Problems · by component
2011 Honda Civic service brakes problems
26 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2011 Honda Civic cite service brakes, 15% of all 170 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
26
15% of all complaints
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
Reported by owners
What owners say about the service brakes
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Each time I applied brakes I would hear a scraping sound in sync with a point or span of tire rotation. Then as I was attempting to stop at a red light the brakes failed. The nearest place was OR automotive and they rebuilt rear braking system yet I could hear the same scraping sound. So I carried the car to Honda dealership. They adjusted brakes $237.00 and replaced $341.00 the two rear drums. The sound remains and is magnified. They are claiming it is because e brake cables stretch. Somehow the stretching can cause entire rear brake on that side to catastrophically fail.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND CRASHED INTO MULTIPLE VEHICLES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED SPINE AND CHEST. THE CONTACT DID SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR HER INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND WAS TOWED TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,000.”
“AT APPROXIMATELY 35 TO 40 MPH WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES LATELY DUE TO TRAFFIC SLOWING DOWN IN FRONT I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO BRAKE PEDAL AT ALL. THE PEDAL WENT IMMEDIATELY DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE HAD FAILED TO SLOW OR STOP. TO AVOID ACCIDENT I VEERED TO THE DIRT SHOULDER AND BEGIN TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL ENDING UP BACK ON THE ROAD AND CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE SEATBELTS HAD FAILED TO LOCK AS IF THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NEVER DEPRESSED AND IT APPEARED THAT AS SOON AS THE TIRES HIT THE DIRT SHOULDER THE VEHICLE GAIN SPEED. IN ADDITION AIRBAGS WERE NEVER DEFLATED.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN A DRIVE THRU LINE, IT ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WHILE STOPPED. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO PARK TO COMPLETELY STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED; HOWEVER, A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,600.”
“"TAKATA RECALL" I'VE HAD TO CHANGE THE BRAKES OFTEN ON THIS CAR. I DON'T DRIVE THE CAR LONG DISTANCES, BUT THE BRAKES WEAR OUT SO EASILY. I'VE HAD IT FOR 4 YEARS AND HAVE MILEAGE OF 30,000. I'M ALREADY TAKING IT TO MECHANIC TO CHANGE THE BRAKES AGAIN! IT'S NOT NORMAL! I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT BUT HAVE OFFERED NO SOLUTION! THEY JUST TELL ME TO KEEP PURCHASING NEW BRAKES.”
“HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS EVERY 6 MONTHS DINCE WE PURCHASED IN JULY 2012. THE CAR HAD VERY LIW MILES WHEN PURCHASED AND NOW HAS 90,000.MILES.THE MECHANIC SAYS IT IS NOT NORMAL TO NEED REPLACEMENT SO OFTEN. BRAKES BUCKLE WHEN COMING TO A SUDDEN STOP.”
Showing 6 of 26 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 6, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.