2009 Honda Civic: Is It Reliable?
Problems, Recalls & Buyer Verdict
Shopping for a used 2009 Honda Civic? This page highlights owner-reported complaint patterns and recall history so you can inspect the right systems before buying. Current data includes 393 complaints, with Airbag Malfunctions as the top reported area.
2009 Honda Civic Fuel Economy
✓ EPA Official DataEPA-rated fuel economy across 5 2009 Honda Civic trim configurations. The median figure is shown; range reflects all available trims.
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov. Figures reflect EPA lab testing; real-world results vary by driving style, load, and conditions. 5 trims analysed.
2009 Honda Civic Safety Ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Program3 variants tested — showing 2009 Honda Civic GX (CNG) 4-DR. w/SABOfficial crash test results from the NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings program. Stars reflect government-conducted tests; higher is safer.
Overall
Not RatedFrontal Crash
Not RatedSide Crash
Not RatedRollover
Not RatedSource: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Ratings are based on government crash tests and may not reflect all trim levels.
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 2009 Honda Civic has 393 owner complaints, 42 crash-related complaints, and 8 recall campaigns on record. The most frequently reported component is Airbag Malfunctions. NHTSA reliability signal: Severe Issues.
- Make
- Honda
- Model
- Civic
- Model year
- 2009
- NHTSA owner complaints
- 393
- Crash-related complaints
- 42
- Safety recall campaigns
- 8
- Top reported component
- Airbag Malfunctions
- Reliability signal
- Severe Issues
- EPA MPG combined
- 29
- EPA MPG city / highway
- 25 / 36
- Fuel type
- Regular Gasoline
- Electronic stability control
- No
Most Common 2009 Honda Civic Problems
Top owner-reported complaint areas and where they often appear.
Airbag Malfunctions
Brake System
Structural Problems
Complaint patterns center on Airbag Malfunctions, Brake System, Structural Problems. Use these as a pre-purchase inspection guide, then verify recall and damage history on the specific VIN.
Should You Buy a Used 2009 Honda Civic?
The 2009 Honda Civic shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase.
Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report.
What to Check Before Buying a Used 2009 Honda Civic
Inspection Focus
- Inspect airbag system for any warning lights or prior repairs.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for brake and structural repairs.
- Have a mechanic inspect the vehicle's suspension and electrical systems.
Before You Close the Deal
- Inspect airbag system for any warning lights or prior repairs.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for brake and structural repairs.
- Have a mechanic inspect the vehicle's suspension and electrical systems.
Shortlist with model-year data. Decide with the exact VIN.
Before buying a used 2009 Honda Civic, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, theft checks, and open recalls for the exact vehicle.
What the Complaint Data Suggests
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology
Based on 393 NHTSA complaints for the 2009 Honda Civic, the most frequently reported issues involve airbag malfunctions, brake system problems, and structural concerns. Crash-related complaints account for 42 reports, but the overall confidence in this data is low due to its consumer-submitted nature.
- Airbag malfunctions are the most common complaint, with 95 reports.
- Brake system issues are the second most reported, with 51 complaints.
- Structural problems account for 44 complaints, indicating potential body or frame concerns.
- Airbag Malfunctions: 95 complaints suggest a recurring theme with the airbag system.
- Brake System: 51 complaints indicate potential braking performance or component failures.
- Structural Problems: 44 complaints point to possible body integrity or panel issues.
All 2009 Honda Civic Complaints by Category
Every owner-reported complaint category filed with NHTSA for the 2009 Honda Civic. Use this as a pre-purchase inspection checklist.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag Malfunctions | 95 | 25 | 2 | — | |
| Brake System | 51 | 8 | 1 | — | |
| Structural Problems | 44 | 4 | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 39 | 4 | 1 | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 36 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 35 | 1 | 2 | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 31 | 1 | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 26 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Hydraulic | 24 | 2 | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 23 | 3 | — | — | |
| Visibility | 18 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 17 | 9 | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 13 | 2 | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 11 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 10 | — | 1 | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 10 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 5 | 2 | 2 | — | |
| Electric | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Other | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Air | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Real Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2009 Honda Civic. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
See attached document for complaint.
