2009 Honda Civic Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2009 Honda Civic has a complaint index of 65 and ranks 8th worst out of 21 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Airbags are the top problem area with 95 complaints (24% share) and 8 recalls have been issued, mostly for Takata airbag inflators.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 65/100
- #8 of 21 Civic years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 395
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 8
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 42
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 6
- Injuries
- 39
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 28.5
- 24.5 city / 35 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 39 / 1
Top 2009 Honda Civic problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags95 (24%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires56 (14%)
- Structure & Body55 (14%)
- Engine54 (14%)
- Brakes52 (13%)
- Electrical System43 (11%)
- Other42 (11%)
- Visibility & Wipers28 (7%)
- Transmission & Powertrain23 (6%)
- Steering13 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Front wheels have detached or come off while driving, sometimes at low speed after a collision.
- Airbag deployment during rear-end crashes has been linked to neck and soft tissue injuries.
- Some owners report sudden unintended acceleration, with the engine revving high even after shifting to neutral.
- Brake pedals have reportedly traveled to the floor with no braking response, resulting in low-speed crashes.
- The automatic transmission has slipped into neutral unexpectedly during driving.
2009 Honda Civic recalls
8 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V502000Jun 27, 2019Airbags9,555 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2014 Fit EV, 2010-2014 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are F5F and Q5E.
- NHTSA 19V378000May 16, 2019Airbags19,138 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2013 TSX Sport Wagon, and 2010-2012 ZDX and 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, 2012-2014 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2013 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
Risk: An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator installation and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are M4O, P4R, T4Q, and W4P.
- NHTSA 18V268000Apr 26, 2018Airbags1,335 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 Honda Accord and Pilot, 2010 Accord Crosstour, 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 Element, 2007 and 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2012 Insight, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2012 Ridgeline vehicles. The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
Risk: An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are K1P, and M1O.
2009 Honda Civic fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 24.5 MPG
- Highway
- 35 MPG
- Combined
- 28.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,250
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2009 compared with other Civic years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2009 Honda Civic reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2009 Civic a complaint index of 65 and a Caution verdict, ranking 8th worst among 21 model years. Airbags account for 24% of complaints, followed by suspension and structure issues.
- What are the main problems with the 2009 Honda Civic?
- The top problem area is Airbags with 95 complaints (24% share), followed by Suspension, Wheels & Tires (56 complaints, 14%) and Structure & Body (55 complaints, 14%). Engine and brake issues each account for around 13-14% of complaints.
- Does the 2009 Honda Civic have a recall?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 8 recalls for the 2009 Civic, seven of them for Takata airbag inflators and one for a fuel hose bracket nut. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2009 Civic compare to other Civic years?
- With a complaint index of 65, the 2009 Civic is safer than the worst years like 2007 (index 95) and 2022 (index 100), but worse than years like 2013 and 2021, which earn Best verdicts with much lower indexes.
- At what mileage do 2009 Civic problems usually show up?
- The median mileage at failure across all reported issues is 31,015 miles. Airbag-related complaints show a higher median of 75,500 miles, while electrical issues appear earlier, around 14,038 miles.