2015 Honda Civic cruise control problems
severe Owners of the 2015 Honda Civic have filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control, typically surfacing around 60,796 miles at roughly $600 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See cruise control across all vehicles →
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 Civic | 5 |
| 2012 Civic | 25 |
| 2013 Civic | 9 |
| 2014 Civic | 6 |
| 2015 Civic (this page) | 11 |
| 2016 Civic | 10 |
| 2017 Civic | 6 |
| 2018 Civic | 3 |
| 2019 Civic | 7 |
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe two distinct problem patterns: sudden unintended acceleration and loss of acceleration/drivability.
Unintended acceleration strikes most frequently during low-speed parking maneuvers—three separate owners report this while turning left into spaces, with one incident ending in a plate glass window crash. Two more describe acceleration after rear-impact and while entering an intersection. One driver reports 60 mph surge while making a right turn. In every case, owners applied the brake with little or no effect; one needed the hand brake, another turned the ignition off to stop. Mileage ranged from 2,200 to 13,400 miles, suggesting early onset.
Loss of acceleration manifests differently: one vehicle decelerated and stalled mid-freeway with check engine and transmission warnings; another lost power uphill with unresponsive gas pedal; a third simply lost acceleration in drive. One owner found the transmission fluid fill cap missing after a breakdown in an intersection.
Dealers and Honda inspectors consistently found no fault, even when failures recurred. One dealer blamed the driver; another said cruise control not disengaging on clutch depression is normal. A service department rewrote TCM software to address speedometer malfunction, but the issue persisted. Owners emphasize good driving records, low speeds during incidents, and documented crashes—police reports, insurance claims, and medical evaluation exist for at least two incidents.
Same Honda Civic cruise control reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended acceleration after impact / sensor malfunction
Vehicle suddenly accelerated to 20-30 mph after being rear-ended at low speed. Driver applied brake but acceleration continued; hand brake was needed to stop. Honda dealer and manufacturer inspector found no problems.
When: Incident mileage not stated
Symptoms owners cite: sudden acceleration after impact; brake ineffective during acceleration; hand brake needed to stop vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: No repair performed; dealer and Honda factory inspector found no issues
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda factory inspector attended but found no problems
Unintended acceleration during low-speed parking maneuver
Vehicle accelerated uncontrollably while slowly turning into a parking space. Brake pedal had no effect. Vehicle jumped curb and crashed into brick building causing $7,773 in damage. Driver and regional manager/dealer attributed it to driver error despite driver's assertion otherwise.
When: Occurred during parking lot entry
Symptoms owners cite: sudden uncontrolled acceleration during low-speed turn; brake pedal unresponsive; vehicle lurched forward
Repairs/costs cited: $7,773 front end damage repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer and regional manager insisted it was human error, not vehicle failure
Unintended acceleration with brake and emergency brake engaged
Vehicle accelerated without warning while driver applied brake pedal. Emergency brake was also engaged but vehicle continued accelerating. Driver turned off vehicle to stop it. Occurred twice; dealer could not duplicate failure on either visit.
When: At 2,200 miles; recurred later
Symptoms owners cite: acceleration despite brake pedal applied; acceleration despite emergency brake engaged; inability to stop vehicle normally
Repairs/costs cited: No diagnosis or repair completed on either dealer visit
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; advised specialist would inspect vehicle; dealer told contact to document when failure recurred
Engine and transmission fault causing deceleration and stalling on freeway
Vehicle drove strangely (felt like wrong gear), check engine light and dashboard warnings appeared, then vehicle decelerated and came to complete stop in middle of freeway. Rear-ended by another vehicle.
When: Not stated; vehicle properly maintained
Symptoms owners cite: engine sounding/feeling like wrong gear; check engine light; transmission system warning; unexpected deceleration; complete stop on freeway
Codes mentioned: Check Engine Light, Engine system warning, Transmission system warning
Unintended acceleration to 60 mph during intersection turn
Vehicle suddenly accelerated to approximately 60 mph while driver was making right turn at intersection with green light. Multiple brake applications temporarily unsuccessful.
When: At 13,400 miles (01/27/2016)
Symptoms owners cite: sudden acceleration to 60 mph; brake temporarily ineffective; no accidents but vehicle parked pending Honda guidance
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle parked; no repair documented
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Contact awaiting Honda guidance on what to do
Cruise control not disengaging on manual transmission when clutch depressed
When downshifting, depressing clutch pedal does not disengage cruise control. Vehicle resumes original cruise-set speed when clutch is released without needing to press resume button. Dealer stated this is normal operation.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: clutch depression does not disengage cruise; unwanted cruise resume without button press when releasing clutch
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated vehicle is supposed to operate this way
Multiple unintended acceleration incidents during low-speed left turns into parking
Three separate incidents of unintended acceleration when turning left slowly into parking spaces. Engine revved and car lurched forward each time. Third incident resulted in vehicle speeding through plate glass window. Brake failed to stop vehicle.
When: Three separate incidents; timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: engine rev during low-speed left turn into parking; vehicle lurch forward; brake failure to stop; high-speed crash through window
Repairs/costs cited: Third incident resulted in crash through plate glass window
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership assumed driver hit accelerator instead of brake
Missing transmission fluid fill cap
Vehicle broke down in middle of intersection while acting strangely (poor acceleration, felt like not switching gears). Driver discovered transmission fluid fill cap completely missing when checking under hood. Contact noted others have reported same issue online.
When: Vehicle broke down in intersection on way to dealership
Symptoms owners cite: poor acceleration; not shifting gears normally; engine breakdown in intersection
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission fluid cap missing
Inaccurate speedometer and TCM software issue
Speedometer stuck reading over 60 mph when vehicle traveling less than 40 mph; read 23 mph when stopped. Service department required TCM software rewrite with no explanation of cause. Issue persists even after service.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: speedometer reads inaccurately high (over 60 when under 40); speedometer reads incorrectly when stopped (23 mph); inaccurate speedometer persists after service
Codes mentioned: TCM software issue
Repairs/costs cited: TCM software rewritten by service department
Tires locking and loss of acceleration while driving uphill
Tires felt like they were locking while driving. When driving uphill, vehicle slowed and gas pedal became unresponsive. Driver unable to reverse or drive forward from safe spot.
When: While driving uphill
Symptoms owners cite: tires felt locking; deceleration on hill; gas pedal unresponsive; unable to accelerate or reverse
Loss of acceleration in drive position
Vehicle lost acceleration while in drive position while driving down the road.
When: While driving down road
Symptoms owners cite: loss of acceleration in drive
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2015 Honda Civic?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 20,000 and 81,000 miles, with the median around 60,796. A quarter of owners report trouble before 20,000; a quarter make it past 81,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control 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 cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control 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.