Driving behind I was driving behind traffic was pulling up to a red light at the intersection put my foot on the brake and got nothing at all the brake was hard as a rock I wound hitting two cars and plowing into a tree I even tried hitting the emergency rake button nothing no skid marks no nothing the car just kept on rolling
2019 Honda Civic brakes problems
severe 18 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
7crashes
6injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 18 brakes complaints filed for the 2019 Honda Civic, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA brakes complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2019 Civic has serious brake system issues reported across 18 complaints: unintended automatic braking that can stop the car mid-traffic with no objects ahead, complete brake failure resulting in collisions, and parking brake failure. Dealers typically find no diagnostic codes and cannot identify the root cause, leaving owners without resolution or confidence the problem won't recur.
Owners report two primary brake failure patterns in the 2019 Civic. First, the automatic emergency braking system activates without reason—no vehicles or obstacles ahead—at highway speeds, city speeds, during turns, and in parking lots. These unintended stops occur frequently enough that owners fear the system will one day apply full braking in heavy traffic. Dealers see no fault codes and report they cannot diagnose the condition.
Second, owners experience complete brake failure: the pedal becomes unresponsive, hard as rock, or produces zero stopping force despite pressure. These failures have caused collisions with vehicles and property, with some resulting in rollovers and injuries. A few owners report the parking brake button also failing to hold the vehicle, causing rollaway incidents. One owner's research suggests a recall exists for a faulty tie rod fastener in the brake master cylinder assembly, but their VIN shows zero applicable recalls.
A design issue also emerges: the Forward Collision Mitigation system does not function when the transmission is in neutral, leaving the vehicle unprotected in that configuration. Honda's own service manager confirmed this limitation. Across the cluster, dealership inspections and diagnostic testing have not uncovered root causes, and manufacturer responses have been limited or unhelpful, with one Level 1 investigation case dismissed as a local dealer matter.
Same Honda Civic brakes reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2017 · 2021
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended automatic braking activation
The automatic emergency braking (collision mitigation) system engages and applies brakes with no vehicles or obstructions in the vehicle's path. Owners report this happening at freeway speeds (70-80 mph), city speeds, while merging, turning, and in empty parking lots. Some incidents result in the vehicle coming to a complete stop in traffic, creating risk of rear-end collision.
When: Multiple occurrences reported from 2023 onward; one case noted around 28,000 miles; incidents occurring across various mileage levels (30,000 to 62,000 reported)
Symptoms owners cite: Automatic braking engages with no objects detected ahead; Brake warning light illuminates on dash; Brake light flashing message displayed on instrument cluster; Vehicle comes to sudden stop or applies heavy braking; Occurs at highway and city speeds, during turns, merges, and in parking lots
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers report no codes generated during service inspections; service manager stated without a diagnostic code they cannot diagnose the issue. Regular dealership inspections every 6-8 months reported no issues detected.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner's case was opened and referred to Honda's 'Level 1' department (accidents/injuries/fatalities), which stated it was a local dealer issue. No recalls or TSBs mentioned for this specific failure mode.
Complete brake failure—loss of pedal response
Brake pedal becomes unresponsive or produces no braking force when depressed. In some cases the pedal becomes hard as rock and immovable. Owners experience total loss of stopping ability, resulting in collisions with vehicles and property. Incidents include cruise control engaged, emergency brake button also failing to stop vehicle.
When: Reported at various mileages: 6,627 miles (emergency brake failure); 29,000 miles (cruise control at 65 mph); 62,000 miles (vehicle rolled); early 2020 complaint (9 months after purchase on 5/30/19)
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal unresponsive or becomes hard/immovable; Complete loss of braking force despite pedal depression; Emergency/parking brake button fails to hold or stop vehicle; Vehicle continues rolling or accelerating despite braking attempt; Brake warning light may illuminate
Repairs/costs cited: One narrative mentions research into recall regarding faulty tie rod fastener connecting brake master cylinder and brake booster; owner notes vehicle shows 0 recalls under VIN. No repair attempts or costs documented in narratives.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One case opened with manufacturer at 29,000 miles. One owner attempted service at Honda dealer; diagnostic testing and brake system inspection performed ($139.95 charged) but no defects found and customer advised 'no problems at the moment.' No TSB or recall details confirmed in narratives.
Intermittent brake pedal stiffness or loss of travel
Brake pedal occasionally goes all the way to the top and cannot be depressed to stop the vehicle. The condition is temporary, lasting a few seconds before brakes return to normal function.
When: Timing not specified; owner suspects previous recall may be related
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal travels to full up position and cannot be pressed; Temporary loss of braking ability; Condition resolves after a few seconds without driver intervention
Repairs/costs cited: Owner suspects recall involving faulty tie rod fastener connecting brake master cylinder and brake booster; however, no recall confirmed under vehicle VIN.
Parking brake failure—vehicle rollaway
Parking brake button pressed does not engage or hold the vehicle; vehicle rolls away when parked in neutral with engine running and parking brake applied. Owner reports this may have occurred on prior occasions, initially attributed to user error.
When: Approximately 6,627 miles; another incident reported after purchase in August 2019
Symptoms owners cite: Parking brake button pressed but brakes do not engage; Vehicle rolls backward or across parking lot despite brake applied; No warning lights or indicators of failure
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not diagnosed or repaired; no dealer or manufacturer notification.
Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM) inoperative in neutral
FCM system designed not to function when transmission is in neutral or reverse, creating a safety gap. Owner shifted into neutral at red light and vehicle rolled forward into car ahead without FCM activation to prevent collision.
When: February 10, 2020; vehicle purchased May 30, 2019
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls forward while in neutral at traffic light; FCM does not activate to prevent collision; No collision mitigation warnings generated
Repairs/costs cited: Honda service manager confirmed FCM is designed not to work in neutral or reverse.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda service manager stated FCM designed not to operate in neutral/reverse. Customer relations case opened and referred to 'Level 1' department (accidents/injuries/fatalities); Level 1 responded it was a local dealer issue.
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had brakes trouble with your 2019 Honda Civic?
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 2019 Honda Civic?
It's a meaningful issue. 18 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 4,000 and 29,000 miles, with the median around 8,540. A quarter of owners report trouble before 4,000; a quarter make it past 29,000. 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 $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/2019/Honda/Civic.
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.