RoadVitals

1998 Honda Civic Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Jul 31, 2013
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 435 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Honda Civic submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming brake

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesFuel system
Filed Jul 31, 2013

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO MAKE A HARD STOP. ON STOPPING THE VEHICLE BRAKES FAILED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL HIT THE FLOOR. VERY LUCKY THAT NO VEHICLE OR PEDESTRIAN WERE HIT. CAR WAS APPROXIMATELY TWO MILES FROM HOME. DROVE REMAINING DISTANCE AT 5 MPH WITH PARKING BRAKE ONLY. ON INSPECTION DISCOVERED THE TWO BRAKE LINES UNDER THE PROTECTIVE PLASTIC WERE CORRODED. IN ADDITION, THE THREE FUEL LINES ARE ALSO SEVERELY RUSTED, AND FUEL IS LEAKING FROM THE RETURN LINE. THE CORRODED BRAKE LINES ARE LINES 9 AND 11 IN THE 1998 HONDA CIVIC LX BRAKE DIAGRAM. LINE 11 IS CURRENTLY LEAKING LEAVING NO BRAKE PRESSURE FOR THE ENTIRE SYSTEM. THE FUEL LINES ARE PIPES 15, 16 AND 19 IN THE FUEL LINE DIAGRAM WITH FUEL LINE 19 LEAKING. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AWAITING TO BE SERVICED. BASED ON SEARCHES ONLINE FOR HONDA VEHICLES, THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON OCCURRENCE ESPECIALLY IN AREAS WITH HIGH USAGE OF SALT SUCH AS THE MID-WEST. VEHICLE OWNERS NEED TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY SYMPTOM. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL OR NOTIFICATION FROM HONDA? IN ADDITION, THE REPAIR OF ALL OF THESE LINES IS VERY COSTLY TO THE OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10532982
Incident
Jul 18, 2013
Mileage
115,000 mi
Brakes
Filed May 9, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE BRAKE PEDAL ABNORMALLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID FROM UNDER THE PLASTIC HOUSING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,015. *TR

NHTSA ID
10511250
Incident
May 8, 2013
Mileage
200,015 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 16, 2007

I COMPLETELY LOST BY BRAKES ON MY 98 HONDA CIVIC WITH NO WARNING. I LOST MY FRONT BRAKES AND REAR BRAKES AT THE SAME TIME AND MY FOOT COMPLETELY WENT TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT ANY RESISTANCE. I DOWN SHIFTED AND USED MY HAND BRAKE TO GET TO THE HONDA DEALER. THE HONDA DEALER CLEANED AND REPAIRED THE BRAKES (THEY DID NOT REPLACE THE BRAKES). THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT MY CAR ONLY HAS ONE MASTER CYLINDER. WHEN ONE OF THE PISTONS IN MY REAR BRAKE POPPED OUT, I LOST ALL 4 BRAKES. *JB

NHTSA ID
10182812
Incident
Jan 18, 2007
Mileage
109,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 9, 2000

A NOISE COME FROM THE BRAKES WHEN CONSUMER WAS NOT BRAKING OR ACCELERATING. COULD HEAR NOISE AT ANY SPEED. *AK

NHTSA ID
856659
Incident
Feb 9, 2000
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Jun 7, 1999

CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT 55 MPH. CONSUMER WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES, AND THEY DID NOT DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL, CAUSING VEHICLE NOT STOP. ALSO, BRAKES WERE TOTALLY INOPERATIVE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK

NHTSA ID
838943
Brakes
Filed Feb 1, 1999

BRAKE PADS NOISY. *YC

NHTSA ID
606246
Incident
Oct 1, 1998
AirbagsBrakesSeat belts
Filed Jan 23, 1999
Crash reported1 injury reported

VEHICLE STRUCK REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE, BRAKES WERE LOCKED AT 40 MPH, SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK,ALLOWING DRIVERS FACE TO HIT STEERING WHEEL, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, HONDA CONTACTED, AND HAS SHOWN NO INTEREST IN INVESTIGATING OR CHECKING THE CAR. STATED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AFTER IT WAS REPAIRED, AND IF ANYTHING WAS WRONG, THEY WOULD REPLACE PARTS.

NHTSA ID
702502
Incident
Jan 5, 1999
Brakes
Filed Dec 2, 1998

MAY 9, 1998 WHEN THE FIRST OCCURENCE HAPPENED. I WAS DRIVING AT 25-30 MPH AND WHEN I NEEDED TO BRAKE, IT DIDN'T WORK AT THE FIRST TIME. I HAD TO PUMP SEVERAL TIMES AND STILL IT DIDN'T WORK AT ALL, SO I USED THE EMERGENCY HAND BRAKES, AND SO IT STOPPED. THIS HAPPENED WHEN MY MILEAGE WAS PRIOR TO 1479. THE NEXT DAY, I CONTACT PARAGON HONDA TO SCHEDULE THE CHECK-UP. MAY 13, 1998 - I TOOK THE CAR TO PARAGON HONDA AND RELATE THEM MY COMPLAIN. THEY TEST DRIVE IT AND FOUND ALL OK AT THAT TIME (I HAVE THE INVOICE NO. 85016 DTD. 5/14/98). THE WEEKEND (MAY 17, 1998) WHEN I USED THE CAR, THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN. I FEEL VERY VERY SCARED BECAUSE I ALMOST GOT INTO ACCIDENT. I HAD TO PUMP SEVERAL TIMES AND STILL IT DIDN'T WORK AT ALL. SAME REMEDY, I USED THE HANDBRAKES TO STOP IT. MAY 18, 1998 - THIS TIME I TALKED AND INSISTED WITH THE PARAGON MANAGER THAT THEY SHOULD REALLY TEST AND CHECK THE CAR BRAKES FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THEY ROADTESTED THE CAR FOR 163 MILES, AND FOUND EVERYTHING NORMAL. AFTER COUPLE OF MONTHS, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME I WAS HESITANT TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO HONDA DEALER BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I WAS SO BUSY WITH MY BUSINESS THAT I HAD NO TIME TO GO TO THE DEALER AND FIGHT FOR MY RIGHT TO HAVE MY CAR FIXED. I DECIDED LATER ON TO GO TO A CONSUMER COMPLAINT BUREAU TO ASK FOR ADVISE AS TO WHAT TO DO, TILL I TRIED TO CHECK YOU ON THE INTERNET. LAST MONTH OF NOVEMBER, IT HAPPENED AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK WHEN I'M DRIVING AT 25-30 MPH. THIS TIME, I DECIDED TO TAKE A SERIOUS ACTION ON THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION, CALL US AT 212-594-2988. I APPRECIATE YOUR IMMEDIATE ACTION ON MY COMPLAINT. THANK YOU. JANOS PAPAI

NHTSA ID
701062
Incident
Nov 24, 1998
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Nov 13, 1998
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID
830722
Incident
Nov 3, 1998
Brakes
Filed Oct 21, 1998
Crash reported

THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND CAR REFUSED TO STOP. AS A RESULT, CAR SLID ACROSS THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER SLID OFF OF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED.*AK

NHTSA ID
829256
Incident
Oct 11, 1998
Brakes
Filed Jan 2, 1998

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED DURING AN EMERGENCY STOP, THE WHEELS LOCKED AND VEHICLE TILTED TO THE LEFT. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

NHTSA ID
820221
Incident
Dec 31, 1997

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .