2009 HONDA CIVIC Complaints

1) VISORS CRACKED - DRIVER'S SIDE DOES NOT STAY UP. 2) HYBRID BATTERY LIGHT SHOWED IT FAILED - DEALERSHIP REPROGRAMMED THE CAR FALL 2011 AND SINCE THEN THE CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE AS WELL. I HAVE NOTICED LESSENED ABILITY TO ACCELERATE WHEN MERGING. 3) TWO OF THE DOORS FAIL TO LOCK WHEN THE CAR REACHES LOCKING SPEED. ONE OF THESE IS A BACK SEAT PASSENGER DOOR WHERE A CHILD SITS. *TR

THE SUN VISORS ON THE CAR ARE BUILT POORLY AND THE PLASTIC WILL SPLIT, CAUSING THE SUN VISOR TO FAIL. AFTER FAILURE, THE SUN VISOR WILL NOT RETURN TO THE FOLDED POSITION, OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S VIEW AS IT STICKS OUT INTO THE CAR, REDUCING VISIBILITY. BOTH AMERICAN HONDA AS WELL AS LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIPS ACKNOWLEDGE THIS FLAW IN THE VEHICLES BUT THEY ARE CURRENTLY RESISTING MY ATTEMPTS TO HAVE MY CAR'S SUN VISORS REPLACED FOR FREE DUE TO DESIGN FLAW. THEY CLAIM THAT MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT THE LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST AMERICAN HONDA LAST YEAR HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT IT DOES NOT COVER MY CAR'S VIN NUMBER. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE FIXED AS IT IS REOCCURRING AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IF THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. HONDA ACKNOWLEDGES THAT NOT ALL OWNERS WHO HAVE THIS ISSUE REPORT THE PROBLEM AND THAT IT IS WIDESPREAD BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN PLACED BECAUSE THEY ARE OFTEN JUST FIXED ON A CASE BY CASE PROBLEM BUT EVEN REPLACEMENTS OFTEN FAIL AS NO CHANGE TO THE PRODUCT'S FAULTY DESIGN HAS BEEN MADE. *TR

SUN VISOR SPLIT ON THE TOP AND HANGS DOWN ALL OF THE TIME MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE TRAFFIC LIGHTS. *JS

WHILE DRIVING, NOISY REAR TIRES WERE HEARD. I ALSO OBSERVED UNEVEN AND RAPID REAR TIRE WEAR. THIS PROMPTED ME TO GET IT CHECKED AT RUSSEL & SMITH HONDA AT 2900 SOUTH LOOP WEST HOUSTON, TX 77054 ON 02/23/2011. FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS DONE AFTER 2 REAR TIRES WERE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. ON 08/02/2011, I OBSERVED THAT THE REAR TIRES CONTINUE TO HAVE ABNORMAL WEAR (22780 MILES), PROMPTING ME AGAIN TO GET IT INSPECTED AGAIN AT SAME DEALERSHIP. THE 19 POINT INSPECTION DONE FOUND THAT TIRES WERE OKAY, EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS OBVIOUS UNEVEN WEAR. I TOOK A PHOTO OF THE TIRES FOR PROOF OF THIS. I TOOK THE CAR BACK ON 05/31/2012 TO THEM (33346 MILES) DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM, FEELING THAT IT IS NOT SAFE TO KEEP DRIVING THIS CAR. I WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE THE TWO REAR TIRES, BUT I BELIEVE THAT UNLESS SOMETHING IS DONE TO CORRECT THIS, IT WILL BE USELESS TO KEEP REPLACING THE TIRES. THIS IS THE REASON FOR FILING THIS COMPLAINT THAT HONDA HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *TR

