2009 HONDA CIVIC Complaints

THE HEADRESTS IN THIS VEHICLE CANNOT BE ADJUSTED TO THE PROPER HEIGHT FOR A SHORTER FEMALE (APPROX. BELOW 5'2"). ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL, THE CENTER OF THE HEADREST SHOULD BE INLINE WITH THE CENTER OF THE OCCUPANTS HEAD. FOR A SHORTER PERSON, THE HEADREST CANNOT BE LOWERED TO THE PROPER POSITION. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE CAUSED BY THE SHAPE OF THE HEADREST. IN THE LOWEST POSITION THE HEADREST PUSHES FORWARD ON THE OCCUPANTS UPPER HEAD FORCING THE OCCUPANTS CHIN DOWN. THIS IS A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION WHILE DRIVING OR RIDING IN THE VEHICLE. I HAVE INFORMED HONDA OF THIS PROBLEM IN SEPTEMBER 2009 BUT THEY DIDN'T SEEM TOO CONCERNED. I AM IN NEED OF HONDA TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 TO 60 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS THERE WAS PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, FOLLOWED BY A SQUEALING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD VIOLENTLY. THE AGGRESSIVE FORCE CAUSED THE SEAT BELT TO SECURE THE DRIVER EXTREMELY TIGHT. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY RESTRICTIONS; HOWEVER, THE IDENTICAL FAILURES OCCURRED TWO MONTHS LATER WHILE DRIVING ON AN INCLINE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HORN DOES NOT SOUND LOUD ENOUGH WHEN ACTIVATED. THE OTHER MOTORISTS ARE UNABLE TO HEAR THE HORN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE HORN CONFORMS WITH THE FEDERAL MOTOR SAFETY STANDARDS. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

I PURCHASED A NEW 2009 HONDA CIVIC LX-S FROM HERITAGE HONDA OF WESTMINSTER, MD ON 7/30/2009 FOR MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER'S BIRTHDAY. DURING THE TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE OPERATED FINE WITH NO APPARENT ISSUES. UPON LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP (WITH MY 3 CHILDREN AND WIFE AS OCCUPANTS) AND AS MY DAUGHTER PULLED ON TO MARYLAND ROUTE 140 FROM THE DEALERSHIP LOT, THE ENGINE STOPPED. SHE TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE, HOWEVER THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. YOU COULD HEAR THE STARTER SOLENOID CHATTERING LIKE IT WOULD IF THE BATTERY WAS NEAR DEAD. THIS LEFT THE CAR STALLED WITH 3/4 OF THE VEHICLE SITTING IN THE RIGHT LANE OF A HEAVILY TRAVELED, 4 LANE DIVIDED HIGHWAY WITH OTHER VEHICLES TRAVELING 45 + MPH APPROACHING, LEAVING THE (NOW TERRIFIED) OCCUPANTS LIVES IN DANGER. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO RESTART THE CAR WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE CAR HAD TO BE PUSHED TO SAFETY BY MYSELF (I WAS FOLLOWING IN ANOTHER CAR) AND ANOTHER DEALERSHIP CUSTOMER. IT IS TRULY AMAZING GIVEN THE VOLUME OF TRAFFIC WHICH TRAVELS THIS DIVIDED HIGHWAY THAT MY FAMILY WALKED AWAY FROM THIS INCIDENT WITH ONLY EMOTIONAL TRAUMA. I THEN TOOK THE CAR TO THE VEHICLE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE BATTERY AS DEFECTIVE (INTERNALLY SHORTED). THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER AND AS OF THIS TIME THE CAR IS FUNCTIONING NORMALLY. I KNOW THAT HAVING THIS HAPPEN WITH A NEW BATTERY IS VERY RARE. THERE IS HOWEVER THE RISK THAT HONDA HAS MANY MORE VEHICLES OUT THERE ON THE ROAD OR ON DEALER LOTS YET TO BE SOLD, WHICH HAVE BATTERIES WITH SIMILAR DEFECTS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING WEST BOUND ON I-84 IN DANBURY CT, IN THE LEFT HAND LANE. IT FELT AS IF I HAD HIT SOMETHING. THE CAR VEERED INTO THE GUARDRAIL, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS RIPPED OFF THE CAR, I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY - BREAK DOWN LANE. I FELT HEAT UNDER MY SEAT, I IMMEDIATELY GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE, WITH IN 3 - 5 MINUTES THE CAR WAS FULL ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *TR

