Honda Civic Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems
Owners have filed 378 complaints with NHTSA about service brakes, hydraulic problems on the Honda Civic across 24 model years. The 1996 model year has the most (52). The words owners use most often: “brakes failed” (9% of reports).
- 378service brakes, hydraulic complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 104mention a crash
- 39mention an injury
- 4related recalls
- $450typical repair cost reported by owners
- 24%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Brakes failed: mentioned in 34 of 378 complaints (9%)
- Brake pads: mentioned in 32 of 378 complaints (8%)
- Master cylinder: mentioned in 19 of 378 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical service brakes, hydraulic repair on the Honda Civic at $450, and half of them between $290 and $570.
Based on 8 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2004–2012), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do service brakes, hydraulic problems happen?
Based on 197 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 378 complaints, 104 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 39 an injury.
Honda Civic service brakes, hydraulic complaints by model year
| Model year | Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Civic | 2 | 3% | 4,500 |
| 2021 Civic | 1 | 1% | 108,000 |
| 2020 Civic | 1 | 0% | 25,000 |
| 2018 Civic | 5 | 1% | 51,440 |
| 2016 Civic | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2013 Civic | 1 | 0% | 325 |
| 2012 Civic | 4 | 1% | 1,700 |
| 2011 Civic | 7 | 4% | 7,300 |
| 2010 Civic | 23 | 6% | 12,457 |
| 2009 Civic | 24 | 6% | 17,998 |
| 2008 Civic | 21 | 2% | 15,500 |
| 2007 Civic | 28 | 2% | 19,500 |
| 2006 Civic | 43 | 3% | 20,000 |
| 2005 Civic | 13 | 4% | 14,000 |
| 2004 Civic | 8 | 2% | 11,969 |
| 2003 Civic | 20 | 4% | 4,193 |
| 2002 Civic | 17 | 2% | 40,000 |
| 2001 Civic | 37 | 3% | 32,500 |
| 2000 Civic | 13 | 5% | 52,900 |
| 1999 Civic | 16 | 5% | 84,613 |
| 1998 Civic | 9 | 2% | 109,000 |
| 1997 Civic | 22 | 6% | 68,000 |
| 1996 Civic | 52 | 17% | 48,000 |
| 1995 Civic | 10 | 5% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (4)
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder
Model years: 2020, 2021
Problem: 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.
Risk: Brake master cylinder separation can cause a loss of brake function and increase the risk of a crash.
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.
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module
Model years: 2023
Problem: Honda (America Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023 Civic, Acura RDX, Acura Integra, and 2022 Honda Accord vehicles. A ball valve in the vehicle stability assist (VSA) modulator may leak brake fluid, which can result in unintended vehicle movement when the brake hold feature is engaged or an unexpected increase in brake pedal travel.
Risk: Unintended vehicle movement or an unexpected increase in brake pedal travel can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the VSA modulator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are OEJ, XEK, AEY, XEX and OEW.
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:wheel speed sensor/tone ring
Model years: 2006, 2007
Problem: On certain vehicles, the wheel speed sensor housing uses an o-ring seal to prevent leakage to or from the wheel bearing. If assembled improperly, the o-ring may not seal properly allowing water to enter the wheel bearing and eventually cause damage to the bearing, especially in areas where use of road salt is prevalent. If the driver continues to drive with this condition it is possible for the wheel bearing to become loose, which could cause the bearing to fail.
Risk: This could cause a wheel to fall off of the vehicle, possibly resulting in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the rear abs sensors and wheel bearings for damaged parts and replace them free of charge. The recall began on september 25, 2007. Owners may contact honda at 1-800-999-1009.
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Model years: 1996
Problem: A soapy lubricant was used to insert the check valve into the vacuum hose which causes the brake booster check valve to stick.
Risk: This condition can cause a loss of the brake's power assist resulting in a reduction in braking performance increasing the potential for a vehicle accident.
Fix: Dealers will clean the check valve by washing the vacuum hose with hot water.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owned a 2025 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed into a parking spot, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard. The vehicle failed to come to a stop. The vehicle drove over a parking median in front and struck a tree. The contact…
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving approximately 37 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The check engine, master cylinder, and adaptive cruise control warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the…
The contact owns a 2025 Honda Civic. The contact purchased the vehicle with a manual transmission and stated that the vehicle came equipped with aluminum clutch, brake, and accelerator pedals. The contact stated that during inclement, wet weather, his foot was constantly slipping off the pedals due…
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated to respond while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact heard an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. Additionally, the contact stated that while…
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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Honda Civics have service brakes, hydraulic problems?
No. NHTSA has 378 owner complaints about service brakes, hydraulic for the Honda Civic. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Honda Civic service brakes, hydraulic?
Yes: 4 safety recalls list service brakes, hydraulic. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix service brakes, hydraulic problems on the Honda Civic?
Owners report a typical cost of $450 (half paid between $290 and $570), from 8 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about service brakes, hydraulic problems on the Honda Civic?
The most frequent phrase is “brakes failed”, in 34 of 378 complaints, followed by “brake pads” (32).
Other Honda Civic problems
- Air Bags problems (2,756)
- Steering problems (2,542)
- Power Train problems (1,730)
- Electrical System problems (1,423)
- Engine problems (1,107)
- Suspension problems (854)
- Visibility problems (792)
- Structure problems (777)
See all Honda Civic problems.