I purchased my top of the line Honda Accord in October 08. The 09 models had just come out. I was so happy with the vehicle until about three months later when the brakes continuously started squeeking. I had my tires rotated when I had my oil changed and since then I have had vibration in the steering wheel at speeds between 65 and 70 mph and when I applied the brakes. I took the car to the dealership and they replaced the back brake pads and claimed that they could not find anything else wrong with the front end or why it's vibrating between speeds of 65 to 70. Of course my response was this is a brand new vehicle the brake pads should not be bad already. I had a 2001 Altima Nissan and only changed the brake pads one time. I am extremly disappointed with my first owned honda. If everyone having these issues would contact Honda maybe something would get accomplished on fixing this problem. Call 1-800-955-5100 or 1-800-999-1009.

Update from Aug 14, 2009: Honda dealership finally put new brake pads and rotors and rotated the tires AGAIN at no charge. It was my 5th trip to the dealership. I suppose they new that they couldn't get rid of me that easy. We have to be presistent in the complaints or they will never recall anything. I have filed a report with Honda America and BBB AUTOLINE. Honda America is fully aware of the brake issues on 2008 and 2009 Honda Accord. BBB AUTO LINE works really fast, when I filed my complaint the next day Honda America calls me back, but of course they gave me the same answers BLAH_BLAH, they are aware of the problem... PLEASE... YOU MUST FILE COMPLAINTS IN ORDER TO GET ANYTHING ACCOMPLISHED.....

HONDA AMERICA 1-800-999-1009 BBB AUTO 1-800-955-5100

This is the second time that my wife and I have had problems with our Accord's brakes. When we bought the car brand new at 181 miles in December 2008, there was an extremely high frequency squeal from the rear passenger brake. I noted to her about it immediately and she claimed she couldn't hear it.

As time went on, it grew louder and she couldn't stand it. She had to take the car in at her first 5,000 miles (it also received its first oil change too). They resurfaced the rotors and threw on new pads for her. The squeals went away for 3 or 4 weeks until returning again. They're the same as they were when we took it in the first time, only the dealership is being ridiculous about it. The dealership claims its the front brakes that need fixed so they resurfaced the rotors and gave her a line of crap about how if she lightly touches the brakes, it will cause a film to occur on the surface. First off, that film is called "glazing" and secondly, glazing of the pad will not result in squealing and firm pedal feel, it will feel like the brakes can't grab ahold of the rotor and a vibration or pulsation will persist, so they got that one wrong. The dealership is pissed because my wife is still under 12,000 miles (she's at 11,000 now) and they have to treat it as under warranty. She will probably take it to College Hills Honda in Wooster because she is not pleased with Whitey's Honda in Mansfield. If this problem is fixed, it won't be for long I bet, because I believe the squeal was coming from the rear wheels like it was the first time.

I've never seen brakes go bad on a car so quickly and I'm not sure what Honda has done, but this is not what I've come to expect, being my 4th Honda in my life (two 91' Honda Accords, one 98 Prelude Type SH and now this Accord). My prelude's rear brakes wore out at 190,000 miles and I wonder if they were the original pads, because they sure looked like it! But this is uncalled for!

I got my Accord in August and this is my first car. Yesterday after only 9000 miles my car started to make the sound as if my brakes were gone. I went to my dad and asked him what the sound was and he told me it was my brakes. I of course didn't know that it was unusual that my brakes were gone already but my dad threw a fit and we went to the dealership this morning. The dealership claimed that they haven't heard the complaint before or at least wasn't allowed to say it because you could tell that he knew something. So I called the Honda maker and told them that I didn't want to pay for this because my brakes shouldn't be gone already. I was told to wait 24 hours for their response and I don't plan on giving up. I'm 18 and I make $50 a week. I am not paying for this. I would have accepted it if it was just part of owning a car but with this many people complaining I know that I shouldn't be paying for this.

