2012 Honda Civic Brakes Problems

Driving around town, I stopped our 2012 Honda Civic at a stoplight. The brake pedal vibrated from the ABS modulator, then went all the way to the floor. I had the brake system checked at a workshop, bled the brake lines, and the same situation repeated. It was recommended I replace the brake modulator and brake pump. I called our Honda dealer and the brake pump is on hard backorder with no indication of when or if it will be available. A check of junkyards showed very few of these pumps potentially available, indicating demand is very strong. Many of the Civics in the junkyards we saw were totalled due to front end collissions. Perhaps they discovered the brake issue too late? The car is not driveable. After reviewing forums and [XXX] there were many reports of brake problems with 2012 - 13 Honda Civics. I believe this warrants a close look. Brakes are the most important part of any motor vehicle in my opinion, and until there is a remedy my car will sit as a 3,000 lb paperweight. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

ABS Control Module leads fell off. The 2012 Honda Civic has a sealed ABS/VSA control module. This module has leads connected with rigid solid core cables that are known to disconnect and fall off due to natural heat and vibration. This happened with my vehicle. The vehicle lost acceleration, power steering, dash lights, and power breaking on the highway. When I attempted to restart it all of my lights came on: charging system, VSA, ABS, Power Steering, and Power Breaking. For more information see [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

While driving at about 40 mph the car suddenly started to pull toward the left. I pressed on the brake pedal as I steered to the right to try to bring the car back to my lane but I noticed the brake pedal was already very hard. In a second the car skidded out of control toward the right side of the road and it slammed its left side against some big rocks. The driver's door window broke and the side airbags deployed. The big rocks kept us from going into the water of a lake that the road runs next to. The passengers in the car were myself and my wife and were not injured but it was a very terrifying incident and the consequences could have been a lot worse. The vehicle has been released to Progressive, the Insurance Company.

The parking brake control knob has broken off and parking brake can not be released without inserting a long object into release button. If I engage the parking brake it is stuck in that position and car will not move. If I don't engage the parking brake then there is no parking brake. If parking on an incline, it is a struggle to move out of park. An independent service center has tried to order a replacement part. Honda says there is not replacement part. There are no warning lights.

I AM EXPERIENCING VERY RAPID REAR BRAKE PAD WEAR ON MY CIVIC. IT IS A 2012 MODEL, AND IS DRIVEN QUITE NORMALLY AS A COMMUTER VEHICLE TO AND FROM WORK DAILY. IN 2015 AT ABOUT 60K MILES, THE REAR PADS WERE WORN TO 0%. I WAS SURPRISED, BUT REPLACED THEM THEN. JUST RECENTLY, AT ABOUT 80K MILES, I AM JUST HAD MY MECHANIC REPORT THEY'RE BACK DOWN TO ABOUT 10% LIFE AND NEEDING REPLACEMENT SOON. THIS IS UNNATURALLY FAST, IS EXPENSIVE, AND UNSAFE AS MECHANICS AND CONSUMERS ARE USED TO REAR BRAKES WEARING MUCH MORE SLOWLY THAN FRONT BRAKES. IN THE SAME PERIOD OF TIME, THE FRONT BRAKES ARE STILL THE ORIGINAL PADS, AND ARE SHOWING ABOUT 35% LIFE REMAINING - THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN REPLACED. I'VE READ AROUND ON FORUMS ONLINE, AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM FOR OTHER CIVIC OWNERS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND CAUSED IRRITATION TO THE FACE. NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY WHO ADVISED HIM TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED FOR THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DIAMOND VALLEY HONDA (300 CARRIAGE CIR, HEMET, CA 92545 (888) 794-1620) WAS CONTACTED, BUT DECLINED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE BODY DAMAGE AND AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE BRAKE LINE AND THE BRAKE LINE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO BEING DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

THE BRAKES DRAG EACH TIME THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THIS IS A CONSTANT ISSUE. IT HAS BEEN FOR SOMETIME NOW. *JS

WAS FOLLOWING 2 CAR LENGTHS BEHIND A TRUCK WHEN A DRIVER FROM THE ONCOMING SIDE OF TRAFFIC FELL ASLEEP AND ROLLED INTO MEDIAN THREATENING TO CONTINUE ROLLING ONTO OUR SIDE OF THE ROAD. TRUCK AHEAD OF ME SLAMMED ON BRAKES AND IN TURN I SLAMMED ON BRAKES AND RAN INTO THE BACK OF THE TRUCK AHEAD OF ME. ABS BRAKES DID NOT PUMP AND WORK AS THEY SHOULD HAVE. CAR WRITTEN UP AS TOTALED BY GEICO.

