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 ↗2021 Honda Civic brakes problems
moderate Owners of the 2021 Honda Civic have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the brakes at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See brakes across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
| Model year | brakes complaints |
|---|---|
| 2017 Civic | 13 |
| 2018 Civic | 6 |
| 2019 Civic | 14 |
| 2020 Civic | 9 |
| 2021 Civic (this page) | 10 |
| 2022 Civic | 6 |
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.
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 ↗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 ↗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 ↗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.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners consistently describe sudden, unpredictable brake application with no driver input, most often while cruising on highways or city streets at 25–37 mph. The system activates when an adjacent vehicle uses a turn lane, when a car appears ahead on a curve, or even when no vehicles are present at all. The "Brakes" message flashes on the heads-up display; owners say the brakes lock with full force and do not release immediately even when they press the gas pedal. Several owners report having to shift into Park and back to Drive to regain control. Incidents happen repeatedly—some describe dozens of occurrences—yet no check-engine or diagnostic codes appear, and every dealer who inspected the car reported finding nothing wrong and being unable to reproduce the problem.
One owner documents three complete brake replacements in a single calendar year with uneven pad wear, suggesting a seized caliper. Another reports a stall at 108,000 miles with check-engine, master cylinder, and adaptive cruise control warnings, though that repair was not completed. Owners cite Service Bulletins 23-051 and 23-052 related to brake booster assembly, though one VIN checked against NHTSA recall databases was not listed.
Same Honda Civic brakes reports on nearby years: 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) false activation
The front radar sensor triggers automatic braking when no collision threat exists, particularly when vehicles are in adjacent lanes, on curves ahead, or with no vehicles present at all. Owners report the system activates unpredictably and repeatedly, with no warning before the braking event. No diagnostic codes are generated, and dealers cannot reproduce the issue.
When: Since new in 2022; increasing frequency over time. Occurs at highway speeds (freeway, 35–37 mph) and city streets (25–30 mph).
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden unintended full brake application without driver input; 'Brakes' message flashes on heads-up display; Brake override prevents driver from accelerating immediately; Brakes lock up, requiring shift to Park and back to Drive to regain control; System activates when adjacent cars use turn lanes; System activates on curves with no lead vehicle; System activates in clear conditions with no vehicles ahead; Occurs most often with cruise control engaged
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers report no codes found and unable to replicate problem. No repairs completed by owners in narratives.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owners cite Service Bulletins 23-051 and 23-052 related to brake booster assembly; one owner reports VIN not under known recall despite apparent brake-system campaign.
Brake caliper seizing and premature wear
One owner reports the brake caliper became frozen and has replaced the entire brake system three times in one calendar year, with uneven wear patterns on the brake pads, indicating the caliper is not releasing properly.
When: Multiple instances on highway; frequency: three complete brake replacements in one calendar year.
Symptoms owners cite: Caliper locks up during driving; Uneven brake pad wear; Repeated brake failures requiring replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Owner reports three brake system replacements in one calendar year and has retained all worn brake components.
Brake master cylinder failure with stall and warning lights
One owner reports the vehicle stalled at 37 mph with check engine, master cylinder, and adaptive cruise control warning lights illuminated. Dealer diagnosis indicated brake master cylinder, fuel pump, and ignition coil replacement were needed but the repair was not completed.
When: Approximately 108,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalled during operation; Check engine light; Master cylinder warning light; Adaptive cruise control warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosed need for brake master cylinder, fuel pump, and ignition coil replacement. Repair not completed per owner report.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner researched unknown recall; VIN was not under recall.
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
On multiple occasions my car has applied the brake while driving on the highway as well as my caliper has become frozen and I have replaced brakes 3 times in less than one calendar year. I have all old brakes that have needed to be replaced and there is uneven wear on them.
I have had dozens of incidents where I will be driving down the road and my car will just break for no apparent reason. It is totally random and at times terrifying. It happens with no other vehicles in front of my vehicle as well as while I am just driving in traffic with cars behind me. Many times, after it happens initially, I cannot accelerate the car due to the breaks locking up. I have to…
Nov 9th, 3:00pm, Fruitridge Rd 35 mph, driving with foot on the gas The safety brake feature overrode my ability to drive by forcefully coming to a complete stop while flashing 'brake' messege appeared on dashboard. No car, item or person was in front of me. The car behind me (who was also going around 35 mph) almost hit me and drove off angrily.
Had brakes trouble with your 2021 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 2021 Honda Civic?
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 108,000 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/2021/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.