2009 Honda Civic Electrical System Problems

There are hacks to cars that can control the computers remotely, possibly from devices such as programmable thingy remote control devices that can be programmed with different fuctions, or direct open door remote entry hacks into the vehicle port that remote control the cars functions.

While driving, the hood prop rod dislodged from its securing clip and fell onto the positive terminal of the battery. This caused an electrical short, which led to the rod heating up rapidly and igniting a fire under the hood. The fire damaged the headlight assembly and the surrounding trim panel, though the wiring fortunately did not catch fire. A nearby police officer was able to extinguish the fire before it spread further. This incident posed a serious safety risk and could have resulted in more extensive damage or injury. There were no warning lights or symptoms before the failure. The issue appears to stem from the design or failure of the clip that holds the hood prop rod in place. The vehicle has not been modified and was being driven under normal conditions. A local auto body shop inspected the vehicle afterward and confirmed that the loose prop rod made contact with the battery terminal, creating a serious fire hazard. They advised reporting this as a safety issue. The manufacturer has not yet inspected the vehicle. The incident was witnessed by a police officer, and the damage was evaluated by an independent repair shop following the fire.

The vehicle will shut off in traffic without any warning from the cars system. Unknown if there is any interference being caused by internal or external.

THE A/C RELAY SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES AND NOW I'M HAVING TO REPLACE THE ACTUAL AC SWITCH ON THE COMPRESSOR DUE TO IT BOGGING MY ENGINE DOWN EVERY TIME I TURN IT ON AND IT STILL WON'T BLOW COLD AIR. THIS HAS BEEN A CONTINUED ISSUE AND I'VE SEEN A LOT OF POST ONLINE ABOUT IT. SO WHY HASN'T IT BEEN RECALLED OR SOMETHING DONE ABOUT IT.

MY 2009 CIVIC HAS A PROBLEM THAT HAS AFFECTED MANY OTHER EIGHTH GENERATION CIVICS: THE A/C RELAY IS FAULTY AND IS OF A POOR DESIGN AND/OR MANUFACTURE. THE A/C RELAY IS KNOWN TO FAIL VERY PREMATURELY AND CAUSE THE COMPRESSOR FOR THE AIR CONDITIONER TO SPIN/CYCLE CONTINUOUSLY OR STAY ON (EVEN WHEN THE A/C IS NOT TURNED ON), AND THUS CAUSE THE COMPRESSOR TO HEAT UP TREMENDOUSLY AND FAIL, WHICH CAUSES MECHANICAL DAMAGE INSIDE THE COOLING SYSTEM. THERE ARE COUNTLESS STORIES ONLINE, IN CAR FORUMS, AND AT HONDA DEALERSHIPS AND REPAIR SHOPS TO BACK THIS ASSERTION. NOT ONLY DOES THIS SUBSTANDARD A/C RELAY CAUSE EXPENSIVE DAMAGE THAT IS NOT EASILY REPAIRED (HOW DOES A 4 HOUR TEAR-DOWN AND REASSEMBLY SOUND?), BUT IT REPRESENTS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD SINCE THE RELAY IS FAULTY AND MAY CAUSE ISSUES NOT ONLY WITH THE REST OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (INCLUDING THE FUSE BOX WHERE IT IS LOCATED) BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF THE TREMENDOUS HEAT THAT A FAULTY RELAY GENERATES WHEN IT CAUSES THE COMPRESSOR TO CONTINUOUSLY CYCLE. THE METAL OF THE COMPRESSOR ACTUALLY CHANGED COLOR WHEN IT CONTINUOUSLY CYCLED ON MY CAR, AND IS A TELLTALE SIGN OF THIS EVER COMMON FAILURE. HONDA IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE BUT HAS NOT SEEN FIT TO ADDRESS IT THOUGH TSBS/RECALLS FOR OTHER MODELS HAVE BEEN ISSUED.

