CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2009 Honda Accord has several serious defects – poor brakes, excessive oil consumption, & uncomfortable seats.
BRAKES: There was a class action lawsuit against Honda in 2010 for premature & excessive brake wear. See our page on Honda's brake problems for more info.
OIL CONSUMPTION: Honda issued a TSB about this in late 2011, claiming it could be fixed through a software update to the VCM (variable cylinder management). There are class action lawsuits pending. See our page about the Accord oil consumption.
UNCOMFORTABLE SEATS: Owners have consistently reported uncomfortable seats with the entire 8th generation (2008-2012) of Honda Accords. Complaints range from back pain to leg circulation problems due to bad lumbar support, cushioning, & seat angle. Complaints aren't limited to only a certain body type -- the seat comfort problems are from a wide spectrum of owner height & weight. The common theme we hear is "we never noticed this during the test drive." Unfortunately for unwary buyers, the seat pain is noticeable after 15-20 minutes.
20,000 is low mileage for rear brake pad replacement. Had the repairs made at a local shop, took the worn out pads to the Honda dealer and chatted with service manager. He indicated that it was standard to replace rear pads between 18,000 to 22,000 miles so I was right in the middle of the range. I asked why and he indicated that they pads were very small. Period. He asked me if I wanted the worn out pads back. I would probably have felt better if I had suggested where he could put them.
I am SO glad that i'm not the only one with this problem... since i got my car 1 year ago i always noticed that my brakes would squeak... it didn't bother me much but now that it has only been 1 year i can't believe that my rear brakes are gone!!! i mean they are even toughing the disk -- i am going to Honda tomorrow and demand they replace my brakes for free --- it is so unreal that the rear brakes are gone and it has barely been 1 year since i got the car brand new... i only have 13,000 miles on it and it can't be!!
i'll update tomorrow once i know what they tell me.. wish me luck.. this is not a problem that can remain on deaf's ears..
I have a 2008 Accord. It has the same redesigned POS brake system as the 2009 model. Check out the 2008 Honda Accord for more premature brake wear complaints.......I think it's around 600 right now.
Very annoyed by both my dealer and the rep at Honda America who had to gall to say it was probably my driving that had prematurely wasted my rear brakes. After confronting them with the fact that it just maybe a "design flaw" as per the thousands who've complained about the same issue, they said they "might" be able to do something???
Made it very clear that their "Maybe" had better cover parts and labor
Waiting to hear from the Honda case manager and am definitely signing up for the class action law suit.
Just one more with the same problem. Rear brakes gone with 22,000 miles, at least 1/2 of which are highway.Currently own a 2007 Pilot with 68,000 miles and original brakes. Clearly this is a Honda issue that needs to be addressed. They need to make right with their customers or fear losing them. My future Honda purchased will hinge on how they handle this issue.
- Martin S.,
Yorkville, IL, US
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It's time for 2009 Honda Accord to have this happened. Only drive it for 1yr + 4 months, 20500 miles. When inspecting brakes yesterday, dealer told me there's ONLY 2mm left on rear brake pad. That means nothing left for rear brake.
The rear brake is not defective, but there must be something wrong.
Update from Jan 11, 2010: 43022-TA0-A51 has been confirmed by the Honda eStore Dealer. They have that one in store.
Wrote to CEO of Honda America. No response yet. In ten days I will write to the CEO of Honda Japan and rake him over the coals. Then, I will notify the NTHSB about this serious problem - of which Honda has never contacted individual owners. I will consider filing a lemon law suit. I will get the brakes fixed and then sue Honda in small claims court to recover my costs. I urge all of you with this problem to write to the CEO of Honda in Japan. Top brass in Asia lose face when confronted with a problem they
know about but refuse to act on. Some smart lawer out there should be on the ball and start a class action suit .. I will be willing to be the lead plaintiff.
Update from Jan 24, 2010: No resolution yet on this matter. A Honda mouth-piece called me, but was very careful not to say
anything admitting that Honda might be at fault. According to them, the calls were recorded (there
were three calls in all). However, I did get him to admit that new brake pads at 16,000 miles was
premature wear. He countered by saying that brake pads were not covered under warranty and
that they were being generous in offering to pay for half the replacement cost. I reminded him that
it was not primarily a warranty problem but about an engineering design defect they were refusing
to own up to. Saturday wrote a stinging letter to Honda Japan CEO asking him why his American
CEO was afraid to respond directly to a loyal Honda owners complaint. I put the entire blame for
the problem on his shoulders so let's see what his response is, if any. Will keep you posted.
When I took my car in for standard maintenance the dealer reviewed the sheet saying everything looked good, oil, tires rotated, etc. I told him the brakes had been making a noise. So loud at one point that I thought a rock was in their but then it went away and now it is back. He brought my car up on the computer and said, "Oh, it looks like your rear brakes are down to 2MM and need to be replaced." I questioned it being the rear because normally the front brakes wear faster. He said he has seen this on the newer Accords and was told that "honda engineered it that way", Apparently, the rear brakes are set to engage first so the car does not dip in the front so much when stopping. I knew it was crap but I wanted to do some research and low and behold here everyone is complaining about the same thing. I intend to go back to my dealer and see if I can get them fixed as a factory defect. If not I think Honda owes us all a recall on this one for sure.
Update from Jan 2, 2010: I recently returned to the dealer after I gave this more thought. I spoke with the customer service manager who was very helpful. He explained the problem as this: Honda had recieved customer complaints that when braking the brakes were rough and noisy. To remedy this problem Honda had decided to use soft organic pads. Admittedly they are very quiet but obviously they wore out much to fast and were causing their customers to have to pay on a regular basis for a brake job for their cars.
The problem I had was that I felt like this was being passed off as common and just a matter of life. I did not agree with that approach and I shared my disgust with this approach with the customer service manager. He listened and he worked with me. He was not able to come up with an acceptable approach on the spot but he continued to look into and he called me back later in the day with a fix for my brakes at a discounted cost that I felt was fair.
Honda has come up with a new pad that replaces the organic pad but it still quiet, works well and lasts longer. It is on my car now and I am once again a satisfied customer.
My car Accord LX-Auto 2009 always smells like burning rubber from the rear brakes, does not matter whether it is a short or a long distance drive. I changed my rear pads at 17K, the guy next to me at 15K. He paid $200, but as soon as I noticed that both we had to change pads at such low mileages I started complain, and they gave me the 50% story then went down to $0 because I have bought 5 cars from them as courtesy after I was really pissed. In California there is the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act - Civil Code section 1790 and I am still under 18K and 18 months and the full lemon law apply so I will file for court or arbitration within couple of days.
I drive 150 miles a day in Los Angeles area. I will make a bumper sticker saying "2008, 2009 and New Accords have defective rear brakes, need replacement every 15K."
-The problem is extreme heat on the rear disks they can be bad just by that.
- The pads worn out every 15K I need 2 times a year to change rear pads.
-The economy of the car is suffering. We need to complain to both
So it is both a problem of safety and car performance
If I go to Big Bear for ski or something I will have a really bad accident. The funny thing is I bought an Accord because of its reputation of being solid with no problems.
All of us we need to complain to
NHTSA http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm
And HONDA
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Honda Automobile Customer Service
Mail Stop 500-2N-7A
1919 Torrance Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90501-2746
Phone 1-800-999-1009
Facsimile / fax (310) 783-3023
Your consumer affairs of your state and BBB
DO NOT pay, Honda has to pay till they fix the problem. You pay only when you change the front pads
We are driving machines with defective brakes ... I can afford and I will buy a new car
HONDA people have to realize that they are liable for every accident it may occur with these cars
Update from Jan 29, 2010: http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/showthread.php?p=588342
Honda Canada issued a letter January 2101 that they will fix brakes but they do not call it a recall otherwise HONDA USA has to do the same, and as toyota they will also have to stop selling cars till they fix the problem.
Notice the issue of the Calibers that causes uneven wear of rear pads there which confirms what HONDA enineers tell people off-the-reocrd that tha brake do not release properly.
My 2009 Accord had noisy breaks literally as I drove it off the show room floor. The dealer brushed the complaint away. When I reported a rear noise, they informed me that I needed new breaks. At 24000 miles!!! I own a BMW with original breaks at 70,000 miles. The service manager said that this was a common complaint and that he had seen the problem even earlier. He informed me that Honda was looking into it.
This is crap. We need to raise a class action suit and see if we can get Honda's attention. There is no doubt that this is my last car from Honda. It is a total sham for them to claim "normal wear" and not fess up to the design issue. Is there no recourse via some US consumer protection agency?
BAN TOGETHER AND BOYCOTT ANY HONDA VEHICLE. THE POWER IS IN THE DOLLAR!
It is helping me to reach out to Honda and make a complaint on their product. I request every one to register in Auto Beef, and raise all issues in the honda accord.
The problem is Rear brake pads are wearing out very fast. Which is strange and burden to a customer.
I like many people on this site bought a 2009 Honda Accord because of the durability. This break issue is uncalled for and the way the dealerships are handling it is awful. Basically it's not under warranty. This is premature wear and is obviously a problem. Will do the best to discourage anyone buying a Honda. I wish I could get rid of it but in today's economy it is impossible. Looks like I'm going back to buying American. Other problems I have had was my GPS system breaking and them not transferring my trade in title to where the Chicago Police department was writing me tickets and I did not even own it.
As others before me, I purchased a Honda because of the low maintenance.I was one of those who bought American made cars to keep Americans employed. Until my last Ford, I said, No more! Did not know about rear brake issues, but now I do! I have to take it in today due to rear brakes making major noise. I drive 80ml to work everyday, but I go against traffic. SO, no rush hour braking. Ridiculous! I will go the the dealership manager if they don't fix it for free!
honda has a problem with the rear brakes, premature wear, uneven wearing of the pads, severe wheel hopping on downgrades out of control hopping. i dont mind paying for normal wear & tear maintenance but this is ridiculous. in 30,000 miles of freeway driving you should not have to replace these brakes
I had my 2009 checked because my brakes were making noise. The dealership told me I had no more rear brake pads at 15000 miles - insane! I called to complain and they insulted me saying maybe I am riding the brakes too hard and they stand behind their quality bs! I'd have to ride my brakes all damn day to wear them out at 15000 on any of my other cars. Such poor quality. I will never buy a honda again. Please lets join together and make some noise. I will get this put on my local news stations & I will compile a report. I will not stand for this and neither should you! They will hear us if we join together!
2009 honda accord with 19,000 miles and my rear brakes are worn down to the sensor. Not covered under warranty. Dealership where I bought it told me to call Honda. My old honda had 200,000 miles and i only replaced the brakes once. Is this crazy or what? Frustrated in Pa.
I took my 2009 Honda Accord LX in for routine service at 12,700 miles and was informed that my rear brake pads are down to 3.9mm and the front is at 8.2mm. That means the rear pads are averaging a loss of 1mm for every 2,500 miles of driving which is absolutely insane! Every 18,000 miles I'll have to replace the rear pads, when I get 40,000 miles out of my old 1990 Honda Accord. My service writer at Manly Honda in Santa Rosa agreed that this is a "Honda Motor Corp." problem and they know it. However, we the loyal Honda customer are left holding the bag with the dealer and Honda Motor Corp. doing nothing to save their reputation and good name. A loyal Honda buyer no more!
Took my 2009 Accord in with brake noise. 11987 miles on vehicle. Dealer advised that brakes were 40% worn. Was told that this was a common problem on 08-09 models. I felt this was unreasonable since all my prior cars with 4 wheel disc brakes have all exceeded 100,000 miles before replacing rear pads. My wife has had 6 Hondas without problems. This my first and if problem is not resolved to my complete satisfaction, it will be my last.
My girlfriend offered to take my car in to have a free oil change at Honda on Grand. We had leased the car from them just one year prior to the that date. The clock read ~12,000 miles. They had offered us two free oil changes as part of our deal when we leased the car. Since both of us work, and she happened to have the day off for Veterans day (and I did not), I agreed (reluctantly) that she should take it in.
They charged her $256.02 for a brake job! They took advantage of a woman (as often happens) to put the fear of God into her, saying that if the brakes were not fixed we would all end up in the other world (for me that would probably be the place with the big fires).
I think it stinks that this auto dealer did not call me (I am the person with the name on the lease, and the bill) to OK the expense!!! I think it stinks that they thought they could take advantage of a woman! I think it stinks that they leased me a car that needs a break job within one year of the lease initiation and they want me to pay for it!
I think it just stinks!!!!!!!!
Call these folks at 630-833-7700 if you agree. Be wary of leasing or buying a car from them.
My 2009 accord, purchased in January, needs new rear brakes in November!! Granted, I have 23,000 miles on the car, but this is still absurd! My '06 Civic had over 60,000 miles when I traded it in and the brakes never neeed replacing! I do not drive or brake hard, so in my opinion this is unacceptable. I sincerely hope Honda plans to do something to rectify this situation immediately. I love my Accord, but if I'd known about this I doubt I would have gotten it!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
20,000 is low mileage for rear brake pad replacement. Had the repairs made at a local shop, took the worn out pads to the Honda dealer and chatted with service manager. He indicated that it was standard to replace rear pads between 18,000 to 22,000 miles so I was right in the middle of the range. I asked why and he indicated that they pads were very small. Period. He asked me if I wanted the worn out pads back. I would probably have felt better if I had suggested where he could put them.
- Bill A., Carnegie, PA, US