2008 CIVIC HYBRID - 19,112 MILES - WHEN ACCELERATING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION FROM A STOP, I EXPERIENCED A TEMPORARY TRANSMISSION FAILURE CAUSING ME TO LOSE FORWARD MOMENTUM. MOMENTS LATER THE TRANSMISSION KICKED IN AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OUT OF THE INTERSECTION. LUCKILY, NO CROSS-TRAFFIC WAS COMING AT THE TIME AND NO ACCIDENT RESULTED. I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR SERVICING AND FIRST TEXAS HONDA UPDATED THE CVT (TRANSMISSION TYPE) SOFTWARE. EVIDENTLY A SERVICE BULLETIN (SB 08-014) WAS ISSUED FOR THIS CONCERN ON MARCH 1, 2008. THE SERVICE BULLETIN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION COULD EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO THE ONE I HAD. I BELIEVE THIS MODEL CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED. HONDA'S SERVICE BULLETIN WAS NOT EFFECTIVE IN ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE AS IT CREATED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. HAD CROSS TRAFFIC BEEN PRESENT WHEN MY TRANSMISSION FAILED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. *TR

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2009 HONDA CIVIC LX IN DECEMBER OF 2008. IN MARCH 2009, ONLY 3 MONTHS AFTER OWNING THE VEHICLE AND ONLY 3,000KM TOTAL ON THE VEHICLE, I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING AN INCONSISTENT AND DISCONCERTING PROBLEM AFTER DRIVING THIS CAR OFF THE LOT. THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO HAVE AN INTERMITTENT STARTING ISSUE WHERE ON RANDOM OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. ONCE TRYING TO START IT, IT CRANKS, LIKE IT IS TRYING TO TURN OVER TO START FOR A RANGE OF 5-15 SECONDS. IT EVENTUALLY STARTS ON THE 2ND OR 3RD ATTEMPT. I HAVE CONSULTED IN THE DEALERSHIP ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. AFTER 2 MONTHS OF TAKING THE CAR IN, THE DEALERSHIP AND HONDA CANADA WANTED TO INSTALL A COMPUTER RECORDER ON MY CAR TO TRY TO GET THE PROBLEM RECORDED, SINCE THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE NOISE. AFTER HAVE THE RECORDER INSTALLED FOR JUST OVER A MONTH, THE PROBLEM FINALLY REPRODUCED. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP IN WHICH THEY TOOK OUT THE MONITOR TO HAVE IT SEND FOR AN ANALYSIS. I HAD MENTIONED THAT THIS WAS THE WORST ONE, BECAUSE NOT ONLY DID IT CRANK FOR ABOUT 8 SECONDS, IT JUST DIED - DID NOT CATCH OR KEEP CRANKING. I CALLED 2 WEEKS AFTER TO GET AN UPDATE IN WHICH I DID NOT GET A RESPONSE AFTER LEAVING A MESSAGE FOR GEORGE (HEAD OF SERVICE). I CALLED AGAIN 2 WEEKS LATER IN WHICH GEORGE STATED HE HAD HEARD BACK A FEW DAYS PRIOR BUT WAS TOO "BUSY" TO CALL ME. HE STATED THAT THE RECORDER SAID IT WAS 8 SECONDS AND STARTED, AND 2 TIMES WHERE IS WAS 5 SECONDS AND STARTED. HE THEN TOLD ME IF I WAS NOT HAPPY TO DEAL WITH HEAD OFFICE AND WE WOULD CONTACT TECH SUPPORT. I STILL HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM GEORGE, 2 BUSINESS DAYS LATER, AFTER TRYING TO CONTACT HIM. I SPOKE WITH HEAD OFFICE WHO TOLD ME THE DEALER SAID IT WAS NORMAL FOR MY CAR NOT TO START. I AM STILL IN THE DARK AS TO WHAT THE ISSUE COULD BE, AND I'M TIRED OF SPECULATING. FOR ALL I KNOW IT COULD BE THE OEM BATTERY WITH THE INSUFFICIENT COLD-CRANKING AMP RATINGS, THE MAIN FUEL RELAY OR A FAULTY CAM/CRANK SENSOR. *TR

