Problems · NHTSA complaints

2009 Honda Civic problems

Owners filed 398 complaints about the 2009 Honda Civic with NHTSA between Oct 2008 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is air bags (96).

Complaints
398
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
42
Reported by owners
Fires
6
Reported by owners
Injuries
39
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags96
  2. Structure46
  3. Electrical system36
  4. Suspension31
  5. Engine27
  6. Tires26
  7. Service brakes, hydraulic24
  8. Power train23
  9. Service brakes21
  10. Visibility18
  11. Vehicle speed control17
  12. Steering13
  13. Engine and engine cooling12
  14. Visibility/wiper11

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 6, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20082
200934
201063
201140
201226
201323
201423
201521
201652
201743
201816
201919
202010
20212
20227
20236
20243
20255
20263

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

96 reports25 crashes2 fires7 related recalls
“No codes on the dash, police said the airbags malfunctioned. Car hit an embankment on the front right side then the car flipped over. The steering wheel did not deploy. All of the side airbags, both bottom and top side airbags came out still folded and did not inflate. Car is currently with State Farm insurance at their garage.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 28, 2023Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11514335

Structure

46 reports4 crashes
“The contact owns a 2009 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the sun visor split over and blocked his driving view. The contact stated that the failure was related to TSB Technical Service Bulletin 11-031. The local dealer was contacted, where it was diagnosed that the sun visor needed to be replaced. The contact had a paperclip holding the sun visor. vehicle that was not repaired. The contact stated that the sun visor was previously repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted, who opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 3, 2026StructureODI 11741877

Electrical system

36 reports1 crash2 fires
“The contact purchased a 2009 Honda Civic. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 23,000 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 213,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 14, 2026Electrical systemODI 11771210

Suspension

31 reports1 crash
“The contact owns a 2009 Honda Civic. The contact stated that on several occasions while making left or right turns, there was an abnormal clicking and clacking sound coming from the front of the vehicle and the steering column. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the lower control arm needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 220,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 24, 2024Steering, SuspensionODI 11567480

Engine

27 reports2 crashes
“Car accelerated into a garage door unintentionally. The brakes did not work. The problem has not been reproduced. The car was taken to a honda dealer twice before the accident for the same reasons of sudden unintentional acceleration. The vehicle has been totaled and has not been inspected by anyone. There were no warning indicators that I am aware of.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 22, 2023Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, EngineCrash reportedODI 11518402

Tires

26 reports1 crash1 fire
“EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR COMING FROM BOTH BACK TIRES.THEY BOTH WEAR FROM THE INSIDE. HAD NEW TIRES PUT ON CAR,THEY BOTH ARE ALREADY WEARING ON INSIDE. HONDA DID AN ALIGNMENT WHEN TIRES WERE NEW. THESE TIRES WERE ROTATED TO THE FRONT AND NOW I GETTING EXCESSIVE ROARING SOUND IN THE FRONT AND VIBRATION WHEN AT SLOWER SPEEDS.CAR ALSO NOW PULLS TO THE LEFT. TOOK CAR BACK TO HONDA AND THEY SAID THEY FIND NO PROBLEMS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 22, 2015Tires, WheelsODI 10689855
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 6, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.