FaultScore

2004 Honda Civic brake problems

11 of the 424 complaints about the 2004 Honda Civic are about the braking system — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 54,676 miles.

F

11

Complaints

4

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Service Brakes, Hydraulic 4 36.4%
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 3 27.3%
Service Brakes 2 18.2%
Rotor 1 9.1%
Service Brakes, Electric 1 9.1%

Brakes across every Honda Civic year

1991 10 1.0%
1993 12 1.2%
1994 20 1.9%
1995 14 1.4%
1996 65 6.3%
1997 29 2.8%
1998 11 1.1%
1999 19 1.8%
2000 14 1.4%
2001 52 5.1%
2002 24 2.3%
2003 34 3.3%
2004 11 1.1%
2005 17 1.7%
2006 64 6.2%
2007 43 4.2%
2008 44 4.3%
2009 51 5.0%
2010 90 8.8%
2011 33 3.2%
2012 39 3.8%
2013 38 3.7%
2014 18 1.8%
2015 15 1.5%
2016 98 9.5%
2017 36 3.5%
2018 26 2.5%
2019 31 3.0%
2020 17 1.7%
2021 18 1.8%
2022 22 2.1%
2023 13 1.3%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 95,000 miles Lowell, MA

SERVICE BRAKES

TODAY, I WAS DRIVING MY WIFE S 2004 HONDA CIVIC IN THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 60 MILES PER HR WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING AS IF IT WAS IN CRUISE CONTROL.. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND PRESSED THE BRAKE WITH LITTLE RESULTS. THE BRAKES FELT SO HARD AS IF THEY WERE LOCKED. THEN I DECIDED TO CHANGE GEARS TO D2 AND TOGETHER WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR A BIT. AFTER THAT, I PULLED OVER THE BRAKE DOWN LANE AT ABOUT 10 MILES PER HOUR BUT I STILL COULD NOT STOP THE CAR. WITH THE HELP OF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR HOWEVER, THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AS IF IT WAS ACCELERATING. THIS IS WHEN I DECIDED TO PUT IT ON NEUTRAL AND FOLLOW BY A LOUD NOISE THE ENGINE FINALLY STOP RUNNING....THANK GOD NO ONE WAS HURT....

NHTSA complaint #10477094 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,460 miles Beasley, TX Crash

SERVICE BRAKES

I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO 15-20 MPH TO BE READY FOR A RED LIGHT. WHEN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN ME AND THE FRONT CAR WAS ABOUT 20 FEET, I HIT MY BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A COMPLETE STOP, ALL THE SUDDEN, MY CAR WAS SPEEDING UP AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT. AND BOUNCED BACK STOPPED. I WAS WONDERING, "WHY WAS THE CAR SPEEDING UP WHEN I HIT THE BRAKE, ?" THOUGHT I MISTAKENLY HIT THE GAS PEDAL, TO TEST IF MY BRAKE WAS GOOD, I HIT THE BRAKE ONE MORE TIME, THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN, MY CAR WAS SPEEDING UP AND HIT THE FRONT CAR VERY HARD AGAIN AND DAMAGED BOTH CARS. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON HIGHWAY, I WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I JUST CHANGED MY BRAKES AT HONDA DEALER ABOUT HALF YEARS AGO. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW IN END OF 2003. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME FOR THE BRAKE TROUBLE. THE DAMAGE WILL COST ME AT LEAST $4000. REPAIR , VALUE DECREASE AND INSURANCE . I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW A PLACE I CAN GET COMPENSATION FROM THE MANUFACTURE.

