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2013 Honda Civic Brakes Problems

14 owner-reported brakes complaints from NHTSA data

14
Complaints
Jan 2014Oct 2014
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (14)

criticalSERVICE BRAKES, AIR
Filed: Sep 2025

Your dashboard is showing warning lights for power steering, ABS, and VSA (vehicle stability assist) all at once. A dealer diagnosed that your ABS/VSA control module needs to be replaced and reprogrammed, and your brake fluid needs to be bled out and replaced. Without this repair, your ABS braking system could fail, which is a serious safety issue. The repair typically costs around $2,600 and involves replacing the faulty ABS/VSA module and servicing the brake fluid system.

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NHTSA #: 11688767
highSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Jan 2025

Your car's ABS (anti-lock braking) module is not working properly. A repair shop told you they've seen this problem in multiple Honda vehicles and believe there should be a recall. This is a safety concern since the ABS module helps prevent wheel lockup during emergency braking, and finding a replacement part has been difficult.

NHTSA #: 11635587
mediumSERVICE BRAKES,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Filed: Aug 2023

The VSA modulator is a known issue from honda. Mine went out while going down the highway. So many have gone bad recently that the modular is hard to get due to backorder. Warning lamps: Check brake system, Check ABS system, Check VSA & Check Power Steering. First three were one after another. Check power steering was about 10 seconds after the others.

NHTSA #: 11537066
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Jun 2021

THE VSA MODULATOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE AND PART ARE CURRENTLY WITH A DEALERSHIP [FOR ONE MONTH AT TIME OF MESSAGE] AND SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. THE VSA CONTROLS WHEEL SPIN AND BRAKING ALONG WITH OTHER FUNCTIONS WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE MADE IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON THE ROAD. BRAKING WAS NOT THE SAME. THE PART WAS INSPECTED BY DEALERSHIP MECHANIC WHO STATED THERE WAS AN INTERNAL FAILURE, THEY COULD NOT WORK ON. AS A RESULT THE PART MUST BE REPLACED. WHEN CAR STARTED ABS, POWER STEERING, AND OTHER WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND STAYED ON WHILE DRIVING. THE LIGHTS WOULD OCCASIONALLY TURN OFF AND ON WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA #: 11419282
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Apr 2021

UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, I HAVE HAD MY CALIPERS AND ROTORS CHANGED 6 TIMES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT'S A HONDA CIVIC DESIGN ISSUE. THAT BEING SAID ON NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS COMING OFF AN INTERSTATE OR MANY STOPS IN THE CITY MY CAR WILL NOT STOP NO MATTER WHAT. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAS TO BE PULLED. IT IS WORSE WHEN PEOPLE ARE IN THE CAR. THE BRAKES HEAT UP SO MUCH THAT I CAN'T DO ANYTHING.

NHTSA #: 11413074
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: May 2015

HAD TO HAVE REAR BRAKE ROTORS RESURFACED BECAUSE OF A LOUD NOISE DURING BRAKE APPLICATION. DEALER SAID RUST ON ROTORS CAUSED BY SITTING 2 WEEKS IN AN AIRPORT LONG TERM PARKING LOT. DEALER PERFORMED THE WORK AT NO CHARGE.

NHTSA #: 10720946
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: May 2015

OKAY SO I BOUGHT MY 2013/CIVIC WITH 4200 MIL ....AT 9000 MILES I HAD TO REPLACE MY PADS AND RESURFACE THE ROTORS...MECHANIC SAID IT WAS DUE TO MY DRIVING HABITS...NOW IT HAPPENS AGAIN AT 30K..THIS TIME HAD TO BUY NEW ROTORS AND PADS...MECHANIC SAID THE SAME DUE TO DRIVING HABITS..BUT NOW THAT I SEE OTHER STORIES I REALLY HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING IT WAS MY DRIVING THAT CAUSED IT...PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND THE AIR BAG SITUATION... THANKS *TR

NHTSA #: 10715003
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Apr 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ROTORS AND PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

NHTSA #: 10703912
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Jan 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKE PEDAL, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,800.

NHTSA #: 10670944
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Oct 2014

A DOG RAN INTO THE STREET AND I HAD TO BRAKE HARD QUICKLY. THE BRAKES MADE A GRINDING SOUND AND WERE VERY UNSTABLE CAUSING THE CAR TO SKID AND SWERVE. TOOK THE CAR IN FOR 15K SERVICING AND WAS TOLD BRAKES WERE SHOT, GOT NEW PADS AND ROTORS RESURFACED. THIS WAS TOO SOON, THE SERVICEMAN BLAMED MY DRIVING HABITS. TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICING NEAR 25K MILES AND BRAKES AGAIN HAD TO BE REPLACE AND ROTORS TURNED. THE SERVICE MAN AGAIN BLAMED MY DRIVING HABITS. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING OVER 35 YEARS, 6 DIFFERENT CARS, THE SAME ROUTE FOR 17 YEARS AND NEVER HAD TO GET BRAKES REPLACED BEFORE 30K MILES AND CERTAINLY NEVER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ROTORS SO SOON. *TR

