Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
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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 2009 Honda Civic submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 51 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.
The 25 most recent of 51, in the owner's own words
Car accelerated into a garage door unintentionally. The brakes did not work. The problem has not been reproduced. The car was taken to a honda dealer twice before the accident for the same reasons of sudden unintentional acceleration. The vehicle has been totaled and has not been inspected by anyone. There were no warning indicators that I am aware of.
The contact's mother owned a 2009 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 mph, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle unintentionally accelerated. The front of the vehicle collided with a garage door. The garage door was damaged. The air bags did not deploy. The contact's mother sustained neck and shoulder injuries. The contact received medical treatment for her injuries and a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the vehicle was not able to be repaired. The vehicle was deemed totaled. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000. The VIN was not available.
3 times my fooit has sliped off the brake pedal and on to the gas pedal. In all cases i was able to go back to the break pedal and stop. it seems the break pedal is slipery. In all cases the car lurched foward. This has never happened in any of the other cars that i have driven and continue to drive. Now with this honda it has happened 3 times.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 33 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 54 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AS THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE GUARD RAIL, SPINNING AROUND, CROSSING TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROADWAY, HITTING THE MOUNTAIN SIDE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURY TO HER RIGHT KNEE, SHOULDER, ELBOW, BACK AND NECK HOWEVER MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS NOT RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO FREEWAY HONDA (1505 AUTO MALL DR, SANTA ANA, CA 92705 PHONE: (714) 547-3555) WHOM WAS ATTEMPTING TO DIAGNOSIS THE FAILURE HOWEVER, WHEN THE INSURANCE COMPANY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DEEMED IT A TOTAL LOSS, ALL DIAGNOSES WAS SEIZED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 68,000. *BF *AS
TAKATA RECALL
THE CENTER (INTERIOR) BRAKE LIGHT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM. ONLY AFFECTS EX MODEL LED LIGHT ASSEMBLY. IT IS UNSAFE AND COSTLY FIX. IT SHOULD BE RECALLED.
WENT TO STOP AND THE BRAKES WERE USELESS. I SLAMMED THE BRAKES TO FLOOR AND MISSED THE TAIL END OF CAR BY SWERVING IN TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAD RECENTLY BROUGHT CAR IN TO CHECK THE BRAKES AND HONDA SAID THEY WERE OKAY AND NO NEED TO HAVE ANYTHING DONE. I DON NOT LIKE TO BRAKE ON A BUMPY ROAD BECAUSE THE BRAKES DO NOT DO WELL ON BUMPY ROADS. I TAKE CAUTION WHEN I HAVE TO BRAKE ON A BUMPY ROAD. BROUGHT CAR TO HONDA ON AUGUST 1, 2015 AND TOLD THEM CHANGE/FIX THE BRAKES. HONDA SAID THEY WERE GOING TO CHECK EVERYTHING. IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS BRAKE ISSUE?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
I WAS DRIVING ON HWY AT ABUT 65 MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL ,I APPLIED THE BRAKE TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL TO REDUCE SPEED TO EXIT, BUT THE BRAKE DIDN'T WORK AND THE CRUISE CONTROL DIDN'T DISENGAGE, COULDN'T EXIT AND KEPT ON GOING AND KEPT ON HITTING ON THE CRUISE BUTTON TILL IT FINALLY DISENGAGE AND WAS ABLE TO EXIT. THE CRUISE BUTTON STOPPED WORKING SINCE THEN. *TR
