TWO PASSENGERS IN THE CAR WITH ME, I PROCEEDED INTO THE LOT, UP A HILL WHEN I COULD FEEL MY CAR ACCELERATING BY ITSELF. WITH MY PASSENGERS IN DISBELIEF, I LIFTED MY RIGHT FOOT IN THE AIR SO THEY COULD SEE, MY CAR ACCELERATED FROM 0-21 MPH BY ITSELF, UP A HILL. SCARED OUT OF MY MIND, I PULLED MY CAR OVER AND PARKED IT. I CONTACTED HONDA, TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THEY "HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE" AND THAT THIS WAS THEIR FIRST TIME LOOKING INTO SUCH A POSSIBILITY. A COUPLE DAYS LATER AFTER THEY BLAMED THIS ISSUE ON MY "THIRD PARTY FLOOR MATS" AND ADVISED ME TO TAKE THEM OUT OF MY CAR, I DID. I DROVE WITHOUT THE FLOOR MAT FOR TWO WEEKS, TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS MY CAR ACTING UP AND NOT THE MATS. SURE ENOUGH, MY CAR ACTED UP 2 MORE TIMES IN THOSE TWO WEEKS. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC, IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUNCH OF STOP LIGHTS. I WOULD BRAKE A LITTLE TOO EARLY & ATTEMPT TO COAST IN TRAFFIC TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, I'D TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND THE CAR WOULD FULLY ACCELERATE ALL BY ITSELF, CAUSING ME TO SLAM MY BRAKES. SECOND OCCURRENCE, WAS WHEN I WAS GETTING INTO MY CAR, TURNED IT ON, BUT NEVER PUT IT INTO GEAR OR EVEN SHUT MY DOOR, THE ENGINE STARTED REVVING WITH RPMS UP IN THE "REDS". MULTIPLE TIMES. AFTER TAKING MY CAR IN A SECOND TIME, THEY WERE ONCE AGAIN BLAMING THESE PROBLEMS ON MY FLOOR MATS AND THAT THEY WEREN'T GOING TO SERVICE OR TAKE CARE OF ANYTHING AT ALL, I AM WRITING THIS COMPLAINT TO FURTHER ENFORCE THAT THE 2010 HONDA CIVIC NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. THE COMPUTERS ARE DEFECTIVE AND HONDA IS DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

NHTSA #: 10483921
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: May 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTEGRATED MOTOR ASSIST (IMA) WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE ELECTRIC MOTOR FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE SLOWLY. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND A SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS PERFORMED BUT TO NO AVAIL.THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION BY THE DEALER AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE BATTERY WAS ON THE VERGE OF FAILING AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE BATTERY UNTIL IT HAD COMPLETELY FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE COULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BATTERY UNTIL THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO GENERATE A FAILURE CODE INDICATING THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED REPLACING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,400.

NHTSA #: 10460161

Other 2010 Honda Civic Issues