There are 32 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2008 Honda Civicin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
These hybrids have defective brake system. The problem is with the part Accumulator Set - Honda (57019-SNC-A02)
The contact owns a 2008 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving 65 mph, depressing on the brake pedal to the floorboard but failed to bring the vehicle to a stop. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated he lost control of the vehicle, bounced off the retaining wall, and crash into another vehicle. The contact did not sustain any injuries but his front passenger sustain injuries on her right foot and discomfort in her back/neck. The front passenger sought medical attention at a near ER. The contact stated the other vehicle had two people injured but was unaware of the details or if they sought any medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to two different towing lots. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 240,000.
BRAKESI.COM 301 MAIN ST, SUITE#19, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105 DBA "CALLAHAN BRAKE PARTS" SOLD ON AMAZON.COM THIS SUPPLIER HAS SOLD AND IS SELLING UNSAFE REBUILT BRAKE CALIPERS. THERE ARE SEVERAL RUBBER SEALS IN BRAKE CALIPERS. IF A RUBBER PART FAILS, WATER WILL ENTER CRITICAL PARTS CAUSING THEM TO RUST AND SEIZE. THIS MAY RESULT IN UNSAFE BRAKE OPERATION OR BRAKE FAILURE. ON OUR CAR THIS CAUSED A BRAKE CALIPER TO SEIZE CAUSING UNEVEN BRAKING. AN INSPECTION FOUND ALL THE RUBBER PARTS IN THE AFFECTED CALIPERS HAD DISINTEGRATED. THE CALIPERS WERE APPROXIMATELY 22 MONTHS OLD. CLEARLY INFERIOR RUBBER MATERIAL WAS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THESE PRODUCTS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A STRANGE NOISE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,283.
BRAKES SANK TO THE FLOOR. AFTER ROLLING TO A STOP, AND TURNING OFF THE CAR, IT STARTED TO WORK LIKE NORMAL. BRAKE PADS ARE WORN OUT AFTER 2000 MILES WITH CONSERVATIVE DRIVING. *TR
MY 2008 HONDA CIVIC IS HAVING ISSUES WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. SPECIFICALLY THE BRAKE PADS WEAR OUT VERY SOON. MY FIRST SET OF BRAKES LASTED 34,000 MILES, THE SECOND SET LASTED ONLY 22000 MILES. ALL SERVICES ARE DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP AT MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED INTERVALS. ALSO THERE IS NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN MY DRIVING PATTERNS. ON BOTH OCCASIONS, IT IS THE FRONT BRAKE PADS THAT HAVE WORN OUT PREMATURELY, RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT REPLACEMENT COSTS. *JS
PERSISTING GRINDING "METAL TO METAL" NOISE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. IT FEELS BRAKES ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL AND LIABLE TO CRASH. MULTIPLE VISITS TO BRAKE SHOPS HAS RESULTED TO NEW PADS AND ROTORS BUT NO CHANGE IN STATUS OF GRINDING "METAL TO METAL" NOISE. HONDA CAR FORUMS REVEAL SAME EXPERIENCE BY OTHER OWNERS. NO FIX FROM HONDA MOTORS. NOT COVERED IN WARRANTY. BRAKE FAILURE MAY RESULT TO CRASH AND FATALITY EVEN ON LOW SPEED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DECELERATE OR STOP. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO AVOID A CRASH. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE WITH THE BRAKES. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
FRONT BRAKES NEED REPLACING AFTER 15K MILES ONLY TO FIND OUT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH HONDA CIVICS, HOWEVER THE COMPANY DOES NOT WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. FAULTY BRAKES CAN BE A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
THE BRAKES STARTED MAKING A LOUD WHINING SOUND, BUT ONLY IN REVERSE. FROM WHAT RESEARCH I CAN DO, IT APPEARS TO BE THE BRAKE PADS WEARING OUT PREMATURELY. *TR
I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED FROM A REPUTABLE DEALER IN 2011. WITHIN THE FIRST 30 DAYS I EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE AND A GRINDING SOUND WHEN BRAKING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. I SENT A FORMAL COMPLAINT TO THE HONDA CEO AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE CAR WAS INSPECTED AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. BRAKES SLIP WHEN RIDING ON ROUGH SURFACES OR MAKING A SHARP TURN ON A STEEP INCLINE. THE CAR WAS INSPECTED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE REPLICATED; HOWEVER, THE BRAKE PROBLEM PERSISTS. ONCE I ALMOST HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SUDDENLY STOPPED; I ALSO FAILED TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN AND ROLLED INTO THE INTERSECTION. FORTUNATELY NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE ON THE ROAD. IF THE BRAKES ARE HIT TWICE (LIKE DOUBLE CLUTCHING) THEY DO ENGAGE. THE COMPLAINT TO HONDA FAILED TO PRODUCE A POSITIVE RESULT. THE PROBLEM INITIALLY BEGAN IN OCTOBER 2011 AND CONTINUES TO OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY.