NHTSA #: 10650500
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Jun 2014

I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR 35 YEAR AND HAVE REPLACED BRAKES AND ROTORS NUMEROUS TIMES. I'VE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE PADS ON A 18 MONTH OLD CAR. WITHOUT WARNING THEY WORE PREMATURELY DOWN TO THE METAL. AFTER SEARCHING FOR SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, I FOUND A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FROM 2010 WITH THE ACCORD. HONDA LOST BUT THEY HAVEN'T FIXED THE ISSUE WITH THE CIVIC. THERE ARE COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER HONDA OWNERS. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FROM TWO DEALERS REFUSE TO ADMIT TO THE PROBLEM AND REFERRED ME TO CORPORATE. NO MORE HONDAS FOR ME. *TR

NHTSA #: 10595681
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Jan 2014

I HAD TRIED PARALLEL PARKING, BUT COULDN'T FIT IN SPOT. I PULLED OUT OF THE SPOT AND WAS STOPPED PARALLEL TO SIDEWALK ON THE ROAD WITH THE BRAKE ON. SUDDENLY THE CAR STARTED MOVING BACKWARD. I HAD NOT PUT IT INTO REVERSE AND I HAD NOT PUT THE GAS ON. I WAS GOING TO START GOING FORWARD WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE BUT IT WOULDN'T DEPRESS AND STOP THE CAR. I WASN'T SURE WHAT TO DO. I KNOW I SHOULD HAVE PUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON, BUT I WAS PANICKING BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHY THE CAR WAS BACKING UP WITHOUT ME DOING ANYTHING AND WHY THE BRAKE WASN'T WORKING. THEN IT STOPPED MOVING. I HAD NO PROBLEMS AFTER THAT. EARLIER IN THE WEEK, HOWEVER, WHEN I WAS DRIVING IT, I TRIED TO TURN ON THE RADIO AND THE BUTTON FOR TURNING IT ON DIDN'T WORK FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. THEN IT SUDDENLY STARTED WORKING AGAIN. I WILL CALL DEALER ON MONDAY. *TR

NHTSA #: 10561520
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,TIRES
Filed: Jan 2014

THIS IS A COMPLAINT AGAINST HONDA CIVIC 2013 I PURCHASED ON 12/27/2013. THERE IS NO ACCIDENT OCCURS BUT IF THIS ISSUE OCCUR ON THE ROAD, IT WILL LEAD/CAUSE A BIG ACCIDENT TO ME AND TO ANY OTHER NEARBY VEHICLE. TODAY (01/07/2013) AND WITH THE COLD WEATHER I PRACTICED TWO SAFETY ISSUES. 1-CHECK THE TIRE PRESSURE. I CHECKED THE TIRE PRESSURE AND IT IS OK. HOWEVER, THE FLAG AND THE ISSUES IS CONTINUED 2-AFTER I DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR 7MINUTES AND I STOPPED IN THE ISLAMIC CENTER TO PRAY FOR ALMOST 10MINUTES. I TRIED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING WAS FROZEN. IT IS VERY STIFF AND I CANNOT TURN THE VEHICLE LEFT OR RIGHT. THE VEHICLE KEPT ON ROLLING/MOVING FORWARD. I CANNOT CONTROL ON IT. I HAVE TO USE THE BRAKE. WHEN THE BRAKE DID NOT FUNCTION I HAVE TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK TO AVOID ANY ACCIDENT OR HITTING ANY OTHER VEHICLE. I AM REQUESTING THE FOLLOWING 1- CHECKING THE HONDA CIVIC PRODUCT ALL ACROSS FOR SIMILAR ISSUE 2- ENSURE HONDA REVIEW THE PRODUCT MY PHONE NUMBER IS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA #: 10558745
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Feb 2013

I BOUGHT A NEW CAR AN DRIVING AT 245 MILES I FELT RUBBING FEEL WITH BRAKES TOOK CAR BACK TO HONDA SERVICE! HONDA ROAD TESTED VEHICLE AN CONFIRMED THERE WAS A PROBLEM, REMOVED PADS CLEANED AN REINSTALLED. RETURNED CAR SAME DAY, THIS WAS DONE AT 376 MILES. SAME ISSUE ON FEBRUARY 1,2013 2 WEEKS LATER TOOK CAR IN AN NOW THEY SAY THE CALIPERS ARE STICKING CAR HAS 600 MILES THEY ARE KEEPING IT FOR A WEEK DUE TO NOT HAVING THE PARTS. I DON'T FEEL SAFE, NEVER TOOK CAR ON FREEWAY DUE TO THIS ISSUE! WHAT CAN I DO? PURCHASED ON 12-19-2013. *TR

NHTSA #: 10496211

Other 2013 Honda Civic Issues