MANY DRIVERS, MYSELF INCLUDED, CANNOT DRIVE A NEW CAR WITH THE HEADREST INSTALLED. I MUST HAVE A STRAIGHTER THAN "AVERAGE" POSTURE. THE FORWARD TILTING DESIGN FORCES MY CHIN INTO MY CHEST . WHILE SEARCHING FOR AN AFTERMARKET HEADREST, I REALIZED THAT MANY OTHER DRIVERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY HAVE ALSO RESORTED TO REMOVING OR TURNING THE HEADREST BACKWARDS RESULTING IN ZERO WHIPLASH PROTECTION. I IMAGINE THAT SOME GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACY MANDATED THE SHAPE OF THE HEADREASTS THAT RESULT IN A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL RESULT THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, LEAVES A GREAT MANY INDIVIDUALS EXPOSED TO SEVERE INJURY. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT MY BODY SHAPE DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO JUST DEAL WITH IT. WHILE I HAVE NOT BEEN INJURED AS A RESULT OF THIS DESIGN I KNOW, BASED ON THE NUMBER OF INTERNET POSTINGS OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME DILEMMA, THAT SERIOUS INJURIES HAVE OCCURRED. WHILE DRIVING MY NEW CAR THE FIRST DAY WITH THE HEADREST REVERSED, I LET THE CLUTCH OUT A LITTLE TO FAST WHILE STOPPED ON A HILL AND IT CAUSED MY HEAD TO JERK BACK. IF I HAD BEEN A LITTLE LESS LIMBER OR HAD GIVEN THE ENGINE MORE GAS I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN INJURED. WHILE I AM NOT GOING TO CHECK THE BOX BELOW FOR INJURIES CERTAINLY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INJURED. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT SPECIFIC TO THIS VEHICLE. EVERY CAR I TOOK FOR A TEST DRIVE LAST WEEK HAD THE SAME POOR DESIGN THAT DID NOT ALLOW FOR INDIVIDUALS TO ADJUST THE TILT TO SAFELY FIT THEIR POSTURE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. HE AVOIDED CRASHING SEVERAL TIMES. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS WEAK, THUS PREVENTING THE VEHICLE FROM RECEIVING THE NEEDED ELECTRICAL CONNECTION. THE DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS DID NOT REGISTER A SPECIFIC CODE; THEREFORE, THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VIN AND SPEED WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 14,000.

SUDDEN ACCELERATION SURGE, TO THE POINT OF HAVING TO COMPLETELY HOLD THE BRAKE WITH BOTH FEET. AT ONE POINT, AFTER PUTTING CAR INTO NEUTRAL, THE ENGINE REVVED TO 7000 RPM BEFORE OWNER COULD TURN CAR OFF. THE INITIAL SURGING RESULTED IN THE OWNER'S WIFE HITTING HER PASSENGER MIRROR AGAINST ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN THE ENGINE SURGED WHILE IN REVERSE. THERE WAS NO CATEGORY FOR THE VEHICLE ECU, WHICH IS QUITE SUSPECT AT THIS POINT. *TR