I WAS ACCELERATING TO THE POSTED SPEED OF 55 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE SUDDENLY CHANGED LANE AND PULLED IN FRONT OF MY CAR. I HIT THE BRAKES, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME STIFF AND THE BRAKES COULD NOT BE APPLIED. I HAD TO PUMP 2 OR 3 TIMES AND TRIED DIFFERENT AMOUNT OF FORCE. I BARELY ESCAPED ACCIDENT. THE PROBLEM BECOMES MUCH WORSE IN COLD WEATHER AND ON SNOW AND ICE. I ENCOUNTERED STIFF BRAKE PEDAL PROBLEM AT LEAST 100 TIMES BETWEEN DECEMBER 2012 & MARCH 2013 ON RT 83 BETWEEN OAKBROOK AND WILLOWBROOK (SUBURBS OF CHICAGO, IL). THE TRAFFIC AT RUSH HOUR CAN BE STOP AND GO, AND BRAKES NEED TO BE APPLIED AT LEAST DOZENS OF TIME IN A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 7 MILES. I USED ALL OF MY SAFE DRIVING SKILLS, AND STARTED KEEPING MUCH GREATER DISTANCE FROM THE CARS AHEAD. IT WAS SCARY. THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES. AT ABOUT 25,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, I HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE PADS & HAVE ROTORS MACHINED AT A HONDA DEALER. THE NEXT DAY, IN JULY 2014, ON A CLEAR DAY AND DRY ROAD SURFACE, WITH THE NORMAL BRAKING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT STOP, BRAKE PEDAL BECAME STIFF. I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE COMING WINTER. I HAVE NEVER BEEN INFORMED BY HONDA TO BRING IN MY CAR FOR FIXING THIS PROBLEM. MY DAUGHTER BOUGHT THIS CAR IN CALIFORNIA IN JUNE 2009 (I WAS A CO-BORROWER). SHE DROVE ABOUT 12000 MILES IN 3 YEARS. MY DAUGHTER ALSO HAD ENCOUNTERED THIS STIFF BRAKE PEDAL PROBLEM, RIGHT FROM DAY ONE. IN JUNE 2012, THE CAR WAS SHIPPED BY TRUCK TO MY PLACE, AND I BECAME THE OWNER/DRIVER OF THE CAR. *TR
MY HONDA CIVIC 2009 BREAK PAD NEED REPLACEMENT EVERY 6 MONTHS TO ONE YEAR. HONDA CIVIC BREAKING SYTEM HAS DEFECT AND HONDA IS REFUSING TO COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY. SEE THIS LINK HTTP://BLOGS.LAWEEKLY.COM/INFORMER/2011/02/HONDA_CIVIC_BRAKES_LAWSUIT.PHP
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH THE ABS LOCKED UPON ENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THERE WAS ALSO THE ILLUMINATION OF THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR.THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO A SAFE LOCATION. THE FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
SECOND TIME BRAKE PAD WORN BADLY: FIRST TIME WAS JUST OVER 20,000 MILES ON THE CAR AS FILED IN MY COMPLAINT # 10525136. NOW JUST OVER A YEAR LATER AND ONLY 12,000 MILES MORE (32,700) I FIND MY LEFT FRONT OUTER BRAKE PAD IS WORN TO 10% WHILE THE INNER PAD IS AT 85%. RIGHT TIRE PADS AT BOTH AT 90%. NOISE STARTED ABRUPTLY TWO DAYS AGO SOUNDING HORRIBLE. HAVE TO SPEND NEARLY AN ADDITIONAL $200.00 FOR NEW PADS AGAIN. NOISE CONTINUES EVEN WHEN NOT BRAKING - LEADING ONE TO BELIEVE THERE IS NO RETRACTION OF THE PAD AGAINST THE ROTOR. *TR
UNEVEN WEAR ON THE BRAKES TO THE POINT THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR HAD VERY LOUD NOISE. STILL HAVE ORIGINAL TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WITH PROPER TREAD; CAR MAINTENANCE MAINTAINED. PAID $165.00 FOR NEW BENDIX BRAKES (HIGH QUALITY) AND ROTOR REPAIR. ONCE NOISE STARTED, BRAKE PAD WENT QUICKLY!!! THIS HAPPENED AGAIN ONLY 12,000 MILES LATER (JULY 2013). LEFT OUTER BRAKE PAD AT 10% WHILE INNER PAD OF LEFT TIRE AT 85%. RIGHT TIRE, BOTH PADS AT 90%. STILL SAME ORIGINAL TIRES WITH A LOT OF TREAD, CAR MAINTENANCE MAINTAINED. VERY LITTLE WEAR AND TEAR ON THE CAR AT ALL FOR OTHER AREAS. *TR
I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AS CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED IN JUNE 2012 WITH 23834 MILES. IN NOVEMBER 2012 AT 33035 MILES THE FRONT BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE LEFT FRONT ROTOR NEEDED TO BE RESURFACED. I FIGURED THE BRAKES HAD NEVER BEEN REPLACED SINCE I EXPECT APPROXIMATELY 30000 MILES OF USAGE FROM FRONT BRAKES. IN JULY 2013 AT 46216 MILES THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AGAIN. TO MY FRUSTRATION THE DEALERSHIP SAID NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR BUT I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF BRAKES ON A SMALL LIGHT CAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I'VE HAD NUMEROUS PRIOR CARS THAT HAD BREAKS LAST LONGER THAN 13000 MILES. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON FORUMS AND EVEN A PENDING CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT OVER THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE. THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AND IF NECESSARY A RECALL ISSUED SINCE EARLY BRAKE FAILURE IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE! *TR