NHTSA complaint #10472982 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 150,000 miles Roanoke, VA

SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC

SAME BRAKING ISSUE REPORTED WITH THE PRIUS. WHEN BRAKING, IF YOU GO OVER A POTHOLE, RAILROAD TRACKS, ETC., IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES AREN'T STOPPING THE VEHICLE. IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME YOU STOP WHILE GOING OVER AN IMPERFECTION IN THE ROADWAY. THERE ARE NO CONSEQUENCES IF YOU QUICKLY TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND REAPPLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A STANDARD SIDE EFFECT OF DRIVING A HYBRID. ALSO, IN RAIN OR SLICK CONDITIONS, THE ELECTRIC MOTOR KICKS IN PROVIDES ADDITIONAL POWER AT THE WRONG TIME. AGAIN, CAREFUL DRIVING KEEPS THIS FROM BEING A SERIOUS ISSUE. IF YOU QUICKLY TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND THEN REAPPLY, THE ISSUE RESOLVES ITSELF. THIS HAS ALSO BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW.

NHTSA complaint #10307787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 3,100 miles Union, NJ Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

2004 HONDA CIVIC CUSTOMER STATES THAT HER CAR WAS TOTALED DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE**CC THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND DID NOT CEASE TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKES APPLIED, THEREFORE CRASHING INTO A METAL BARRIER AT ALARMING SPEED.

NHTSA complaint #10192143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tunkhannock, PA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELS SEVERAL INCHES PRIOR TO BRAKES ENGAING. CAR WAS DELIVERED LIKE THIS FROM DEALER WHO SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES.

NHTSA complaint #10170027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Euless, TX

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

CONSUMER'S 2004 CIVIC PULLED LEFT. ACCELERATOR WOULD NOT ENGAGE WHEN DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A SUDDEN JUMP. *TS THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE'S STEREO AND GEAR SYSTEM. THE DEALER REPAIR THE LOOSE WIRE BUT THE STEREO'S SOUND IS AFFECTED WHEN THE VEHICLE HITS BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE GEAR SHIFT WAS REPLACED. THE RUBBER SEAL ON THE WINDSHIELD POPPED UP. THE PAINT ON THE BACK FENDER STARTED TO FLAKE. THE BRAKE BEGAN TO MAKE NOISE EVEN AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED.

NHTSA complaint #10161576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Voorhees, NJ

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHILE DRIVING IN SNOW DRIVER NOTICED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION THAT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE SLID ON ITS OWN, THEN STOPPED. FINALLY, THE VEHICLE STARTED, SLOWING DOWN AND COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10113173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 14,352 miles Memphis, TN

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHIMMY WHEN BRAKING FROM 40-60 MPH. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. DEALER INFORMED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM CONCERNING THE FRONT ROTORS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #10092434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 11,969 miles Andover, MA Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHILE DRIVING 65M PH IN 3RD LANE OF A 4 LANE HIGHWAY. TAPPED BRAKES TO REDUCE SPEED SLIGHTLY, BOTH WHEELS ON RIGHT SIDE OF CAR LOCKED UP, SENDING CAR INTO A FISH TAIL THROUGH BOTH LANES ON EITHER SIDE OF THE CAR, SPUN AND HIT THE CENTER GUARD RAIL OF THE HIGHWAY FACING BACK UP THE DIRECTION I CAME FROM. SIDE AND FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON PASSENGAR SIDE WHERE THE MOST SERVE IMPACT OCCURRED. THE ACCIDENT CAUSED $13,000 OF DAMAGE INCLUDING SEVERE FRAME DAMAGE. HONDA REFUSED TO INSPECT THE BRAKES AFTER THE ACCIDENT, INSTEAD CLAIMED THAT THE BRAKE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY THE ACCIDENT, NOT THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. TALKING PRIVATELY WITH A HONDA CERTIFIED MECHANIC, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE ERROR CODES ON THE COMPUTER: INLET CYLINOID FAILURE (31.1 & 35.1) & PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIR BAG CENSOR FAILURE (9.9.7). HONDA REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS, AND I SOLD THE CAR AS I FELT UNSAFE DRIVING IT. THE CAR WAS STILL ON WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #10082955 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Phoenix, AZ Crash 1 injured

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED , BRAKES FAILED AND VEHICLE HIT BRICK WALL HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10081954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Laurel, MD

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WORN PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #10074408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2004 Honda Civic problems

← Full 2004 Honda Civic report