Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2009 Honda Civic owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
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.
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: [phone]) 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.
My 2009 (automatic) Honda Civic ex slipped into neutral four during the night. For the first three times, the driver would allow the RPM's to drop causing us to sit in traffic for an undefined period of time before returning the car to the drive position. On the fourth time this happened, driver and I were in a large parking lot making a right turn with a building about a football field away. About halfway through the turn, the car was placed back into drive from neutral and it began to drive itself. As the car accelerated faster and faster the driver tried to slam on the brakes many times without the pedal even budging or the car slowing down in the slightest way. When we tried to turn the steering wheel it locked up in a straight away position, causing the car to hit at least two large curbed medians and go airborne each time. Driver and I braced ourselves as the building came closer. …
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. …
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 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.
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.
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.
Brake complaints in other Civic years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2009 Honda Civic?
NHTSA has 51 complaints about the brakes of the 2009 Honda Civic, 13% of the model year's 396 complaints. The component named most often is foundation components › disc › rotor (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2009 Honda Civic brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2009 Honda Civic, though it has 8 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2009 Honda Civic brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 23,000 miles, and 61% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 8 crashes, 1 fire and 8 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.