PARKING BRAKE FAILURE - PARKING BRAKE WAS FULLY ENGAGED WHEN THE CAR ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO A NEIGHBORING YARD STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE. POLICE AND OTHER WITNESSES INDICATE PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. *TR
NOTICEABLE METALLIC SOUND COMING FROM FRONT LEFT SIDE WHEN DRIVING. DEALERSHIP SAYS THE INNER BRAKE PADS ARE WORN AWAY (DOWN TO THE WEAR INDICATORS), BUT THE OUTER BRAKE PADS STILL HAVE 50% LIFE AND THE ROTORS DO NOT APPEAR TO BE WARPED, CRACKED, OR WORN. CALIPERS AND PISTONS ARE ALSO FINE. DEALER CAN OFFER NO REASON WHY BRAKE PADS WORE OUT SO QUICKLY. NEARLY ALL MILEAGE IS HIGHWAY MILEAGE, SO THE DEALER'S EXPLANATION OF "DRIVING HABITS" AND "STOP AND GO TRAFFIC" DO NOT SEEM LIKELY. *TR
FACTORY BRAKES ARE DEFECTIVE, WEARING OUT THE ROTOR WITH ONLY 36,000 MILES ON THE CAR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE WEARING OUT PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000.
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE HITS A BUMP OR ROUGH PATCH ON THE ROAD, THE BRAKES FAIL ALMOST ENTIRELY. AS A REACTIONARY MEASURE, I USUALLY RELEASE AND RE-APPLY THE BRAKES AND THEN IT WORKS BUT THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHERE I APPLY THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I CAN WITHOUT LETTING UP BECAUSE I'M ABOUT TO READ END THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. IN TOTAL SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR BRAND NEW, I'D SAY THIS HAPPEND OVER 30 TIMES SINCE SEPTEMBER 2009. *TR
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING A 2009 HONDA CIVIC (PURCHASED NEW ALL REPAIRS/SERVICING SINCE PURCHASE MADE BY THE DEALER AT READING PIAZZA HONDA) WITH MY 13 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 8:45 PM MAY-16-2012, NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE ON THE ROAD AT THE TIME IN HER FRONT OR REAR VIEW WHEN SUDDENLY SHE REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY REVVED UP TO HIGH RPM'S, WHERE SHE STATES THAT SHE LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER THE 2009 HONDA CIVIC, SHE TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AS SOON AS SHE REALIZED THE STEERING CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING,HOWEVER; THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK EITHER. HER VEHICLE CAREENED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD HITTING THE MEDIAN DIVIDER THEN THE CAR CAREENED TO THE RIGHT HITTING THE GUARD RAIL AT WHICH POINT THE SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND THE MOTOR SHUT OFF. THANKFULLY THEY ARE BOTH ALIVE. MY DAUGHTER STATED THAT SHE FELT SOMEONE WAS PUSHING THE VEHICLE FROM BEHIND SUDDENLY. I AM STILL LOOKING FOR ANSWERS TO THIS UNEXPLAINED SCENARIO MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER REPORTED TO ME, THE 2 LANE ROAD WAS DEVOID OF ANY VEHICLES AT THAT TIME AND AS SHE STATED THIS TO ME, THE ENGINE REVVED HIGH, SHE HAD NO ABILITY TO STEER AND THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK WHEN SHE APPLIED THEM. I CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA AND HAVE ASKED THEM TO HELP INVESTIGATED WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED AND AM WAITING TO HEAR FROM THEM ON WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS IN A 2009 HONDA CIVIC. *TR
