2009 HONDA CIVIC Complaints

I OWN A 2009 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. I'VE HAD ISSUES WITH LOW POWER AND HALTING ACCELERATION DUE TO LOW BATTERY CONDITIONS ACCOMPANIED WITH THE DASH ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. HONDA DEALERSHIP HAS APPLIED SOFTWARE UPDATES TO MY VEHICLE TO ADDRESS THIS TWICE, BUT THOSE SIMPLY TRADE MILEAGE FOR BATTERY LIFE, DEGRADING THE VALUE OF A HYBRID. I BELIEVE THAT THE IMA BATTERY HAS KNOWN PROBLEMS AND THAT HONDA IS NOT ADDRESSING THE ISSUE. I'M AFRAID TO MERGE ONTO HIGHWAYS WITH A LOW BATTERY DUE TO THE LACK OF POWER AND ACCELERATION. *TR

PURCHASED CAR DEC 18/2009 UPON DRIVING IT HOME NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A VIBRATION. DID NOT THINK TOO MUCH ABOUT IT AS THERE WAS ALOT OF SNOW, ASSUMED THAT THERE WAS SNOW IN THE RIMS, DROVE THE CAR VERY LITTLE AT FIRST. BUSY LIFE CONTINUED TO DRIVE IN THE SPRING ASSUMING THAT MAYBE THE VIBRATION WAS DUE TO THE MUD ON THE COUNTRY ROADS. JUNE 10/10 . HAD THE WHEELS BALANCED AT 5505 KM BECAUSE OF THE VIBRATION. AT 9842 KM HAD OIL CHANGED NOTE SAYS TIRES DO NOT NEED ROTATION FRONT @ 8.5/32 AND BACK AT 8/32. AT 22,526 KM FRONT 2 AND LEFT REAR TIRES ALL AT 7/32 BUT RR REAR TIRE AT 5/32 PREMATURE WEAR,WAS TOLD THAT PROBLEM DUE TO MUD IMPACTED IN TIRE. REPLACED RR REAR TIRE WITH USED ONE , DATE JUNE 25/10. ODOMETER NOW READS 32,606 AND IT IS SEPT 15/10- TIME FOR WINTER TIRES. REPLACE SUMMER TIRES FOR WINTER ONES. KEEP SUMMER TIRES FOR 2011 SUMMER. DRIVE APPROX. 10,000 KM AND TAKE TO TIRE SHOP FOR ROTATION ONLY TO BE TOLD DOES NOT NEED ROTATION. BRING BACK CAR AT 52,547 KM FOR ROTATION ONLY TO FIND OUT RR REAR TIRE HAS A FLAT SPOT . TOOK TO HONDA WHO TOLD US THAT THE TIRE NEEDED REPLACEMENT AND THEY CHECKED THE REAR AND FRONT SUSPENSION., ADJUSTING THE REAR SUSPENSION TO THE MAX. AT THE SAME TIMETHEY MENTIONED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR ROTORS NEEDED MACHINING- PREMATURE WEAR ON THESE AS WELL. THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD TEAR THE RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION APART BUT THAT WOULD TAKE AWHILE, I SAID GO AHEAD. THEY THEN DECIDED NOT TO DO IT. SO WE TOOK THE CAR HOME AFTER THE ALIGNMENT AND TOLD THE TIRE SHOP THAT THEY NEEDED TO PROVIDE US WITH A NEW TIRE. THE TIRE SHOP MANAGER WAS VERY , VERY ANGRY. HE PRORATED THE OLD TIRE AND WE HAD TO PAID FOR THE USED PORTION. DROVE THE CAR JUST UNDER 10,000 KM WITH NEW TIRE, SO NO WEAR TO REPORT AT THAT TIME, ODOMETER NOW 61915. CHANGED OVER NEW TIRES TO ORIGINAL SUMMER ONES. ODOMETER NOW APPRX. 64,000KM , RIGHT REAR TIRE UPPED AND INSIDE WORN. CURRENTLY TRYING TO GET IN CONTACT WITH HONDA DEALERSHIP ONCE AGAIN..... *TR