DRIVERSIDE REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTOR EXCESSIVE WEAR MORE THAN FRONT DISC BRAKES. USUALLY THE FRONT DISC BRAKE PADS HAVE TO BE REPLACED BEFORE THE REAR. *TR

TWICE I WAS STOPPED AND FOOT ON BRAKE. CAR ROLLED INTO CAR UP FRONT. MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE. I READ THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. MY INSURANCE PAID FOR ONE AUTO AND THE OTHER LET IT GO. *TR

I WAS DRIVING THROUGH AN URBAN AREA IN THE MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK. THE BRAKE PEDDLE GOT SPONGY AND ABOUT 60 SECONDS LATER, WHILE TRYING TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT, THE BRAKE PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO STOPPING POWER. AT NO POINT, PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT OR AFTER THE INCIDENT DID ANY KIND OF WARNING LIGHT APPEAR. I WAS ABLE TO STOP WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THERE WAS ALSO A STRONG BURNING SMELL IN THE CAR AT THE TIME. GRADUALLY THE BRAKING POWER CAME BACK TO ABOUT 50% AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP SOME 20 MILES AWAY. STILL - NO BRAKE WARNING LIGHT. THE DEALERSHIP BLAMES THE PROBLEM ON THE CAR BEING DRIVEN WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON (WHICH IT WAS NOT EXCEPT FOR THE INITIAL EMERGENCY STOP). THEY DON'T SEEM BOTHERED THAT ALL BRAKING POWER WAS LOST ON THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS DISPLAYED. THE CAR REQUIRES NEW REAR BRAKES TO MAKE IT DRIVE-ABLE AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER IS REFUSING TO COVER THE REPAIR UNDER THEIR MANUFACTURER WARRANTY. *TR

ON STEEP HILL STOPPED, IN DRIVE. FIRE DEPARTMENT PARAMEDICS REQUEST I YIELD FOR THEM TO GO DOWN HILL. I LET GO OF FOOT BRAKE, CAR STARTS ROLLING BACKWARDS WHILE STILL IN DRIVE. SUDDENLY, NO BRAKES !! CAR INCREASES ROLLING SPEED BACKWARDS, I YANK UP EMERGENCY BRAKE & CAR FINALLY STOPS. PUT CAR IN PARK, BACK IN DRIVE, STILL NO BRAKES. EMERGENCY BRAKE AGAIN TO STOP CAR. TURNING CAR OFF & ON BRINGS BACK BREAK FUNCTION. *TR

WHEN I WAS CHECKING THE AIR PRESSURE IN MY TIRES, I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE CALIPER WAS CRACKED AT THE MOUNTING POINT. DEALER INSPECTED IT AND FOUND THAT THE BRAKE PADS WERE ALSO WORN AT AN ANGLE - OBVIOUSLY DUE TO BROKEN CALIPER. UPON REASSEMBLY THEY CONCLUDED THAT THE HUB WAS BENT AS WELL BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE IF ONE CAUSED THE OTHER OR HOW THEY WERE RELATED BUT SPECULATED THAT THE FRONT WHEEL IMPACTED TO AN EXTENT THAT IT BENT THE HUB AND/OR CALIPER INSPITE OF ANY EVIDENCE OF DAMAGE TO ANY FRONT END PARTS, BODY PARTS, OR WHEEL. I PROPOSED THAT THE HUB WAS OUT OF SPEC UPON DELIVERY AND THAT AFTER 11,000 MILES STRESSES ON THE CALIPER CAUSED IT TO BREAK, HOWEVER THEY DISAGREED AND WERE UNWILLING TO CALL THE HONDA AREA SERVICE MANAGER. COST OF REPAIR WAS INITIALLY QUOTED AT AROUND $800. FINAL COST OVER $1000. *TR