MY FRONT BRAKE PADS AND SHOES HAVE TO BE REPLACED EVERY 20,000 MILES. THE BRAKES DO NOT GIVE THE EXPECTED HIGH PITCHED "SQUEALING" NOISE; AND PER MY DEALER, IT LED TO BRAKE OVER HEATING AND "IMMINENT FAILURE!" THE DEALER STATES THAT THE CIVICS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE REPEATEDLY. *TR
2008 HONDA CIVIC REPEATEDLY HAS FAILED TO STOP (THREE SEPARATE INCIDENTS, THREE DIFFERENT DRIVERS). HONDA REFUSES TO REPLACE VEHICLE. *TR THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. UPDATED 09/20/12
I BOUGHT MY 2008 HONDA CIVIC LX IN JUNE 2008. AT 15,000 MILES I HAD A BUNCH OF BRAKE PROBLEMS (LOUD NOISES, DIFFICULTY STOPPING). I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND WAS TOLD I HAD "CONTAMINATED" BRAKE PADS. THEY REPLACED THEM FOR FREE. SIX MONTHS LATER, I WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. TOOK IT IN AGAIN TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. I HAVE CONTINUED TO FEEL UNEASY ABOUT MY BRAKES AS THEY DON'T STOP LIKE THE THREE OTHER CARS I HAVE HAD. NOW, AT 41K SCREECHING NOISES HAVE STARTED AGAIN. THEY STARTED ON A FRIDAY AND I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP MONDAY MORNING. THEY TOLD ME I HAVE BARELY ANY BRAKE PADS LEFT AND IT MUST BE DUE TO MY DRIVING. (INCORRECT AS I MAINLY DID HIGHWAY DRIVING AND NOW HAVE A 7 MINUTE COMMUTE TO WORK.) THE DEALERSHIP WAS ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE, CLAIMING IT IS MY ISSUE AND THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE. *TR
BRAKES WHEN CAR HITS A HARD BUMP WHILE BRAKING, THE CAR DOESN'T STOP AND KEEPS MOVING FORWARD AS IF THE BRAKES LIFT WITH A BIG VIBRATION IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. AT THE TIME IT HAPPENS, THE REMEDY IS TO LIFT THE BRAKE AND PUMP ONCE THEN REAPPLY BRAKE PRESSURE. TOOK IT TO A HONDA DEALER AND SAID IT DID NOT HAPPEN UNDER TEST DRIVE AND NOTING CAN BE FOUND WRONG. *TR
I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT TURNING LEFT AND AS I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE MY CAR JOLTED FOWARD AND HIT THE AN ISLAND THE WAS NEXT TO THE PARKING SPOT. *TR
08 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID - WHEN THE BATTERIES ARE FULLY CHARGED, THE GENERATOR IS NOT USED FOR BRAKING. WHEN THE BATTERIES ARE NOT CHARGED, THE GENERATOR IS USED FOR BRAKING. DURING THE TRANSITION, I HAVE BEEN SURPRISED MANY TIMES BY THE LACK OF BRAKES. WHEN THE BATTERIES ARE NOT CHARGING YOU HAVE TO REALLY PRESS HARD ON THE BRAKES TO EVEN SLOW DOWN. THEN, IF YOU ARE EXPECTING TO PRESS HARD AND THE GENERATOR HAS KICKED BACK IN, YOU ARE THROWN FORWARD AS THE BRAKES WORK FINE. I THOUGHT THIS AND THE OCCASIONAL HERKY-JERKINESS THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT IS NORMAL. BUT, AFTER READING ABOUT THE TOYOTA PRIUS BRAKE ISSUE, THE HONDA IS JUST AS BAD, IF NOT WORSE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE DAY ONE OF OWNERSHIP. *TR
2008 HONDA CIVIC, PURCHASED NEW. PREMATURE FRONT BRAKE WEAR INCLUDING ROTORS AND PAD AT 23,975 MILES. CAR PULLED TO RIGHT AND PULSATING PEDAL. WHEN APPLY BRAKES. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. HONDA MOTOR COMPANY DENIES THERE IS A PROBLEM AND WILL NOT COMPENSATE OWNER FOR THE REPAIRS. *TR
SUBJECT:REGENERATIVE BRAKING POSSIBLE PROBLEM COMMENTS: I AM A 2008 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID OWNER THAT IS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS AS STATED IN THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE. PROBLEM WITH SURGING OF THE CAR WHILE BRAKING OR A SLIGHT REDUCTION IN STOPPING POWER. HTTP://WWW.LEFTLANENEWS.COM/NHTSA-REVIEWING-THIRD-GENERATION-TOYOTA-PRIUS-BRAKING.HTML WHAT IS DIFFERENT IS THAT IT IS LIMITED TO THE FIRST FEW MINUTES WHEN DRIVING, AFTER SUCH TIME IT DISAPPEARS. ALSO, IT DOES NOT ONLY HAPPEN AFTER HITTING BUMPS IN THE ROAD, IT IS ON A SMOOTH ROAD. THIS IS NOT AN ACCELERATION ISSUE, AS THE TACH DOES NOT SURGE OR THE CAR DOES NOT JUMP FORWARD, JUST THE LOSS OF STOPPING POWER. THE ABS SYSTEM DOES NOT ACTIVATE AS I DON'T HEAR THE NOISE COMMON TO WHEN ACTIVATION OF THE ABS OCCURS. AND IT WILL HAPPEN REGARDS OF HOW HARD THE BRAKES ARE PRESSED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM DOES GO AWAY AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND A FEW STOP SIGNS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA CIVIC COUPE. WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT THE VEHICLE SURGED AND CRASHED IN ANOTHER VEHICLE. SHE STATED THAT HER FEET WERE ON THE BRAKES AND SHE DOES NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,356.
Showing 1–20 of 32 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026