1.)TAKEN CARE CAR WELL SINCE PURCHASING NEW 2.)HONDA NOT START IN MORNING 1A.) NO RESPONSE FROM CAR WHEN TURN KEY 3.)AAA PERSONNEL ARRIVED TO JUMP BATTERY 4.)BATTERY JUMPED- ON SPOT E-DIAGNOSTIC CHECK PERFORMED 3A.) DIAGNOSTIC REVEALED BATTERY ?DRAIN? 5.)WHILE BEING CHECKED WITH TECHNICIAN ENGINE ?HISSED? & CAR TURNED OFF 4A.) ATTEMPTED TO START CAR- HARD START, HISS AND SHUTDOWN 6.)TOOK CAR TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC 6A.) MECHANIC PERFORMED THOROUGH DIAGNOSTIC CHECK 6B.) DIAGNOSTIC CHECK REVEAL PROBLEMS COULD BE ONE/MORE OF FOLLOWING: FUSE, WIRE, BATTERY, COMPUTER OR COMPUTER SOFTWARE. 6C.) MECHANIC FELT HE NARROWED TO BATTERY, COMPUTER AND/OR COMPUTER SOFTWARE 6D.) BATTERY WAS CHANGED AND CAR TESTED. CAR PERFORMED AS SHOULD (1/2 DAY) 6E.) MECHANIC ADVISED TO LISTEN TO CAR AFTER TURNING OFF ENGINE AS CAR STILL MAY BE RUNNING. IF ENGINE STILL RUNNING MECHANIC ADVISED PROBLEM DEEPER THAN BATTERY 6F.) MECHANIC ALSO FOUND PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE RUNNING TOO HOT/LONG, FREON & COOLANT BEING USED AT HIGH RATE. MECHANIC REFILLED FREON. 7.)2 DAYS AFTER BATTERY CHANGE, TOOK KEY OUT OF IGNITION, CAR ENGINE/FANS STILL RUNNING 2-3 MINUTES AFTER 8.)TOOK CAR TO HONDA DEALER (WHERE PURCHASED). DEALER MECHANIC PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. 8A.) HONDA MECHANIC STATED DIAGNOSTIC CHECK REVEALED DEFECT WITH ?WHOLE CAR? COMPUTER SOFTWARE 8B.) HONDA MECHANIC STATED DEFECT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO HAVE DIFFICULTY SELF-REGULATING (E.G. TOO MUCH/LITTLE COOLANT AND FREON RUN HIGHER/HOTTER IN ADDITION TO RUNNING AFTER KEY TAKEN OUT OF IGNITION (AS STATED EARLIER)) 8C.) TO PATCH, HONDA MECHANIC DOWNLOADED ?NEW SOFTWARE? TO CAR COMPUTER 8D.) NEW SOFTWARE WAS SUPPOSED REGULATE ENGINE 9.)FOLLOWING WEEK ENGINE HAD HARD START 10.)THIS WEEK (21-25 MAY 2012) ENGINE NOT STOP AFTER REMOVING KEY FROM IGNITION FOR SEVERAL MINUTES (6E- ABOVE). *TR

2009 HONDA CIVIC GX HAS AN INTERMITTENT COLD START / HARD START / NO START PROBLEM. IT CAN TAKE ANYWHERE FROM 30 SECONDS TO EIGHT MINUTES TO GET THE CAR TO STARTED. ON A FEW OCCASIONS I GAVE UP TRYING TO START THE CAR AND DROVE MY TRUCK INSTEAD. ORIGINALLY THE PROBLEM WAS OCCURRING ABOUT ONCE A WEEK TO ONCE A MONTH. I HAVE HAD THE CAR DIE WHILE DRIVING AND WOULDN'T RESTART. SINCE JAN 25TH 2012 MY CAR HAS BEEN AT THE HONDA DEALER FOR A TOTAL OF NEARLY 12 WEEKS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER HAS HAD MY CAR FOR THE LAST 9 WEEKS STRAIGHT AND HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE STARTING PROBLEMS. CURRENTLY IT WILL NOT START ABOUT 50 PERCENT OF THE TIME. WHILE MY CAR IS FUELED BY CNG (COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS) I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS 2008, 2009, 2010 AND 2011 HONDA'S WITH HARD START / COLD START COMPLAINTS IDENTICAL TO THE PROBLEMS MY CAR. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE CARS AND MINE IS MINE IS FUELED BY CNG WHILE THE REST OF THE HONDA CIVICS ARE ALL GASOLINE POWERED. WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=YZKQQQG9L8W IN THIS VIDEO THE CAR HAD ONLY BEEN SITTING 8 HOURS FROM WHEN I LAST STARTED THE CAR. WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=3EICT...EATURE=CHANNEL 2009 HONDA CIVIC COLD START PROBLEM. IN THIS VIDEO I HAD ALREADY ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR FOR ABOUT A MINUTE OR MORE PRIOR TO ME STARTING TO VIDEO IT ON MY PHONE. THE TEMPERATURE WHEN I WAS TRYING TO START THE CAR WAS 44 DEGREES THOUGH THE OVERNIGHT LOW WAS ABOUT 35 DEGREES. *TR

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. I AM STILL LOOKING FOR ANSWERS TO THIS UNEXPLAINED SCENARIO MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER REPORTED TO ME, THE 2 LANE ROAD WAS DEVOID OF ANY VEHICLES AT THAT TIME AND AS SHE STATED THIS TO ME, THE ENGINE REVVED HIGH, SHE HAD NO ABILITY TO STEER AND THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK WHEN SHE APPLIED THEM. I CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA AND HAVE ASKED THEM TO HELP INVESTIGATED WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED AND AM WAITING TO HEAR FROM THEM ON WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS IN A 2009 HONDA CIVIC. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TIRES WERE WEARING PREMATURELY AS A RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE REAR SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO PERFORMED A WHEEL ALIGNMENT AS A TEMPORARY REMEDY. THE REPAIR HOWEVER FAILED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 23,406.

