7.7

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$300
Average Mileage:
28,750 miles
Total Complaints:
43 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. replace brake pads (17 reports)
  2. replace brakes & rotors (11 reports)
  3. not sure (9 reports)
  4. replace front brake pads and resurface rotors (6 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Honda dealer.

problem #43

Feb 012011

Civic EX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 12,500 miles

Heard noises from front of car, at 12,500 miles had to get new brake pads and resurfaced rotors under warranty from dealership. At 22,000 miles again heard grinding noises, again new brake pads and resurfaced rotors. Dealership said " it was my driving" I told them ' ----- you. Eventually yelling at them, fix them again for free under warranty.

At 30,000 again heard grinding noises, my brakes again. Dealership told me, no more under warranty, that I had to pay! In the meantime, while waiting for my car at Honda, I went in the waiting room and asked anyone that had civic if they had brake problems, and they where many of us. We all complain to the manager of Honda regarding our brakes, and was told "No Recall".

Now at 50,000 miles, my brakes pads have to replaced and new rotors! Something needs to be done! I will never buy another Honda again!

- wolffny, Lake Peekskill, NY, US

problem #42

Sep 082014

Civic LX 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 48,000 miles

Are you kidding me? Front brakes for a car with mostly highway driving? I'm light on brakes. This was the start of several problems.

- Charles B., Kissimmee, FL, US

problem #41

Nov 012015

Civic EX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

I purchased my car used in 2013 from a dealership with 33k miles on it. My dad was a mechanic at that dealership so I know it had just received new brakes there. It's now 2015 and I have just under 70k miles on my car. Since purchasing I have had to replace the front brakes 2 times and the rear brakes 1 time. I have also had to completely replace all rotors and I may need a new parking brake.

- mindymarie, Newport Beach, CA, US

problem #40

Nov 202014

Civic LS

  • Automatic transmission
  • 92,962 miles

I just had my brakes replaced 2 yrs ago 10/20/12 and now 11/20/14 I'm replacing them again. I've only put 40,000 miles on my car since. It started sounding loud when trying to stop and began getting harder to apply the brakes. Not safe. Why is this happening?

- Ramona H., Trenton, FL, US

problem #39

Sep 192014

Civic LX-S 2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,390 miles

Just under 54,000, brake pads already changed twice and rotors resurfaced once, and now my brakes "skip" and have popping noises whenever I try to break on a rough road surface or when encountering "holes" in the road. The streets in my area have been "roughed up" in order to prepare for resurfacing, I am scared to death that when I need to break, that my brakes will lock up, skip, and just flat out, won't stop my car. It takes a few seconds before they finally take hold and stop my car. I came very close to entering a busy intersecting because my brakes would not "stop" my car right away. I will be taking to the dealership shortly.

- bigmama45, Palmdale, CA, US

problem #38

Nov 222013

Civic LX-S 2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 41,000 miles

This is the second time I have had to replace the brake pads. This time the rotors needed to be resurfaced as well. At 41,000 miles this is unacceptable! I purchased this car believing in the good reputation of "Honda". I am beginning to believe that Honda has chosen to value their "profits" over their reputation. I no longer have faith in Honda.

- bigmama45, Palmdale, CA, US

problem #37

Jan 052013

Civic LX-S 2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 24,000 miles

Throughout my life I have owned 1 Honda and 3 Toyotas and I have never had to replace the brakes after only 24,000 miles. The dealer told me it was not covered under warranty and tried to tell me it must be from my driving. I am 40+ year old mature driver. I do not "brake hard" as he stated I must be doing. He also said he hadn't heard of any other similar complaints yet when I went on line, it appears as the number one complaint with this car. Needless to say I don't appreciate being lied to.

- bigmama45, Palmdale, CA, US

problem #36

Nov 152012

Civic LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 29,500 miles

I too had to install new brake pads before I had 30k on my 2010 Honda Civic in 2012. I live in a mountainous region and wanted them taken care of right, so I had the dealer that I purchased the car from install new brake pads. I was just told on 05.23.2014 that I need brakes again, after only 23k miles on the new ones.

This is the 5th Honda that I have owned and I have never had to deal with ANY brake issues before 65k and now with this one two times! I was considering a new car, I thought an Accord for me and I would give this car to my teenager. Sad to say but I believe I will check out the competition after having been a loyal Honda owner for decades. I am very scared to put my kid in this car!!! This really needs to be part of a recall...Is Honda waiting to have serious injuries??? Or even death??? Extremely disappointed with Honda.