PREMATURE WEAR OF REAR TIRES. ROTATED TIES AFTER 20K MILES AND NOTED SIGNIFICANT ROAD NOISE COMING FROM THE TIRES NOW MOUNTED IN THE FRONT. DEALER INDICATED THE CAUSE WAS IRREGULAR TIRE WEAR CAUSED 'CUPPING' OF THE TIRES WHEN THEY WERE MOUNTED IN THE BACK. I EXPERIENCED EVEN WORSE TIRE WEAR WITH MY 2006 HONDA CIVIC. HONDA ISSUED A TSB TO REPAIR THE REAR UPPER CONTROL ARMS IN THAT MODEL. I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT HONDA ENGINEERS WOULD HAVE RECTIFIED THIS PROBLEM IN NEWER MODELS BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. THIS CAR STILL "EATS" TIRES. *TR

BROKEN BELT WITH ONLY 20K MILES MAKES THE TIRE SUSCEPTIBLE TO BLOW-OUT AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. DEALER SAYS BRIDGESTONE ATTRIBUTES IT TO DRIVER STRIKING A HARD OBJECT. SO SAD, THIS IS THE FIRST BROKEN BELT I'VE HAD IN MY 40 YEARS OF DRIVING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT APPLIED BOTH THE FOOT AND EMERGENCY BRAKES, AND REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A PRECEDING VEHICLE AND SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE FRONT END. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A TECHNICIAN INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL SHOULD THE FAILURE RECUR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,800. UPDATED 07/21/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE N INJURIES. 08/01/11

MY DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR BROKE, CAUSING IT TO FALL DOWN IN MY LINE OF VISION. IT WOULD NOT STAY IN THE UP POSITION. APPARENTLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON HAPPENING IN THE HONDA CIVIC AND AT THIS POINT, NEEDS TO BE FIXED ONCE AND FOR ALL WITH A RECALL AND REAL FIX, OTHER THAN SIMPLY REPLACEMENT WITH ANOTHER VISOR THAT IS ALSO GOING TO BREAK! IT ALSO APPEARS FROM WHAT I'VE READ ONLINE THAT THE PROBLEM IS CHEAP PLASTIC AND HEAT. YES, CARS GET HOT IN THE SUMMER, PARTICULARLY IF YOU LOCK THEM UP AS YOU SHOULD! HONDA CLAIMS IT'S NOT A "HAZARD" BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU IT IS!! I WAS LUCKY B/C MY CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY BUT NO DOUBT WHEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN (AND IT WILL) IT WON'T STILL BE UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