I TOOK MY 2012 HONDA CIVIC FOR SERVICE I WAS TOLD MY REAR BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THEY REPLACED REAR BRAKE PADS, NEW SHIM PLATES, RESURFACED ROTORS. MY REAR BRAKES WERE AT 2MM. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW COULD THE REAR BRAKES WEAR OUT BEFORE THE FRONT BRAKES THEY WERE AT 7MM. I THINK MY REAR BRAKING SYSTEM MUST BE DEFECTIVE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED SHE HEARD A GRINDING NOISE WHILE BRAKING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT THEN ATTEMPTED TO FORCEFULLY APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THE CIVIC I HAVE IS ONLY FOR 3 MONTH AND AROUND 3000 MILES. IT WAS A SUNNY DAY, THE ROAD IS DRY. I DRIVE LIKE AROUND 50 MILES/HR ON GRAND CENTRAL PARKWAY IN NY, SUDDENLY I SAW PEOPLE HIT THE BREAK IN FRONT OF ME, THEN I HIT THE BREAK AS SOON AS I CAN. I DIDNT HIT THE BREAK TO THE END (JUST AROUND HALF) BUT THE TIRE START TO SCREAM. I RELEASE THE BREAK A LITTLE BIT AND HIT IT AGAIN BUT THE TIRE STILL SCREAM AND I KEEP SLIDING. I SLIDE WITH MY TIRE LOCKED FOR MORE THE 5 CAR DISTANCE. THE TIRES KEEP SCREAMING AND I COULDNT STOP. THEN I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE A DRIVING RECORDER AND RECORD EVERYTHING. WHICH I UPLOAD TO YOUTUBE. HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=CTU66KPO8YM AFTER THE CAR FIXED BY THE BODY SHOP, THE CAR BECOME BETTER. THE BODY SHOP HAD CHANGE A NEW ABS SYSTEM AND BREAK AND RESET THE COMPUTER IN THE CAR. NOW THE BREAK IS MORE SHARP THEN BEFORE AND THE ABS WORK FINE. (I TEST IT ON A RAINING DAY IN MY DRIVEWAY) OTHER THING IS THAT THE CAR BECOME MORE FUEL EFFICIENT. I TRY SO HARD IN THE BEGINNING BUT ONLY GET 26 GALLON PER MILE. NOW IT IS SO EASY TO GO UP TO 29-30. (IT HAS BEEN USED FOR ANOTHER 800 MILE AND I DRIVE IT ON THE SAME ROAD I GO TO WORK) I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT AND DON'T WANT TO LET IT HAPPENS ON OTHERS.

WHILE GOING UP A HILL ON MY DRIVEWAY THE VSA (VEHICLE STABILITY ASSISTANT) WAS ACTIVATED ON MY 2012 HONDA CIVIC DUE TO SLIPPAGE IN SNOW. THE VSA MODULATOR GOT STUCK AND THE VSA, ABS AND POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHTS INSTANTLY TURNED ON. UPON TURNING THE CAR OFF THE VSA MODULATOR REMAINED ON PRODUCING A LOW FREQUENCY HUM/VIBRATION. I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TERMINAL LAST NIGHT TO TURN THE MODULATOR OFF SO THAT IT DOES NOT DRAIN THE BATTERY. THIS TYPE OF FAILURE ON CRITICAL SAFETY COMPONENTS SHOULD NOT BE OCCURRING ON A 5 MONTH OLD CAR. LUCKILY THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED (5 MPH). HAD THIS FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING INTO A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD AS THE BRAKE WAS DISENGAGED. ON A DIFFERENT OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING UPHILL AND RELEASING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE SURGED BACKWARD. IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING BACKWARD, THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,200. UPDATED 09/21/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE ON A DOWNHILL SLOPE. AS SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE, SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, RELEASED THE FOOT BRAKE, AND BEFORE SHE PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD ALMOST HITTING A DOOR. UPDATE 09/30/11

HONDA CIVIC HYBRID 2012 BOUGHT JUST AFTER SIX DAYS FAILED AFTER DOING A LEFT TURN. ALL WARNING LIGHTS LIT FROM THE DASHBOARD. RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME BUT FAILED TO START NEXT DAY. TOWED TO THE NEAREST HONDA DEALER. SERVICE GUY AFTER CALLING HONDA HEADQUARTERS DETERMINE IT WAS THE ABS SYSTEM THAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. STILL IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS. *TR