The contact owns a 2009 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and being inspected, the contact became aware that the driver’s and passenger’s side sun visors were split. No warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle …
The contact owns a 2009 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at undisclosed speeds, the steering wheel became stiff. The contact stated that the steering wheel difficult to turn. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was n…
There are hacks to cars that can control the computers remotely, possibly from devices such as programmable thingy remote control devices that can be programmed with different fuctions, or direct open door remote entry hacks into the vehicle port that remote control the cars func…
While driving, the hood prop rod dislodged from its securing clip and fell onto the positive terminal of the battery. This caused an electrical short, which led to the rod heating up rapidly and igniting a fire under the hood. The fire damaged the headlight assembly and the surro…
There is a recall for the engines and air bags on theys cars handa said so.
The vehicle will shut off in traffic without any warning from the cars system. Unknown if there is any interference being caused by internal or external.
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 diagn…
Pain on my Honda Civic 2009 Is peeling very badly. I read that it was manufacture defect and I would like to have it fixed. It started about two years ago.
My clutch pedal bracket is poorly made after doing research I realized this is a common issue with these cars, the pedal brackets can break while driving and cause an accident if you are stuck in a gear and can’t get out of it
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…
The contact's mother owned a 2009 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 mph, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle unintentionally accelerated. The front of the vehicle collided with a garage door. The garage door was damaged. The air bags did…
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…
My husband made a left turn from a center lane and didn't see a vehicle coming at us because of the blind spot. We hit the other vehicle on the front right side. The airbags deployed and the side airbag exploded and burned my right arm badly. I now have injury scars from the pass…
The contact was a former police officer who had been tasked with investigating a vehicle crash that involved a 2009 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while the owner was driving at a yet-to-be-determined rate of speed, he hit a dip in the road which sent the vehicle airborne a…
I have the same problem with the readiness codes on my 2009 Honda Civic 4DSD during my inspection this week, October 2022. This also happened in 2019 and I drove the vehicle between 250-300 miles before the codes reset. This time I have driven the vehicle the same amount and the …
3 times my fooit has sliped off the brake pedal and on to the gas pedal. In all cases i was able to go back to the break pedal and stop. it seems the break pedal is slipery. In all cases the car lurched foward. This has never happened in any of the other cars that i…
I am the second owner of this car when I bought it had 40k it's at 92k ..I have had to replace the engine mounts 2x now 3 if you consider the mounts on car when was manufactured :(
When removing my 4 day old infant (in her brand new car seat), I noticed the seat belt was very loose. I securely fastened her in before leaving to visit family for Easter. When I lifted the car seat, the seat belt buckle was laying in the base. The strap securing the seat buckle…
The Navigation system's clock automatically resets to Jan 1st 2002 4:00 o'clock and when you try to manually change the clock settings, it just immediately goes back to 12:00. This seems to have effected tons of Civic with the navigation system since Jan 2022.
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2009 Honda Civic.
2009 Honda Civic Recalls
8 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2009 Honda Civic. 8 recall campaigns are on record for this model year. Recalls are free to fix at authorized dealers, but completion status must be verified on the exact VIN.
2009 Honda Civic Buying FAQ
Buyer-focused answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this model year.
Is the 2009 Honda Civic reliable?▾
Severe Issues. NHTSA currently shows 393 owner complaints, 42 crash-related complaints, and 8 recall campaigns for this model year. The 2009 Honda Civic shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase. Treat this as a model-year signal, then verify the exact vehicle's condition and history before purchase.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Honda Civic?▾
#1: Airbag Malfunctions (95 complaints). #2: Brake System (51 complaints). #3: Structural Problems (44 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2009 Honda Civic?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2009 Honda Civic?▾
Complaint data is not the same as crash-test scoring, but it does highlight possible risk patterns. For the 2009 Honda Civic, NHTSA complaints include 42 crash-related reports and 6 fire reports out of 393 total complaints. 39 injury reports are also on file. For controlled crash-test ratings, check nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2009 Honda Civic have any recalls?▾
Yes. 8 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2009 Honda Civic. A major recall area is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. 8 recall campaigns are on record for this model year. Always verify open recalls by VIN because completion status varies by vehicle.
Should I buy a 2009 Honda Civic?▾
The 2009 Honda Civic shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase. Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report. Pay extra attention to Airbag Malfunctions during inspection. Before committing, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, and recall completion for the exact car.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Honda Civic reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Owner Reliability Rating
Rate the 2009 Honda Civic based on your ownership experience.
Add your rating:
Ratings are based on owner experience and are separate from NHTSA data shown above.
Check the Exact Vehicle History Before You Buy
Model-year complaints and recalls reveal patterns. A VIN report confirms whether the exact car has accident history, title brands, mileage issues, or open recalls.