THE VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW FROM A HONDA DEALERSHIP IN WAUKESHA WIS. ON 11-28-2008. ONE YR. AFTER PURCHASE WE NOTICED THE ENGINE WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELERATE, WHEN BACKING UP, BRAKING. THE ENGINE WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE DRIVER WOULD NEED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH GREATER FORCE, AND THEN SHIFT AUTO. TRANS INTO NEUTRAL. WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER 3 SEPARATE TIMES, AND THEY INDICATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. ON ONE OCCASION PER THEIR SUGGESTION WE PURCHASED THE RUBBER ALL WEATHER HONDA FLOOR MATS AT A COST OF $110.00. I DOUBTED THIS WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. IN NOVEMBER 2011 THE SAME PROBLEM WAS EXPERIENCED A FOURTH TIME IN A PARKING LOT. WHILE WAITING IN A PARKING LOT THE ENGINE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY, AND MORE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. I NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP OF THE CONTINUING PROBLEM. ON 11-29-2011 WE LEFT THE CIVIC AT THE DEALER, AND WAYNE NICKLAS THE (AHM) WOULD ALSO EXAMINE THE CAR WITH A MECHANIC. THE MILEAGE WAS 26,526. MR. NICKLAS MET WITH US. HE EXPLAINED HOW THEY CHECKED THE TIRE DEPTH, PRESSURE, AND THE OVERALL CONDITION OF THE CAR. I THEN ASKED FOR SPECIFICS ABOUT THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION, AND HE INDICATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO MR. NICKLAS, THERE WAS NO ABNORMAL ENGINE CODE, AND IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT THE PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR LONG ENOUGH FOR THE COMPUTER TO RECORD IT. HE DENIED OTHER SIMILAR PROBLEMS REPORTED WITH CIVICS. WE FOUND SIMILAR CONSUMER COMPLAINTS FILED ON WEB SITES WITH CIVICS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS. IT WAS SUGGESTED WE TRADE IN THE VEHICLE. WE FELT UNSAFE IN CONTINUING TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. THE HONDA DEALER LEFT US HANGING, AND OFFERED US NO FURTHER HELP WITH TRADING IN THE VEHICLE. WE INCURRED A SUBSTANTIAL LOSS WHEN WE TRADED IN THE CIVIC AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. RESEARCH FOUND THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE BY ANY MEANS. *TR
FRONT TIRES MAKE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND WEAR DOWN THE BRAKES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. VERY DANGEROUS IF NOT TAKEN CARE OF. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO ALL HONDA VEHICLES FROM 2008 TO PRESENT. DEALERSHIPS ARE ALL SAYING IT IS NORMAL BUT THE SOUND THE CAR MAKES IS NOT. THE GRINDING CAN BE HEARD FROM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CAR. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SINCE HONDA IS NOT WILLING TO MAKE IT A SAFETY RECALL. *TR
FRONT BRAKE PADS WORE OUT AT 23,000 MILES. PADS WORE UNEVENLY. *TR
2009 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. CONSUMER STATES AIR CONDITION FAILURE AND PROBLEM WITH INDICATOR LIGHTS *TGW THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT RODENTS EATING ACORNS HAD DROPPED THE SHELLS INTO THE AIR CONDITIONER INTAKE. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE PARK AND DRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE PARK LIGHT WAS STEADY, WHILE THE DRIVE LIGHT BLINKED ON AND OFF. THE CONSUMER SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY DETERMINED A RODENT HAD DAMAGED A CABLE. ALSO, THE TRUNK FAILED TO OPEN ON COMMAND, THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DETAILED WHICH CAUSED THE PROTECTIVE GASKET TO LOSE ITS PROTECTIVE LUBRICANT. THE GASKET WAS LUBRICATED AND THE TRUNK LID NOW OPENS ON COMMAND. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAR BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE TIRES WERE WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 06/26/13
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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