WHEN I DRIVING ON THE ROAD,!THE SPEED DOMETER COME DOWN AND THE CAR COULDN'T GO , I TRIED TO PUSH THE GAS PEDAL SO THE RPM WENT UP HIGH, BUT THE CAR NOT GO FORWARD ANYMORE. THEN I STOPPED SHIFTED TO PART AND SHIFTED BACK TO DRIVE AND GO FOR LESS THAN HALF MILE THEN IT HAPPEN AGAIN. IIT HAPPEN IN THE HIGH WAY AND CITY STREETS.10

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MECHANIC ALSO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK WAS CRACKED AND WAS LEAKING COOLANT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER (HONDA SUPER STORE OF LISLE, ILLIONIS) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000. UPDATED 10/26/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED SEVERAL CYLINDERS WERE DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF THE ENGINE CRACK. *TR

TPMS INDICATOR IS ALWAYS ON. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER TO GET SERVICE BUT THEY HAVE SAID IT'S AN ELECTRICAL GLITCH CANNOT BE FIXED. THIS PRESENTS A SAFETY ISSUE IF A REAL PROBLEM OCCURS NOT KNOWING WHEN TIRES NEED ADJUSTMENT.

THE CENTER (INTERIOR) BRAKE LIGHT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM. ONLY AFFECTS EX MODEL LED LIGHT ASSEMBLY. IT IS UNSAFE AND COSTLY FIX. IT SHOULD BE RECALLED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG AND BATTERY WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH THAT LOCKED UP AFTER 3 YRS

1.)TAKEN CARE CAR WELL SINCE PURCHASING NEW 2.)HONDA NOT START IN MORNING 1A.) NO RESPONSE FROM CAR WHEN TURN KEY 3.)AAA PERSONNEL ARRIVED TO JUMP BATTERY 4.)BATTERY JUMPED- ON SPOT E-DIAGNOSTIC CHECK PERFORMED 3A.) DIAGNOSTIC REVEALED BATTERY ?DRAIN? 5.)WHILE BEING CHECKED WITH TECHNICIAN ENGINE ?HISSED? & CAR TURNED OFF 4A.) ATTEMPTED TO START CAR- HARD START, HISS AND SHUTDOWN 6.)TOOK CAR TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC 6A.) MECHANIC PERFORMED THOROUGH DIAGNOSTIC CHECK 6B.) DIAGNOSTIC CHECK REVEAL PROBLEMS COULD BE ONE/MORE OF FOLLOWING: FUSE, WIRE, BATTERY, COMPUTER OR COMPUTER SOFTWARE. 6C.) MECHANIC FELT HE NARROWED TO BATTERY, COMPUTER AND/OR COMPUTER SOFTWARE 6D.) BATTERY WAS CHANGED AND CAR TESTED. CAR PERFORMED AS SHOULD (1/2 DAY) 6E.) MECHANIC ADVISED TO LISTEN TO CAR AFTER TURNING OFF ENGINE AS CAR STILL MAY BE RUNNING. IF ENGINE STILL RUNNING MECHANIC ADVISED PROBLEM DEEPER THAN BATTERY 6F.) MECHANIC ALSO FOUND PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE RUNNING TOO HOT/LONG, FREON & COOLANT BEING USED AT HIGH RATE. MECHANIC REFILLED FREON. 7.)2 DAYS AFTER BATTERY CHANGE, TOOK KEY OUT OF IGNITION, CAR ENGINE/FANS STILL RUNNING 2-3 MINUTES AFTER 8.)TOOK CAR TO HONDA DEALER (WHERE PURCHASED). DEALER MECHANIC PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. 8A.) HONDA MECHANIC STATED DIAGNOSTIC CHECK REVEALED DEFECT WITH ?WHOLE CAR? COMPUTER SOFTWARE 8B.) HONDA MECHANIC STATED DEFECT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO HAVE DIFFICULTY SELF-REGULATING (E.G. TOO MUCH/LITTLE COOLANT AND FREON RUN HIGHER/HOTTER IN ADDITION TO RUNNING AFTER KEY TAKEN OUT OF IGNITION (AS STATED EARLIER)) 8C.) TO PATCH, HONDA MECHANIC DOWNLOADED ?NEW SOFTWARE? TO CAR COMPUTER 8D.) NEW SOFTWARE WAS SUPPOSED REGULATE ENGINE 9.)FOLLOWING WEEK ENGINE HAD HARD START 10.)THIS WEEK (21-25 MAY 2012) ENGINE NOT STOP AFTER REMOVING KEY FROM IGNITION FOR SEVERAL MINUTES (6E- ABOVE). *TR

I WAS HIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR BY AN SUV. THE REPAIRS WERE WITH GENUINE HONDA PARTS BUT EVER SINCE THEN THE FRONT CONTROLS WHERE THE RADIO IS HAS BEEN EXTREMELY HOT. ALMOST TO THE POINT I THINK I BURN MY HANDS TO CHANGE THE RADIO STATION. I THINK IT MAY BE HOT ENOUGH TO START A FIRE WITH MELTING THE CONTROLS IN THE BACK. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE OR IT WILL COST ME A LOT OF MONEY TO DIAGNOSE IT. I JUST SEE IT AS A SAFETY ISSUE TO HAVE THE DASH SO HOT IT BURNS PEOPLE. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN THE CRASH AND POSSIBLY SHOULD HAVE. *TR

I OWN A 2009 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. I'VE HAD ISSUES WITH LOW POWER AND HALTING ACCELERATION DUE TO LOW BATTERY CONDITIONS ACCOMPANIED WITH THE DASH ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. HONDA DEALERSHIP HAS APPLIED SOFTWARE UPDATES TO MY VEHICLE TO ADDRESS THIS TWICE, BUT THOSE SIMPLY TRADE MILEAGE FOR BATTERY LIFE, DEGRADING THE VALUE OF A HYBRID. I BELIEVE THAT THE IMA BATTERY HAS KNOWN PROBLEMS AND THAT HONDA IS NOT ADDRESSING THE ISSUE. I'M AFRAID TO MERGE ONTO HIGHWAYS WITH A LOW BATTERY DUE TO THE LACK OF POWER AND ACCELERATION. *TR

MY 2009 HONDA CIVIC LX IS HAVING A HARD TIME STARTING. *TR

HONDA IS CALLING IN HCH OWNERS FOR A SOFTWARE UPDATE TO "PRESERVE THE BATTERY." THE RESULT OF THIS SOFTWARE UPDATE ESSENTIALLY SHUTS THE IMA BATTERY DOWN FREQUENTLY, LEAVING THE CAR TO RUN ON JUST THE MOTOR WHICH WAS INTENDED TO RUN WITH THE IMA. ASIDE FROM THE "SWITCH AND BATE" ISSUES (MILEAGE DROPPED BELOW A STANDARD CIVIC), THE SAFETY ISSUE INVOLVED IS A FREQUENT LACK OF ACCELERATION CAPABILITY, ESPECIALLY ON AN INCLINE OR MERGING INTO TRAFFIC.

WHILE BRAKING, THE CAR STARTS TO REGENERATE (CHARGE THE HYBRID BATTERY) AND THEN A SHORT BURST OF ASSIST (ELECTRICAL DRIVE FROM THE HYBRID BATTERY) WHILE MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT TWICE A WEEK AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SINCE I SOMETIMES GET INTO STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC. THIS MEANS THAT I COULD BE BRAKING AND THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE, POSSIBLY HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF MINE. *TR

1. THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER WHEN YOU TURN THE KEY AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR A WHILE. 2. CAME OUT ONE MORNING AND CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER CALLED AAA AND DEALER, CHECKED THE BATTERY GREEN LIGHT WAS BRIGHT GOT CAR TO START AND WENT TO DEALER, 3. THEY SAID STARTER WAS BAD AND REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE UNDER WARRANTY. ABOUT 3 TO 4 WEEKS LATER PROBLEM CAME BACK AND WAS ABLE TO START CAR AND TOOK TO DEALER AGAIN AND THIS TIME THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM THEY JUST NOTED IT AND AWAITING FOR THE ISSUE TO HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR

I HAVE OWNED A 2009 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID SINCE 12/8/08 AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE BATTERY AND THE HYBRID SYSTEM. ON OCTOBER 5, 2009, AS I WAS ENTERING AN ON-RAMP IN ARLINGTON, VA, THE IMA SYSTEM COMPLETELY FAILED AND THE REGULAR INTERNAL COMBUSTIBLE ENGINE (ICE) REVVED TO OVER 4500 RPM TO PROVIDE POWER ON THE ON-RAMP DUE TO THERE BEING NO IMA ASSISTANCE. WITHOUT THE HYBRID POWER ASSIST, I WAS NEARLY HIT BY OTHER TRAFFIC. AT THAT TIME, THE IMA WARNING LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO OURISMAN AND THEY SPENT SEVERAL DAYS GETTING A NEW IMA BATTERY SYSTEM ORDERED AND INSTALLED, CLAIMING THERE WAS A BAD CELL IN THE 10-MONTH OLD IMA BATTERY. IN NOV AND DEC 09, I DISCOVERED THE CAR BATTERY DEAD TWICE IN THE GARAGE. ON THE NIGHT OF FEBRUARY 13, 2010, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (BATTERY AND HYBRID DRIVE) FAILED ON A BUSY STREET OFF OF MILITARY RD, NW. THE CAR WAS BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY INTO THE ROAD WHEN IT COMPLETELY DIED. AS THERE WAS NO POWER FOR HAZARD LIGHTS, I PERSONALLY DIRECTED TRAFFIC AROUND THE DEAD CAR UNTIL I COULD GET A JUMP. AFTER A BATTERY JUMP, I TRIED TO CHARGE THE BATTERY FOR A TIME, BUT WHEN I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE, THE CAR DIED AGAIN AND I HAD TO GET A SECOND JUMP. 15 MINUTES LATER, I DISCONNECTED THE CABLES AND DROVE TO OURISMAN HONDA IN BETHESDA, MD. ON THE WAY, THE VEHICLE ALMOST DIED TWICE BUT I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO OURISMAN HONDA. THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY, BUT A WEEK LATER ON FEBRUARY 23, 2010, THE CAR DIED AGAIN AND I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET IT TO OURISMAN HONDA FOR SERVICE AGAIN. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS, THEY IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS BEING WITH THE RELAY NEAR THE HYBRID SYSTEM. THE CAR STILL ACTS STRANGELY AND THEY HYBRID ASSIST DOES NOT WORK AS WELL AS IT USED TO. ACCELERATION IS NOT NORMAL, THE HYBRID ASSIST DOES NOT COME ON AT NORMAL TIMES, AND THERE ARE INCIDENTS OF ACCELERATION AND ENGINE REVVING WHEN I RELEASE THE GAS TO BRAKE BEFORE A STOP SIGN. *TR

DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON 27 DEC 09. ON HER WAY SHE BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE IN VEHICLE, BUT ATTRIBUTED IT TO THE OUTSIDE AIR. UPON ARRIVING AT WORK, SHE WENT INTO THE BUILDING PUT HER PERSONNEL ITEMS AWAY AND WENT OUTSIDE. A FEW OF HER CO-WORKERS TOLD HER THAT HER CAR ALARM WAS GOING OFF. SHE WENT BACK INTO THE BUILDING TO RETRIEVE HER KEYS, WENT TO HER CAR AND FOUND OUT THAT THE ALARM HAD STOPPED, BUT THERE WAS SMOKE IN THE CAR. AT THAT TIME SHE OPEN HER TRUNK AND FOUND AN OPEN FLAME FIRE IN THE VICINITY OF THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR SPEAKER. AT WHICH TIME SHE CALLED GEICO (EMPLOYER) SECURITY, CALLED 911 AND SECURITY PUT OUT THE FLAME WITH A HAND HELD FIRE EXTINGUISHER. VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO HUGHES HONDA, WARNER ROBINS, GA ON 28 DEC 09 FOR DISPOSITION. LATER THAT DAY I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT HE COULD NOT DO ANYTHING AND I NEEDED TO CONTACT AMERICAN HONDA. AMERICAN HONDA THAN INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM AND THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO COMMUNICATE WITH ME AND/OR DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS AND THAT I NEEDED TO REPORT THE CLAIM TO STATE FARM INSURANCE. MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS BY MYSELF AND STATE FARM LED TO HONDA NOT RESPONDING TO ANY REQUEST AND A DECISION WAS MADE ON 21 JAN 10 THAT STATE FARM WAS GOING TO GET THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT CENTRAL GEORGIA COLLISION, BUT I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO TELL HUGHES HONDA TO RELEASE THE CAR TO THEM. I WENT BY HUGHES HONDA AT 1115 HOURS 21 JAN 10 TO INFORM THEM OF SUCH AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER (BY CELL PHONE) THAT HONDA HAD REMOVED MY CAR AND WAS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. TALKED TO GENERAL MANAGER AND OWNER OF HUGHES HONDA ON 29 JAN 10 AND TOLD THEM THAT THIS WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE IN THAT NO ONE HAD INVESTIGATED AND INFORMED ME OF WHERE THE FIRE STARTED, WHAT THE IGNITION SOURCE WAS, HOW THIS IMPACTS DIMINSHED VALUE AND WAS THE CAR SAFE. PICKED UP CAR ON 4 FEB 10, WITH HONDA INFORMING ME THAT THIS WAS ALL THEY WERE WILLING TO DO AND THE ONLY REASON THE CAR WAS REPAIRED BY THEM WAS TO GET PARTS. *TR