Is the 2009 Honda Civic a bad year?
396 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Civic years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2009 Honda Civic are in line with other Civic years. Air bags and body structure stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2009 Civic owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 76,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 95 (24%) | 48k–100k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 45 (11%) | 40k–102k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 37 (9%) | 27k–110k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Steering | 13 (3%) | 22k–90k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Fuel system | 12 (3%) | 11k–103k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Wheels | 10 (3%) | 21k–76k miles · around this mileage | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 51 (13%) | 16k–32k miles · mostly behind | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Electrical system | 36 (9%) | 8k–45k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Suspension | 31 (8%) | 19k–44k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 29 (7%) | 14k–55k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Tires | 26 (7%) | 13k–25k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 23 (6%) | 7k–43k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 17 (4%) | 12k–50k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Equipment | 6 (2%) | 11k–42k miles · mostly behind | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 76,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 396 complaints: 42 mention a crash · 6 mention a fire · 30 report an injury · 12 say the car was towed.
4 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Clear coat on paint failed after 3 years. Sun visors failed after 4 years and 35k miles. Motor mounts failed at 5 years and 42k miles.
Our 2009 Honda Civic si I purchased with my son began overheating on the highway on his way to work.
2009 Honda Civic 4 door sedan, bought brand new - within the first 30,000 miles, the car began to have intermittent problems with starting in lower temperature weather (50 and below).
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 76,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2009 Honda Civic: 8
The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement. An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement. An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags)… An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
One dealership may have incorrectly installed the replacement air bag inflators. In the event of a crash, an incorrectly installed passenger frontal air bag inflator may deploy the air bag improperly, increasing the risk of injury.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
A bracket that covers the fuel hose connector is secured with a bolt and nut, but during assembly the nut was not installed. In the event of a crash, the bracket may become loose which could result in damage to the fuel hose connector. A damaged connector could lead to a fuel leak and increases the risk of a fire.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Honda: 50
Repair instructions Honda sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2009 Honda Civic. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Beginning September 26, 2017, the 2006-2011 Civic Engine Block (part number 10002-RNA-A50 and 10002- RNE-A01) warranty claim submission will enforce proper…
Beginning August 29, 2017, the 2006-2011 Civic Engine Block (part number 10002-RNA-A50 and 10002- RNE-A01) warranty claim submission will require proper engine…
On some 2006 - 08 and early production 2009 Civics, the engine (cylinder) block may leak engine coolant, resulting in engine overheating
Due to a clicking or clacking noise, while turning either left or right, the cause of the noise is under investigation
Neighbouring years
2008 Civic: 915 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2010 Civic: 398 complaints, keep it.
Every Honda Civic year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Civic years side by side
Other Honda models: Honda Accord · Honda Accord Hybrid · Honda CR-V · Honda CR-V Hybrid · Honda Civic Hybrid · Honda Civic Si · Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid · Honda Crosstour · Honda Element · Honda Fit · Honda GL1800 · Honda HR-V · Honda Insight · Honda Odyssey · Honda Passport · Honda Pilot · Honda Prologue · Honda Ridgeline · Honda VTX1300. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2009 Honda Civic a bad year?
396 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Civic years. At 76,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Honda Civic?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (95), body structure (45), engine (37), steering (13), fuel system (12).
How many recalls does the 2009 Honda Civic have?
8 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 19V-502), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-378), Air bags (NHTSA 18V-268), Air bags (NHTSA 18V-042) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.