HONDA: THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF, POWER ON, BUT IN ACCESSORY; NEVER USE CONVENTIONAL WHEEL & TIRE ASSEMBLIES ON PAX VEHICLES; MIL ON AFTER THROTTLE BODY CLEANING OR REPLACEMENT; S/M FIX BRAKE SYSTEM BLEEDING, DIALOGUE FOR DVD SURROUND SOUND FROM FRONT SPEAKERS ONLY. VARIOUS MODELS AND MODEL YEARS.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2009 Honda CR-V brakes problems
moderate 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
A 2009 CR-V brake system shows a pattern of electrical and hydraulic failures across multiple failure modes. The most persistent complaint is a brake pedal that sinks to the floor, often returning to normal feel after dealer bleeding but deteriorating again—especially in cold weather or after the car sits idle. One owner spent years chasing this problem across two states and dealerships before learning of a supposedly defective ABS component; Honda denied coverage based on vehicle age, despite the dealer indicating some vehicles shipped with the bad part.
ABS and VSA module failures appear critical. One owner experienced sudden rear brake lock-up at 60 mph on a freeway with no warning, creating an immediate collision hazard; repair cost ran to $2,642. Another owner's brake pedal sank to the floor during light braking, then caused engine surge to high RPMs when fully depressed—a dangerous loss of vehicle control.
Rear brake pad wear is premature: one vehicle at 18,000 miles had pads completely worn despite being fine at 15,000 miles; another under 36,000 miles had only 4 mm remaining. Both were primarily highway-driven. A mechanic report flagged a design defect in Raybestos aftermarket pads (EHT1086H) where the shim prevents full caliper contact, creating uneven rotor wear and spongy pedal feel for hundreds of miles until friction material wears enough for full contact.
Same Honda CR-V brakes reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2008 · 2010 · 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Brake pedal goes to floor / low pedal feel
Brake pedal sinks to or near the floor, requiring full depression to stop. Owners report the pedal returns to normal after dealership bleeding and inspection, then falls again later—especially in cold weather or after the vehicle sits. Dealerships performed multiple diagnostics (bleeding, inspections) without resolving the issue. One dealer identified a defective part in the ABS portion of the brake system; Honda declined warranty coverage citing vehicle age.
When: Occurs after vehicle sits idle, particularly in cold weather; reported at 11,000 miles, 66,278 miles, and 200,000+ miles across different owners
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal sinks to or near floor; Spongy brake feel; Pedal returns to normal after bleeding, then deteriorates again; Problem worsens in cold weather
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple bleeds and inspections; one owner faced $2,000+ repair cost for ABS defect; another spent over $2,000 replacing brake booster (requiring steering column disassembly) without resolving spongy feel
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda refused warranty repair citing vehicle age and mileage; dealership indicated some vehicles came equipped with defective ABS part
ABS/VSA module failure causing brake lock-up
ABS module failure caused sudden, unintended brake lock-up at highway speed without warning. One owner experienced rear brake lock-up at 60 mph; another had all brakes lock immediately without notice. These events created immediate collision hazards.
When: At highway speeds; one incident at 5/15/18 on freeway
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden brake lock-up without warning; Rear brake locks at highway speed; All brakes lock immediately
Repairs/costs cited: ABS/VSA module replacement; one owner charged $2,642.63 by Honda dealership for parts and labor
Brake pedal falls to floor with engine surge
Brake pedal depression caused pedal to go to floor with almost no braking, followed by unintended engine acceleration to very high RPMs. Owner shifted to neutral, then park, and shut off engine to stop the vehicle.
When: During normal braking approach to stop sign at low speed
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal goes to floor; Severe loss of braking; Engine acceleration to high RPMs when brake pedal fully depressed
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed; no repair outcome reported
VSA light illumination with drivability issues
VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) light illuminates repeatedly despite dealership repairs. Owner also reported power loss, accelerator pedal unresponsiveness, and vibration from steering wheel and front tires. Dealership replaced brake switch and VSA modulator, but light continued to appear.
When: Illuminates while driving down freeway; first repair December 16, 2009
Symptoms owners cite: VSA light illuminates repeatedly; Loss of power while driving; Accelerator pedal unresponsive; Vibration in steering wheel and front tires
Repairs/costs cited: Brake switch and VSA modulator replaced
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: American Honda stated vehicle was performing as designed
Premature rear brake pad wear
Two owners reported rear brake pads wearing out prematurely. One owner with under 36,000 miles was told pads had only 4 mm remaining; another had rear pads completely worn at just 18,000 miles despite pads being inspected as fine at 15,000 miles. Both vehicles had low mileage and primarily highway driving.
When: At 18,000 miles and under 36,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Rear brake pads worn excessively for mileage; Rapid wear between inspections (fine at 15,000 miles, failed by 18,000 miles)
Repairs/costs cited: Pads required replacement at low mileage
Raybestos aftermarket brake pad shim design defect
Aftermarket Raybestos disc brake pads (part EHT1086H) have a design flaw in the anti-squeal shim that prevents the pad from making full contact with the outer caliper surface. This causes both pads to contact the rotor unevenly (non-parallel), reducing friction and creating a spongy pedal feel. Friction material gradually wears until full contact occurs, but this compromises braking efficiency for hundreds of miles.
When: Evident after initial drive following pad installation
Symptoms owners cite: Spongy brake pedal; Uneven brake pad contact with rotor; Reduced friction and braking efficiency; Non-parallel pad contact visible on rotor contact surface
Repairs/costs cited: Anti-squeal shim must be removed and dismantled from pads to restore proper contact; friction material wears gradually until full contact occurs over hundreds of miles
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Brake pedal continues to be squishy, having to be pushed all the way down to the floor to stop, after having replaced the master cylinder and brake booster Twice, flushing and replacing brake fluid, clearing air out of the brake line multiple times! Dealer has no idea how to fix this. It’s defective brake system has been serviced multiple times by Honda dealer!
Had brakes trouble with your 2009 Honda CR-V?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2009 Honda CR-V?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $450 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 53,950 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2009/Honda/CR-V.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.