THE VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW FROM A HONDA DEALERSHIP IN WAUKESHA WIS. ON 11-28-2008. ONE YR. AFTER PURCHASE WE NOTICED THE ENGINE WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELERATE, WHEN BACKING UP, BRAKING. THE ENGINE WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE DRIVER WOULD NEED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH GREATER FORCE, AND THEN SHIFT AUTO. TRANS INTO NEUTRAL. WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER 3 SEPARATE TIMES, AND THEY INDICATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. ON ONE OCCASION PER THEIR SUGGESTION WE PURCHASED THE RUBBER ALL WEATHER HONDA FLOOR MATS AT A COST OF $110.00. I DOUBTED THIS WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. IN NOVEMBER 2011 THE SAME PROBLEM WAS EXPERIENCED A FOURTH TIME IN A PARKING LOT. WHILE WAITING IN A PARKING LOT THE ENGINE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY, AND MORE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. I NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP OF THE CONTINUING PROBLEM. ON 11-29-2011 WE LEFT THE CIVIC AT THE DEALER, AND WAYNE NICKLAS THE (AHM) WOULD ALSO EXAMINE THE CAR WITH A MECHANIC. THE MILEAGE WAS 26,526. MR. NICKLAS MET WITH US. HE EXPLAINED HOW THEY CHECKED THE TIRE DEPTH, PRESSURE, AND THE OVERALL CONDITION OF THE CAR. I THEN ASKED FOR SPECIFICS ABOUT THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION, AND HE INDICATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO MR. NICKLAS, THERE WAS NO ABNORMAL ENGINE CODE, AND IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT THE PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR LONG ENOUGH FOR THE COMPUTER TO RECORD IT. HE DENIED OTHER SIMILAR PROBLEMS REPORTED WITH CIVICS. WE FOUND SIMILAR CONSUMER COMPLAINTS FILED ON WEB SITES WITH CIVICS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS. IT WAS SUGGESTED WE TRADE IN THE VEHICLE. WE FELT UNSAFE IN CONTINUING TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. THE HONDA DEALER LEFT US HANGING, AND OFFERED US NO FURTHER HELP WITH TRADING IN THE VEHICLE. WE INCURRED A SUBSTANTIAL LOSS WHEN WE TRADED IN THE CIVIC AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. RESEARCH FOUND THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE BY ANY MEANS. *TR

ON 8/15/11, VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A HONDA CHICAGO FOR LOF & ROTATE. DROPPED OFF, CAME BACK, DROVE VEHICLE FOUND LOUD ROARING NOISE. TIRES WERE ROTATED THEN DISCOVERED THE TIRE THAT CAME OFF R/R WAS CUPPED. VEHICLE HAS 15K MILES, BARELY DRIVEN BY MY MOM THAT'S IN HER 60S, DOESN'T TRAVEL THE EXPRESSWAYS. HONDA CHICAGO WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING SO I MADE A COMPLAINT WITH HONDA CARE; WAS TOLD BRING IT BACK TO HONDA. HONDA CHICAGO SAID, "SIR, NOTHING WRONG WITH THE SUSPENSION AND MAY POSSIBLY NEED AN ALIGNMENT." I TOLD THE SERVICE ADVISOR THERE WAS NO COMPLAINT OF PULLING/DRIFTING. DEALER AND HONDA CARE ARE USELESS, NOTHING WAS DONE SO I PAID FOR A NEW TIRE SOMEWHERE ELSE. LAST WEEK, VEHICLE BACK AT HONDA ELMHURST AND THEN TO HONDA DES PLAINES FOR A 2ND OPINION FOR SAMETHING. BOTH DEALERS STATED NOTHING WRONG BUT THE FRONT TIRES CURRENTLY HAVE 3/32S, L/R 2/32S AND R/R 6/32S. THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T EVEN OFFER TIRES TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 18K MILES ON IT, A TICKING NOISE THAT COMES FOR THE VEHICLE WHEN IT'S IDLING IN REVERSE AND THE MYSTERIOUS R/R TIRE CONCERN. I CONTACTED HONDA CARE TODAY SPOKE WITH A CLAIM REP AND REQUESTED TO HAVE A HONDA REGIONAL REP OR SOMEONE OTHER THAN THE DEALERSHIP'S MECHANIC TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE SINCE IT'S BEEN TO 3 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS. I ALSO REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE R/R TIRE THAT WAS REPLACED. I WAS TOLD, "WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING AT THIS TIME AND THAT I WOULD NEED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP IN ELMHURST, IL AND TO HAVE THE SERVICE MANAGER GET INVOLVED." THE CLAIM REP ALSO STATED THAT HE SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER OF THAT SAME DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. I QUESTIONED THE CLAIM REP STATED THE SERVICE MANAGER WASN'T INVOLVED WITH THE REPAIRS ON MY VEHICLE, HIS SERVICE ADVISOR WAS SO OF COUSE HE WOULD TELL YOU WHAT'S ON THE INVOICE. *TR