2020 Honda Civic Brakes Problems
12 owner-reported brakes complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Brakes Recalls (1)
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Civic, 2020-2023 Ridgeline, 2021-2023 Passport, 2021-2022 Pilot, and 2020 Acura MDX vehicles. The tie rod fastener that connects the brake booster and the brake master cylinder may have been improperly assembled during manufacturing, which can cause the brake master cylinder to separate from the booster assembly.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and repair the brake booster assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are VEU, AEV, and ZET.
Owner Complaints (12)
My automatic Breaks that prevents me from rear ending a car keeps engaging when I am a few car lengths from another vehicle. It’s happened once yesterday and once today. Both times in heavy traffic areas. I’ve had the car for two years and this is the first time this has happened. Thankfully no one was following close behind because they may have hit me. I’m afraid this is going to happen one day when someone is too close and I’m going to get rear ended. It’s really scary and dangerous. I’m scared to drive my car.
I believe my car is affected by this recall and although it isn't showing up by my vin number, I am experiencing braking issues that cause the pedal to bounce while braking and it is getting worse by the day. NHTSA RECALL NUMBER:23V-458 MFR CAMPAIGN ID:VEU CAMPAIGN DESCRIPTION:2020-21 Civic Master Cylinder Mounting Inspection Safety Recall RECALL DATE:06/29/2023 RECALL STATUS:17 Character VIN Required SUMMARY: American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (Honda) is recalling certain 2020-21 model year Civic vehicles. The brake master cylinder may have been improperly fastened to the brake booster assembly during production, resulting in loose or missing tie rod nuts. During application of the brake pedal, the tie rod studs may break, leading to the brake master cylinder separating from the brake booster assembly and a failure to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) 135 - Light vehicle brake systems.
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle came to an abrupt stop. The contact was concerned that the parking brake had engaged without driver input. The contact stated that after closing the windows, turning off the vehicle, and exiting the vehicle, she noticed that the windows and sunroof had opened independently upon her return. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 51,815.
A lot of times the warning collision on dash will flash to “BRAKE” when going through caution lights usually around fire stations and also approaching steel bridges… I don’t know if it sees the steel deck and thinks it’s a car, but whenever I get in my car, I deactivate the automatic emergency braking system because I don’t want it to automatically brake for me like it’s done in the past.
The contact owned a 2020 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle was on cruise control, and the vehicle slowed down as if the contact had depressed the brake pedal. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated or warning chime sounded. The contact crashed into a truck and bounced off the side of the truck and the vehicle hit the highway divider at the front end of her vehicle and came to a stop. The contact stated that only one side air bag had been deployed. The contact stated that the police and emergency services arrived but she did not seek medical treatment. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot and later declared a total loss by the contact's insurance provider. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The contact had researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V458000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.
The contact owns a 2022 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed, and the contact heard an abnormal clicking sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 53,049.
The automatic brake system comes on and brakes when there are no cars in front of me. Then when the automatic brakes come on, it is a delay in speeding back up. So my car has slammed on breaks, with people behind me and would not increase speed. I have almost been rear ended twice because of this feature.
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in park in the driveway idling and unattended with the emergency brake engaged, the vehicle rolled down the driveway and crashed into a tree. There were no reported injuries, no police report, fire or air bag deployment. The vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified however no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Civic. The contact stated while stationary, the vehicle rolled backwards and hit a wall. The contact stated that the vehicle was equipped with a manual transmission. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with the parking brakes. The vehicle was towed and diagnosed but not yet repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 9,000.
REAR ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE FAILED WHILE IN PARK. THE VEHICLE HAD THE PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED, AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN A HILL INTO TREES, DAMAGING THE REAR BUMPER AND HATCH. THIS PARKING BRAKE ISSUE WAS ALSO DOCUMENTED ON EARLIER CIVIC MODELS FROM THIS GENERATION.
I HAD JUST PARKED MY VEHICLE ON A CITY STREET, TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. I APPLIED THE ELECTRICAL EMERGENCY BRAKE. THEN MY PHONE RANG AND I TALKED ON MY PHONE FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES. I THEN GOT OUT OF MY VEHICLE GRABBED MY BAG FROM THE TRUNK AND STARTED WALKING TOWARDS MY FRIENDS HOUSE. WHEN MY VEHICLES AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKWAS AUTOMATED MY CAR STARTED TO ROLL FORWARD, IT STRUCK A VAN.
THE CRASH MITIGATION ACTIVATED TWICE IN TWO DIFFERENT SITUATIONS ALMOST CAUSING ME TO GET REAR ENDED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME WAS WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH A ROUNDABOUT, THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WAS A NORMAL CAR LENGTH AHEAD AS WE BOTH ENTERED THE CIRCLE. THE CAR IN FRONT TURNED LEFT AND I WAS GOING STRAIGHT THROUGH. AT THIS TIME THE CAR WAS OUT OF MY WAY AND IN THE TURN AND SUDDENLY MY CAR SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES ALMOST TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CAR BEHIND ME ALSO STOPPED ABRUPTLY AND NEARLY REAR ENDED ME. MY LEFT HAND WAS RESTING ON THE WHEEL AND THE SUDDEN STOPPAGE MADE MY FINGERS CRUNCH UP INTO THE STEERING WHEEL FEELING LIKE A "JAMMED" FINGER. THE SECOND TIME THE CRASH MITIGATION ACTIVATED WAS AT 0550 IN THE MORNING ON THE WAY TO WORK. I WAS ENTERING A 4-WAY WITH NO VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS APPROACHING THE INTERSECTION AT AROUND 25 MPH AND MIDWAY THROUGH THE INTERSECTION THE CAR SLAMMED ON IT'S BRAKES ALMOST TO A CLEAR STOP. I DOWN SHIFTED AND WHEN IT RELEASED I PRESSED THE GAS AND ABOUT 2 SECONDS LATER IT ACTIVATED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME LAID ON HIS HORN IN ANGER THE ENTIRE TIME AS HE ALMOST HIT ME TWICE IN THAT EVENT. THE 4-WAY I WAS APPROACHING HAD NO VEHICLES GOING THROUGH, HOWEVER THE RIGHT SIDE ENTRY HAD A VEHICLE STOPPED AT THE LIGHT AND THAT PARTICULAR SIDE IS ELEVATED AS IT COMES DOWN A SLIGHT HILL. BOTH OF THESE EVENTS WERE TERRIFYING AND NOW I AM AFRAID THAT THIS VEHICLE WILL DO IT AGAIN AT ANY TIME WHEN I AM IN AWARE. I FEEL THIS VEHICLE IN IT'S CURRENT STATE IS UNSAFE AND MY CONFIDENCE IN IT IS VERY LOW. I DRIVE ABOUT 100 MILES EVERY DAY FOR WORK AND AM NERVOUS ABOUT THE CRASH MITIGATION SYSTEM CAUSING ME TO GET REAR ENDED. I AM 43 YEARS OLD AND HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND NOW I'M FEELING IT IS NOT IF, BUT WHEN. VERY UNSATISFIED WITH THIS PURCHASE NOW AND FEEL OTHERS MUST BE HAVING SAME ISSUES.