I just got a new Accord and have been reading these threads and decided to send the following letter. I know it's a little cushy but I'm sure I'll be a lot more aggressive when the problem eventually occurs. Figured I'd share it--hope we get some response:

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Honda Automobile Customer Service 1919 Torrance Boulevard Mail Stop: 500 - 2N - 7D Torrance, CA 90501-2746

Dear Sirs:

I very recently leased a 2009 Accord LX from Robertson's Palmdale Honda, VIN . . . . This is my fourth Honda Accord, having owned a 1990 and 1993, and currently a 1998 and the new 2009. I love it and have loved all my prior ones (I am resisting my girlfriend's pressure to sell the '98). However, I do have one concern. I have researched the car's service record and have found that there is a very persistent problem with the braking system regarding pre-mature wear of the rear brakes. Apparently all that is done about it thus far is to replace them only to have the same problem crop up again after another brief interval. There are literally hundreds of complaints on the website http://www.carcomplaints.com regarding this and also an article regarding the problem in the magazine The Consumerist at the following web address: http://consumerist.com/5268731/honda-owners-say-brakes-are-made-of-worthlessness--honda hasnt-responded. My car is barely a week old so the problem has yet to rear its head but it appears to be inherent in the brake design so I certainly anticipate that I will have this issue. As I said, I am an extremely loyal Honda customer, want to continue to be and want to continue to own my new Accord as long as possible but fear that this defect and the prospect of ongoing repairs that it may bring is going to make fulfilling my wishes difficult. I notice that in the past Honda has issued technical service bulletins to address similar problems, and it appears that this problem warrants such a bulletin along with a cost-free offer of repair.

While I'm certainly no technician my understanding of the problem is that the electronic brakeforce distribution system on the car puts more pressure on the rear brakes to prevent nose dive when braking. I'm wondering what your engineers are considering in the re-design of this system and whether perhaps they've considered re-programming the system to more evenly apply braking power. It is my novice opinion that this would go a long way, since it appears the problem is almost exclusively with the rear brakes and that the front brakes have escaped difficulty.

Please let me know what your plans are to address this problem. My joy in owning this car will be greatly enhanced if this apparently only substantial flaw is cured.

I also bought my 09 H Accord from Wolfchase Honda in Bartlett, TN. The wife told me she was hearing a loud screeching sound coming from the breaks. So i asked Honda to fix the problem since I have bought 2 vehicles from them in 4 years, and because my car only has 14,500 miles on it. They pretty much told me Tough $hit and to either pay them $250 to change the breaks or deal with it. So I decided to take it to my mechanic who i would rather pay then those sorry ass money hungry service dept people. Well he saved me $150 and told me that HONDA ALREADY KNOWS THEY HAVE A BREAK PROBLEM! He has a friend who works for Honda who told him, that they are aware of the problem and just not doing anything about it.

I called American Honda, and they claimed they know nothing about the problem either. Well funny thing happened, I read all these reports just on this site that say they are having this problem and that they have contacted Honda. It is my belief that Honda is willfully not fixing the problem so they can charge us $250 to fix the problem they know exist. CAN YOU SAY " CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT"? I KNEW YOU COULD!!! I AM GOING TO GET A LAWYER AND MAKE A POINT OF HONDA PULLING THIS CRAP!!!

http://consumerist.com/

We all need to contact the consumerist and complain. They are good at getting things done. Plus it is an excellent sight

Update from Oct 10, 2009: After speaking with the VP of Honda Parts, James Roach he said " We know about the problem and we are looking into it" that was 3 months ago. Now he won't even answer the phone now. Please call him and voice your complaint. I for one after 5 Hondas in 6 years will never buy another,it's not the cost of the repair but how Honda is dealing with this. I can't see how Honda is any better than any other car out there NOW. Time to go back to Subaru. After driving the 2010 outback all I can say is wow. Great car, and all wheel drive. If I worked for another car company I would advertise free service for 3 years or 36K and this INCLUDES BRAKES. I wonder how many Honda customers they would get.

Call James Roach @ Honda 310-783-2000 and voice you concern. Time to tie up the lines