- 5helli, Franklin, TN, US

problem #35

Jan 202013

Civic LXE 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35,000 miles

Brakes, front and rear, replaced last January. Well, one year later guess what I need?? You guessed it, front and rear brakes!! Additionally, there is a problem with the rim rubbing on the tire in the rear driver side so the rim had to be ground down and looks like crap.

Last Honda I will ever own!

- Melanie C., Easton, PA, US

problem #34

Mar 012013

Civic LX 1.8L V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

I'm changing my brakes every 15,000 miles or so. I think Honda should compensate for this problem and should fix the issues that all are having.

- Sae L., Laurel, MD, US

problem #33

Jun 022013

Civic

  • Manual transmission
  • 24,855 miles

Early June 2013, my wife (a long time dedicated Honda buyer) began complaining of a grinding noise in the front of our leased 2010 Honda Civic. Because I work out of town with our other vehicle, she was unable to take it in for servicing. Two weeks later I am in town running around in our usual kids filled events weekend, me in our other vehicle, my wife in our Honda Civic. She calls on the cell to announce a near miss incident with 9 year old daughter in the back seat. When trying to stop for a stop sign, the brake pedal went right to the floor. The car only slowed marginally and she went through the stop sign, nearly collided with oncoming traffic. She heard a "clanking" noise on the pavement and after vehicles all stopped, she got out of the car to find the whole pad assembly had literally fallen off the car!!

Our Birchwood Honda dealer in Winnipeg promptly told her upon hearing about this that the brakes are not covered under warranty and even with the low kilometers they would not cover replacement as my wife had not brought the vehicle in for maintenance. I reminded the dealer that of all the previous Honda vehicles we had ever brought in for periodic maintenance, the service shop never recorded checking brakes. When I asked why, he stated, "because they're not in the warranty package" I promptly told him they wouldn't have checked these either and we wouldn't have brought it in because the car had very low mileage.

To add insult to injury, the dealer offered to repair the brake assembly for over $800.00 (probably understated) and then offered my wife a new lease on another Civic for double our current rate.

Needless to say, we took the car for brake repair to a local shop. Honda has since refused to cover the costs.

- krusty, Winnipeg, MB, canada

problem #32

Mar 152012

Civic LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35,000 miles

I bought my Honda Civic in February of 2012. Less than 20 days went by before I had to drive it back to the dealership to get the brakes replaced. I immediately thought that they just did not keep up with the car. Luckily, since it was under 30 days the brakes were replaced under warranty. Sadly, 7 months later my brakes started to make a horrible noise. I was 100% convinced it was not the brakes considering I had them replaced recently. I took the car to the dealership and it was the brakes. I was furious. I took the car elsewhere for a second opinion and it was in fact the brakes. I replaced them. Now, it is 7 months later and I am taking my car in for service in 3 days because my routers are making a horrible noise (grinding). I will not be leaving the service station with the same car. I have read online that there is a current lawsuit against Honda for their Civics 2008, 2009, and 2010 models. I will own a new car on Monday with no money down and my loan will be paid off. I will not fall victim to Honda not alerting me of this issue when purchasing the car. BEWARE of Civics during these years.

- nicolegunning, Philadelphia, PA, US

problem #31

Sep 082013

Civic LX 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 37,054 miles

We first had to replace the front brake pads at 20k miles, dealer said it was normal. Now 17k miles later they are squealing again, brought it in again--factory pads worn down. My wife drives like a little old lady, very disappointed in Honda brakes. Love the car except for this ongoing issue.

- bbradley, Carmichael, CA, US

problem #30

Feb 292012

Civic

  • Automatic transmission
  • 16,163 miles

I went to get my car inspected. The car passed inspection but once again the brakes were low. Replacing the brakes on the brake scale I was told is about 2.3 or close to it. Mine were at 6.1 or close to it.

My question is why are the brakes going down so fast. Never had any problems with any previous cars.

- gjgsfeins, Phila, PA, US

problem #29

May 082012

Civic LX 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,000 miles

This is my 3rd Honda to own, and I really feel like they dropped the ball this time. Only 40,000 miles and my brakes were squealing so bad I was embarrassed to drive it! We replaced the brakes ourselves and the inside of the pads on both front tires were worn to nothing at an angle. There's definitely a problem going on here.

I was shocked that there has yet to be a recall made for this issue!! I'm without a doubt calling the dealership asap!!

- Jennifer C., Temple, TX, US

problem #28

Sep 192012

Civic EX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 49,000 miles

JUST A BRIEF-HISTORY.... PURCHASED CAR IN NOVEMBER 2010.

