2020 Honda Civic driver assistance & safety tech problems

Related recalls

No recalls on file.

What owners say

1. Filed Jul 30, 2026NJDriver Assistance & Safety TechOther / Unknown

   on 7-28-26 After filling my vehicle with gas at the next red light, all lights on dashboard went on flickering warning (Christmas tree effect). on 7-29-26 After researching online Roadside came out and did Battery and alternator test that passed. I did hard reboot from instructions I found online and after several attempts the lights cleared twice, the morning of 7-30-26 when leaving for work the flickering lights came back on. Vehicle had a slight tremble but cleared after…

   NHTSA complaint #11753827 · source
2. Filed Jul 8, 2026ILDriver Assistance & Safety Tech

   At least a half dozen times the car would brake automatically when nothing was in front of the car. The BRAKE warning light would appear on the dashboard as the car abruptly slowed down. The car slowed down but never came to a complete stop. This happened at various speeds. Once on the freeway at high speeds, 3 times just before an intersection where I had a green light and other various times. I brought the car to 2 different dealers. They could not replicate the problem so…

   NHTSA complaint #11748962 · source
3. Filed Dec 16, 2025WIDriver Assistance & Safety Tech

   The collision mitigation braking system consistently detects objects in the road and forcibly brakes when the road ahead of me is completely empty. This has happened 4 or 5 times just in the last year. The first time it happened I was driving on a completely empty road when the CMBS activated and kept slamming on the brakes until I pulled over and restarted the entire car. I don't always have to restart the car every time, but if it ever happens on a busy road it will cause…

   NHTSA complaint #11705453 · source
4. Filed May 30, 2025MABrakesDriver Assistance & Safety Tech

   My automatic Breaks that prevents me from rear ending a car keeps engaging when I am a few car lengths from another vehicle. It’s happened once yesterday and once today. Both times in heavy traffic areas. I’ve had the car for two years and this is the first time this has happened. Thankfully no one was following close behind because they may have hit me. I’m afraid this is going to happen one day when someone is too close and I’m going to get rear ended. It’s really scary…

   NHTSA complaint #11664056 · source
5. Filed May 10, 2025MDBrakesDriver Assistance & Safety TechOther / Unknown

   Very frequently, the brake alert system comes on while on the highway causing my vehicle to engage the braking system. This happens whether or not there is a vehicle in front of me.

   NHTSA complaint #11660173 · source
6. Filed Jan 3, 2025CADriver Assistance & Safety TechElectrical System

   The vehicle’s emergency braking system randomly applies the brakes even when the front is not obstructed. Front sensors are kept clear of any debris, dirt, or bugs. I went to Honda of El Cajon in El Cajon, Ca and they could not help me even though the service advisor admitted that another Honda CR-V driver had the same problem the same day. This is a safety concern as my car has applied he brakes while on the freeway and at stop signs at random. Honda has failed to…

   NHTSA complaint #11633970 · source
7. Filed Sep 30, 2024CADriver Assistance & Safety Tech

   CMBS automatically and unexpectedly deploys for no reason: there is no car or obstacle in front of the car. This has happened multiple times. I have taken the car to the dealer twice with this complaint and they were unable to duplicate the issue, so I was told they couldn't find anything wrong. I now disable the system each and every time I start the car because if I don't, I foresee a circumstance when freeway driving that I would be severely rear-ended, causing me major…

   NHTSA complaint #11617341 · source
8. Filed Jun 14, 2024NYDriver Assistance & Safety TechElectrical SystemFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion

   Gas door opens randomly and it’s happened more than a few times now which is becoming a safety hazard especially because I drive 80 miles daily for work. Also my automatic brake senor is a hazard because it’s going off when cars or objects are farther away; which leads to the 3rd issue with my seat belts which is either to tight on the chest area and possibly choking me when the car automatically brakes when objects aren’t near or in close distance to my car

   NHTSA complaint #11594495 · source
9. Filed Apr 17, 2024OH1 injuredDriver Assistance & Safety Tech

   Phantom braking, has occurred over a dozen times. Caused me to spill hot coffee all over my face and neck causing mild burns.

   NHTSA complaint #11583498 · source
10. Filed Jan 19, 2024NVCrash1 injuredTowedAirbagsDriver Assistance & Safety TechElectrical System

    Was T bones September 3rd 2023 exiting the freeway by a Ford F-350. Injury to left side of vehicle mainly . Airbags not side airbags deployed. Went through insurance and was told to report it to the manufacturer. Due to this I now need double knee surgery as I have tears and fluid and now have spinal injury .

    NHTSA complaint #11566504 · source
11. Filed Jan 12, 2024NCDriver Assistance & Safety Tech

    When riding down the highway at the speed of 70 mph the car slammed on brakes all by itself, almost came to a stop and then everything went back to normal . I am available for inspection of the car. My grandaughter and i were in the car and it was a very scary ordeal as the car was trying to or did slam on brakes. The problm has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer, how could it? Has not been inspected no warning lamps, messages, symptoms, nothing of the sort

    NHTSA complaint #11565076 · source
12. Filed Dec 22, 2023NCBrakesDriver Assistance & Safety Tech

    A lot of times the warning collision on dash will flash to “BRAKE” when going through caution lights usually around fire stations and also approaching steel bridges… I don’t know if it sees the steel deck and thinks it’s a car, but whenever I get in my car, I deactivate the automatic emergency braking system because I don’t want it to automatically brake for me like it’s done in the past.

    NHTSA complaint #11561439 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology