20 complaints reported

2009 Honda Civic SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
20
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
1

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Oct 2011

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Apr 2011
Oct 2011

FRONT BRAKE PADS WORE OUT AT 23,000 MILES. PADS WORE UNEVENLY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2011
Aug 2011 Crash

BRAKE BOOSTER, BOOSTER HOSE/CHECK VALVE FAILURES. NINETEEN OCCURRENCES OF HARD BRAKE PEDAL AND LOW PERFORMANCE OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM ON 2009 HONDA CIVIC 4 DOOR SEDAN. THE 1ST HONDA 2009 CIVIC SEDAN HAD THE SAME BRAKE ISSUES AS THE 2ND ONE THAT I OWN NOW. I HAD AN ACCIDENT ON JUNE 7, 2011, THE CAR DID NOT BRAKE NORMALLY. MY PROBLEMS WITH THE CURRENT CAR STARTED ON MAY 19, 2010. I PURCHASED THE CAR ON APRIL 27, 2010. I CONTINUALLY HAVE A HARD BRAKE PEDAL ON APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES ON THE FIRST 3 OR 4 APPLICATIONS OF THE BRAKES AFTER STARTING TO DRIVE. THE DEALER CONTINUALLY CLAIMS THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES AND CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM ON TEST DRIVES. AN INDEPENDENT HONDA GARAGE INSPECTED THE BRAKES 1 WEEK AGO AND DID THE HONDA BOOSTER BRAKE TEST PROCEDURE, THEY FOUND THAT THE BOOSTER HOSE/CHECK VALVE ASSY FAILED THE TEST. IT TOOK THEM 45 MINUTES TO COMPLETE THE INSPECTION WITH THE TEST. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THE SAME AFTERNOON AND THEY ONLY SPENT 19 MINUTES ON THE CLOCK, HAVING THE CAR FOR 5 DAYS. THE DEALER STILL CLAIMED THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AGAIN. I DROVE THE CAR THE 2 BLOCKS TOO MY TRUCK AND THE APPLICATIONS OF THE BRAKES WERE ALL HARD PEDAL, REQUIRING HARDER PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL TO STOP THE CAR. THE NEXT MORNING THE CAR DID THE SAME THING COMING DOWN THE HILL TO THE FREEWAY. THE BRAKES SEEM TO RECOVER AFTER THE 4TH APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES. I HAVE CONTINUALLY COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS TO THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT. THEY REPLACED THE BOOSTER HOSE/CHECK VALVE ON THE 1ST CAR AND THEN JUST AS I WAS REACHING THE END OF THE WARRANTY, THEY REPLACED THE BOOSTER ON THE CAR. BY THAT TIME I WAS DONE WITH THE CAR AND TRADED IT IN ON ANOTHER ONE, SAME MODEL, SAME YEAR. I FIGURED IT COULDN'T HAPPEN WITH ANOTHER ONE. SAME THING HAPPENED 3 WEEKS LATER ON THIS ONE AND SO FAR 19 INSTANCES HAVE BEEN LOGGED WITH DATES, TIME AND LOCATIONS. THIS INFO IS IN THE POLICE REPORT AND A CERTIFIED LETTER OF COMPLAINT SENT TO THE DEALER. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jul 2011
Jul 2011

WHEN THE CAR IS SHUT OFF, ALL ASSIST TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IS LOST WITHIN 30 MINUTES. THE SI MODELS ARE MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. WHEN THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED TO START THE ENGINE WITH NORMAL FOOT PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR WILL ROLL IF ON AN INCLINE. VERY HEAVY PRESSURE IS REQUIRED TO PREVENT ROLLING. THE DEALER AGREES THE PROBLEM EXISTS BUT SAYS THAT IS HOW IT IS DESIGNED. I HAVE 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS; NO OTHER VEHICLES I HAVE DRIVEN EXHIBIT THIS TRAIT. THE RISK FOR PEDESTRIAN AND PROPERTY DAMAGE IN PARKING AREAS ON AN INCLINE SEEMS SIGNIFICANT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2010
Dec 2010

A RUBBING, GRINDING, METAL ON METAL NOISE FROM THE FRONT BRAKES AFTER A LITTLE OVER 19, 916 MILES. I HAD THE DEALERSHIP PERFORM AN INSPECTION OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE PADS HAVE WORN DOWN TO THE POINT WHERE METAL-TO-METAL CONTACT IS OCCURRING, MY VEHICLE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO STOP SAFELY, AND DAMAGE MAY OCCUR WHERE THE BRAKE ROTORS OR DRUMS NEED TO BE REPLACED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Dec 2010
Nov 2010

FRONT BRAKES WERE WORN DOWN OVER A VERY SHORT DURATION. THE CAR DID NOT HAVE MANY MILES ON IT, NOR HAD THE CAR BEEN DRIVEN ERRATICALLY, BUT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jul 2010
Oct 2010

WE HAVE A 2009 HONDA CIVIC WITH 24,000 MILES ON IT. RECENTLY WE NOTICED THAT THERE IS A VERY HIGH PITCHED SOUND WHEN THE CAR IS IN REVERSE AND YOU BRAKE. WE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS PROBABLY BRAKES. WE EXPLAINED WE HAD A 2004 CIVIC AND DIDN'T HAVE TO REPLACE BRAKES FOR 113,000 MILES AND THIS DIDN'T MAKE SENSE. THEN WE WENT ONLINE AND FOUND THERE IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH HONDA'S BRAKING SYSTEM IN THE 2008-2009 MODELS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Oct 2010
Oct 2010

BRAKES FAIL ON ROUGH OR BUMPY ROADS. IT FEELS VERY UNSAFE. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE ROAD IS ROUGH, BUMPY OR IS LINED AS IN NEW PAVING. THE BRAKES WILL NOT STOP CAR APPROPRIATELY. TODAY I WENT 4 FEET PAST THE STOP SIGN ON A NEW LINED ROAD. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Oct 2010
Oct 2010

2009 HONDA CIVIC LX - 28,085.00 MILES. FRONT DRIVER'S INSIDE BRAKE PAD WORN DOWN TO 1 MILLIMETER. I NOTICED THE SQUEALING SOUND LAST WEEK AND IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. THE INSIDE PISTON ON THE DRIVER CALIPER IS NOT RECOVERING AFTER BRAKE IS APPLIED THEREFORE CAUSING PAD TO WEAR OUT PREMATURELY. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH HONDA ACCORDS BUT AFTER RESEARCHING THIS, IT IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR HONDA CIVICS AS WELL. HONDA DEALERSHIP SAID BRAKES/TIRES ARE NOT UNDER WARRANTY SO THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THEM FOR FREE OR EVEN DISCOUNT THE PRICE AND SAID THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE CIVIC'S BRAKES. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Sep 2010
Sep 2010

2009 HONDA CIVIC WAS IN FOR 15,854 OIL CHANGE (NEW CAR) END TECHNICIAN REPORTED BRAKES WERE WEARING ON 2 FRONT BRAKES AND WOULD PROBABLY NEED REPLACEMENT AT 20,000 MILES OR SOONER. SQUEALING NOISE AT TIMES WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. THIS IS TOO SOON FOR BRAKES TO BE REPLACED AND HAVE PROBLEMS ON A NEW CAR. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2010
Sep 2010

WHEN BRAKING HARD ON ROUGH GROUND OR SLIPPERY SURFACES, ABS SEEMS TO TAKE EXTRA LONG ( 3 TIMES FURTHER THAN OTHER CARS WITH ABS ) TO STOP CAR. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Oct 2010
Aug 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE TRAVELING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND NOTICED AN ABNORMAL SQUEAKING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE PERSISTED. UPDATED 11/19/10. *LJ THE DEALER STATED THE ROTORS WERE GLAZED AND OVERHEATED. THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AND THE ROTORS WERE RESURFACED. UPDATED 11/24/10

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Nov 2008
Jul 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH OR LESS, THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIVE EXTREMELY ROUGH AS IF SHE WERE DRIVING ON AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR ROTORS AND CALIPERS WERE DAMAGED. THE REAR ROTORS WERE REPLACED AND THE REAR CALIPERS WERE CLEANED. APPROXIMATELY TEN DAYS LATER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE REAR ROTORS WERE RUSTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN IN TO BE EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,900.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2010
Jun 2010

AT 17,000 MILE SERVICE ON MY 2009 HONDA CIVIC, FRONT BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED. FRONT RIGHT BRAKE WAS AT ZERO. I PAID TO HAVE NEW BRAKE PADS INSTALLED AND CALLED HONDA AMERICA FOR EXPLANATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. HONDA AMERICA REFUSES TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY. IT SAYS 17,00 MILES FALLS WITHIN NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2010
Jun 2010

LOUD SOUND COMING FROM FRONT END, TOOK IT IN FOR WARRANTY REPAIR AND WAS TOLD BRAKES WERE WORN OUT AT 18,XXX MILES. I DRIVE MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES AND I ARGUED THAT IT WAS TOO EARLY FOR THAT TO HAPPEN AND WAS TOLD IT DEPENDS ON THE DRIVER. I HAVE DRIVEN 5 CARS IN MY LIFE AND THE AVG BRAKE LIFE WAS 60-70,000 MILES. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED I HAVE TO DO REPAIRS ON A 2009 CIVIC THAT I PURCHASED WITH 10 MILES ON IT. I CALLED AND COMPLAINED TO CORPORATE AND WAS GIVEN THE COMPANY LINE. NO HELP! *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Oct 2010
Jun 2010

I WAS BACKING UP AND MY BRAKES FAILED. I HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2010
Apr 2010

HONDA CIVIC LX - 17,000 MILES. NOISE FROM FRONT WHEN BRAKING. DEALERSHIP SAID THAT FRONT BRAKES HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED (PADS AND ROTORS). REFUSED TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY CLAIMING THAT THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR. COMPLAINED TO AMERICAN HONDA AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND CLEARLY DUE TO WEAR. THEY REFUSED TO COMMENT WHEN I ASKED HOW 17,000 MILES FOR NEW FRONT BRAKES COULD POSSIBLY BE CONSIDERED WEAR. MILES ARE ALL HIGHWAY DRIVEN. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jul 2010
Mar 2010 Crash Injury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WITH NO POWER RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUFFERED SLIGHT BACK PAIN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED FOR THE INCIDENT. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER A WAS NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING ON A RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 10,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Mar 2010
Mar 2010

MY 2009 HONDA CIVIC LX NEEDED TO HAVE THE FRONT BRAKE PADS REPLACED (WORN TO MINIMUM) AT 11K MILES AND NOW AGAIN AT 23K. NORMAL USAGE, PREVIOUS 5 VEHICLES SERVICED AT ~50K MILES UNDER SAME CONDITIONS. APPEARS TO BE DEFECT IN BRAKE PAD LIFE TIME. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2010
Nov 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA ACCORD. DURING BRAKE APPLICATION BETWEEN 25-40 MPH SHE EXPERIENCES PULSATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN RESURFACED THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE ROTORS BECAUSE THEY WERE OUT OF ROUND. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2009 HONDA CIVIC, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Oct 2009

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2009 Honda Civic has 20 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC complaints on file. 2 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.