1. FIRST PROBLEM WITH FRONT BRAKES, JULY 6, 2011 - LEFT FRONT CALIPER STICKING, CAUSING PREMATURE BRAKE WARE. MILEAGE 17,987. DEALERSHIP REPLACED PADS AND CALIPER.

2. SECOND INCIDENT, 37,O64 MILES.... FRONT BRAKES GRINDING,TOOK BACK TO DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD BRAKES METAL TO METAL. DEALERSHIP SAID THAT IT WOULD COST $344.09 TO REPAIR. THEY TOOK ME INTO REPAIR BAY AN SHOWED ME THE BRAKES. TOLD THEM T PUT IT BACK TOGETHER, I WA TAKING IT TO MY MECHANIC. HALF WA HOME, DEALERSHIP CALLS ME AND SAID TO BRING IT BACK FIRST THING IN MORNING AND THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT. MUST OF BEEN THE COMPLAINING I WAS DOING IN THE REPAIR BAY AND WHEN I SAID I MAY JUST HAVE TO FILE A LAWSUIT AND WOULD HAVE ALL THE MECHANICS SUBPOENA ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. TOOK THE CAR BACK THE NEXT MORNING, THEY FIXED IT BUT CHARGED E $50.00. PAID IT BECAUSE I WAS JUST HAPPY IT WAS FIXED. THEY REPLACED FRONT BRAKES ND ROTORS

3. NOW MILEAGE 49000... GUESS WHAT, SUSPECTING PROBLEMS WITH FRONT LEFT BRAKE AGAIN... HAS ONLY BEEN 12,000 MILES. WORST THING IS WE DON'T RIDE THE CAR HARD AT ALL. I ALWAYS HAD A GOOD OPINION OF HONDAS UNTIL NOW. PROBABLY WOULD NOT BUY ANOTHER ONE NOR RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE. TAKING MY HONDA TO MY PERSONAL MECHANIC IN MORNING AND HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT. IF IT IS THE BRAKES AGAIN I WILL REPOST.... AND THEN FIND OUT HOW TO ESCALATE THIS....

- Charlie R., Macon, GA, US

problem #27

Jul 012013

Civic LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 49,950 miles

First my front axle then the brakes? Like, can someone PLEASE tell me whats going on. I bought the car in late April/Early May of 2013. At this time I didn't hear the popping noises occurring near the front brake pads. When I did hear these noises (which was about a week later) I then took it back to the dealership. Service center said it was just the new brake pads. They tried explaining to me about how it was the electric shock brake pads honda uses? But I was buying it AT ALL. Took it to an actual honda dealership and found out it was the axle. Would've cost me about $700!!!!! But to make a long story short, When I did get my axle fixed, they told me my brake pads were at 80%. Wait, but I thought I just got new brake pads on. I only drove, what, 5,000 miles? Fix this problem now

- Joseph J., Houston, TX, US

problem #26

Feb 132013

Civic EX-L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 18,217 miles

I expected reliability from Honda. I will be considering another brand for my next vehicle.

- ghettosamson, Melbourne, FL, US

problem #25

Feb 022013

Civic LX 1.8L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 15,770 miles

I purchased my 2010 Honda new and currently have barely 16,000 miles on this vehicle. So far, the front brake pads have been replaced and the rotors machined at 8,044 miles and again at 15,770 miles. It is obvious there is a problem on this vehicle regarding premature brake wear, which Honda is unwilling to address.

- valerieca, Los Angeles, CA, US

problem #24

Dec 152012

Civic LX

  • Manual transmission
  • 14,000 miles

Has any one heard of the solution to fixing the Premature Brake Wear on the 8th generation Honda Civics? It seems to be a issue with all 2008-2011 civics? What is the cause of this? and what is the long term remedy to fix the brake pads from wearing down so fast? It seems that everyone just goes to the dealer to get the same defective pads put on that continue to wear down within a yearr??? I am wondering what the underlying issue is? Bad Calipers? Too small of a brake pad? etc etc.. What is making these pads wear down at around 10,000 miles? It's unacceptable that Honda has not done a recall on this issue already! I have read numerous complaints by Honda civic owners all over the web? What the hell is Honda waiting for a major accident!!! I just purchased a 2010 Civic and I didn't realize there was a defect in the braking system..(shame on Honda for not fixing this issue ASAP!) now I am freaked out to drive...I bought this car so that I would feel safe and confident driving...and now I feel worse driving this then I did my 2001! That's not right! Changing break pads every year is not normal at all! This is a serious safety issue and Honda needs to figure out how to fix it ASAP before tragedies occur! Anyways if anyone knows how to fix this issue correctly long term ..please respond? Thank You

- Angelina A., Sd, CA, US

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