RoadVitals

2009 Honda Civic Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting 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.
10
Latest Jun 30, 2025
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 395 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.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. 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. 10 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 exterior lighting

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

ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jun 30, 2025
Fire reported

While driving, the hood prop rod dislodged from its securing clip and fell onto the positive terminal of the battery. This caused an electrical short, which led to the rod heating up rapidly and igniting a fire under the hood. The fire damaged the headlight assembly and the surrounding trim panel, though the wiring fortunately did not catch fire. A nearby police officer was able to extinguish the fire before it spread further. This incident posed a serious safety risk and could have resulted in more extensive damage or injury. There were no warning lights or symptoms before the failure. The issue appears to stem from the design or failure of the clip that holds the hood prop rod in place. The vehicle has not been modified and was being driven under normal conditions. A local auto body shop inspected the vehicle afterward and confirmed that the loose prop rod made contact with the battery terminal, creating a serious fire hazard. They advised reporting this as a safety issue. The manufacturer has not yet inspected the vehicle. The incident was witnessed by a police officer, and the damage was evaluated by an independent repair shop following the fire.

NHTSA ID
11670398
Incident
Jun 24, 2025
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 14, 2017

TPMS WARNING LIGHT CONSTANTLY ON WHILE IGNITION IS ON REGARDLESS OF AIR PRESSURE IN TIRES. DEALER ESTIMATED $200 TO REPAIR. NOT REPAIRED DUE TO EXCESSIVE COST.

NHTSA ID
10954492
Incident
Aug 17, 2016
Mileage
65,000 mi
Body & structureExterior lighting
Filed Feb 15, 2016

INSANE AMOUNT OF CLEAR COAT PEELING IS HAPPENING THIS YEAR. ROOF HAS SOCCER BALL SIZE OF CLEAR COAT DAMAGE. HOOD HAS SPIDER WEB ALL OVER THE PLACE.

NHTSA ID
10836248
Incident
Feb 7, 2015
Body & structureEngineExterior lighting
Filed Dec 9, 2015

INTERIOR CENTER LED BRAKE LIGHT FAILED, RIGHT SIDE ENGINE MOUNT FAILED, ATOMIC BLUE PAINT ON ROOF AND EDGES OF REAR FENDERS AROUND TRUNK FADED AND CHALKY.

NHTSA ID
10809356
Incident
Dec 9, 2015
Mileage
150,000 mi
BrakesElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Nov 8, 2015

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.

NHTSA ID
10789067
Incident
Nov 6, 2015
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 19, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE WERE NOT EMITTING ENOUGH LIGHT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE HEADLIGHTS WERE REPLACED WITH BRIGHTER BULBS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. UPDATED 04/03/15*LJ

NHTSA ID
10684245
Incident
Feb 12, 2015
Mileage
15,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 29, 2013

THE CENTER 3RD BRAKE LIGHT STOPPED WORKING. SINCE IT'S AN LED ARRAY AND NOT A NORMAL LIGHT BULB IT COSTS OVER $200 TO REPLACE. ALSO, IT CAN ONLY BE REPLACED BY THE DEALER. FROM SEARCHING THE INTERNET THIS IS APPARENTLY A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. AN LED ARRAY SHOULD NOT FAIL. BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE HONDA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE UNITS.

NHTSA ID
10537881
Incident
Aug 29, 2013
Mileage
44,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 10, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FOGGED UP AND REDUCED VISIBILITY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,000. *TR

NHTSA ID
10515998
Incident
Apr 11, 2011
Exterior lightingOther / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Sep 1, 2012

THIS IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, AGAIN.. 2012, NOT JUST IN 2010 TIRES ARE ABNORMALLY WEARING EXTREMELY FAST. ABOUT EVERY YEAR SOMEONE IS TELLING ME I NEED NEW TIRES BECAUSE THEY ARE 'CHOPPED' AND WEARING REALLY FAST. THIS LEAD ME TO THE INTERNET TO DO RESEARCH AND FOUND IT IS COMMON WITH THE 2006-2009 CIVICS. SOMETHING ABOUT THE CONTROL ARMS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, IN TURN CAUSING THIS PROBLEM AND A WHOLE LOT OF OTHERS LIKE SUSPENSION. I CANNOT AFFORD AND SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PUT NEW TIRES ON MY NEW CAR EVERY YEAR OR 20000 MILES. I AM SO FRUSTRATED AND AT A LOSS OF WHAT TO DO. I HAVE A CALL INTO HONDA BUT HAVEN'T HEARD BACK, I CAN ONLY IMAGE WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO SAY. THE OTHER FAILURE IS MY 'HEADLIGHTS ARE STILL ON' INDICATOR NOISE STOPPED WORKING A YEAR AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW. UGH, SO FRUSTRATING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10473254
Incident
Sep 10, 2010
Mileage
26,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 17, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT LEFT TURN SIGNAL WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT A BULB COULD NOT BE INSTALLED INTO THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS NOT A HOUSING UNIT FOR A BULB. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE DID NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT A LEFT TURN SIGNAL BULB. THE VEHICLE AS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ID
10349982
Incident
Aug 13, 2010
Mileage
9,000 mi

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 .