I OWN A 2009 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. THE HYBRID SYSTEM RECENTLY STOPPED WORKING (LEAVING ONLY THE UNDERPOWERED GASOLINE ENGINE AS THE MEANS TO POWER THE CAR). THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP TO FIX THE ISSUE IN DECEMBER. THEY PERFORMED AN IRREVERSIBLE SOFTWARE UPDATE WHICH HAS, AS A RESULT, MADE THE HYBRID SYSTEM WORK ONLY INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER STATES THERE IS NO WAY TO REVERSE THIS CHANGE. AS A RESULT, THE HYBRID BATTERY/MOTOR ASSIST WILL SUDDENLY STOP WORKING DURING AN ACCELERATION (FOR INSTANCE MERGING ON THE FREEWAY) WITH A DRAMATIC LOSS OF POWER. STEPPING MORE ON THE ACCELERATOR INCREASES RPMS TO 4-5,000 BUT DOES NOT RESULT IN ANY SIGNIFICANT POWER TO THE CAR. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER, THEY STATE THEY HAVE HAD MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS BUT DO NOT HAVE A FIX. I FEEL THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN GIVEN THE UNPREDICTABLE NATURE OF WHEN THE POWER LOSS OCCURS, AND USUALLY OCCURS WHEN A DRIVER MOST NEEDS POWER. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2009 HONDA CIVIC IN JULY 2009 - MANUFACTURED 11/2008. ROTATED TIRES EVERY 5K MI. AT 25K MI - JUNE 2010, INFORMED THAT TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES WITH 40K MI RATED TIRES, ALIGNMENT PERFORMED AND IN DEC 2010 AND REAR TIRE WERE BALD - 15K MI TOT, 10 K ON REAR AND 5 K ON FRONT. REPLACE THESE - ALL 4 - WITH 60 K MI RATED TIRES AND AFTER 5 K MI REAR TIRE WERE SEVERELY CUPPED. REPLACED REAR TIRES WITH THE CURRENT FRONT TIRES AND 2 NEW TIRES FOR THE FRONT, ALIGNMENT PERFORMED. RAN THIS SET FOR ANOTHER 5K MI AND AGAIN THE REAR TIRES WERE SEVERELY CUPPED - 10 K TOTAL 5K ON FRONT AND 5 K ON REAR. IF THERE IS ANY PRECIPITATION ON THE ROADWAY WHAT SO EVER, THE REAR END TENDS TO LOSE TRACTION. THE MECHANIC (NON-DEALER) ASKED IF I CARRY ALOT OF WEIGHT AROUND IN THE TRUNK AND I SAID "NO, 90% OF THE TIME I AM THE ONLY ONE IN THE CAR". HE DID SAY THAT HE HAD SEEN OTHER MAKES OF CAR THAT WOULD "CHEW-UP" TIRES QUICKLY. I WENT HOME AND DID A SEARCH ON THE WEB FOR "EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR HONDA CIVIC" AND CAME UP WITH A BUNCH HITS THAT SAID THERE WAS A TSB FOR A CONTROL ARM. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND ASKED IF THEY HAVE EVER HEARD ANYONE ELSE COMPLAIN OF EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR ON A CIVIC AND THEY SAID "NO". SO I TOLD THEM THAT I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A TSB FOR CONTROL ARMS ON THE WEB AND THEY STARTED RESEARCHING 2009 CIVIC TSBS AND SAID THAT THERE WERE NONE. I SAID THAT IT SEEMS VERY STRANGE THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THERE ARE TSBS FOR 2007 AND 2008 MODELS BUT NOTHING FOR 2009 MODELS. DEALER SAID SINCE THERE IS NO TSB FOR THE 2009 AND SINCE THERE ARE 50K MI ON THE CAR THE WARRANTY IS EXPIRED - THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THEY DID OFFER TO DO AN ALIGNMENT FOR $75, I SAID "NO THANKS I'LL RESOLVE THIS BY ANOTHER MEANS" AND LEFT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT TURNED ON THE AIR CONDITIONER BUT ONLY WARM AIR WOULD BLOW THROUGH THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THE CONDENSER UNDER THE VEHICLE WAS DENTED AND PUNCTURED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE HOSES WERE DISCONNECTED AND LEAKING FLUIDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 6/8/11 *CN THE REPAIR INFORMED THE CONSUMER SOMETHING MAY HAVE HIT THE AC UNIT. UPDATED 06/16/11

2009 HONDA CIVIC 22,472 MILES MOSTLY FREEWAY MILES. GRINDING NOISE FROM FRONT BRAKES, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, THEY SAID I NEEDED NEW PADS AND TO HAVE THE ROTORS TURNED. INBOARD PAD (PISTON SIDE OF CALIPER) WAS WORN TO WEAR INDICATOR, OUTBOARD PAD STILL WITH APPROX. 90% PAD LIFE LEFT ALTHOUGH THERE IS A GROOVE IN THE ROTOR. TOLD DEALER THAT THIS WAS UNACCEPTABLE WEAR AND HE ACKNOWLEDGED IT WAS A COMMON COMPLAINT BUT NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. A QUICK SEARCH OF COMPLAINTS ON GOOGLE AFFIRMS THAT THIS IS INDEED A COMMON COMPLAINT AND INDICATIVE OF A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW ON HONDA'S PART. *TR