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2020 Honda Civic brakes problems

severe Owners of the 2020 Honda Civic have filed 9 NHTSA complaints about the brakes at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See brakes across all vehicles →

Complaints
9
Recalls
1
Avg fix
$450
brakes complaints on the Honda Civic, by model year
Model yearbrakes complaints
2016 Civic 47
2017 Civic 13
2018 Civic 6
2019 Civic 14
2020 Civic (this page) 9
2021 Civic 10
2022 Civic 6
3crashes

Related recalls

severe NHTSA 23V458000 June 29, 2023

Honda (American Honda Motor Co

Brake master cylinder separation can cause a loss of brake function and increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and repair the brake booster assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are VEU, AEV, and ZET.

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.

Service Bulletin ATI&10052021904 Oct 2021

Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2020-2021 Civics with a customer complaint of long brake pedal travel, almost reaching the floor. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific information from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗
Service Bulletin ATI&09102021905 Sep 2021

Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2020-2021 Civics with a customer complaint of long brake pedal travel, almost reaching the floor. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific information from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗
Service Bulletin ATI&08252021905 Aug 2021

Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2020-2021 Civics with a customer complaint of long brake pedal travel, almost reaching the floor. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific information from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗
Service Bulletin ATI&08092021905 Aug 2021

Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2020-2021 Civics with a customer complaint of long brake pedal travel, almost reaching the floor. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific information from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗
Service Bulletin ATI&07222021904 Jul 2021

Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2020-2021 Civics with a customer complaint of long brake pedal travel, almost reaching the floor. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific information from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.

What owners are reporting 1 most recent

brakes · filed 12/22/2023

A lot of times the warning collision on dash will flash to “BRAKE” when going through caution lights usually around fire stations and also approaching steel bridges… I don’t know if it sees the steel deck and thinks it’s a car, but whenever I get in my car, I deactivate the automatic emergency braking system because I don’t want it to automatically brake for me like it’s done in the past.

Had brakes trouble with your 2020 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 2020 Honda Civic?

It's a meaningful issue. 9 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.

At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?

Based on the 9 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 20,330 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?

Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover brakes issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.

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/2020/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.
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