2009 Honda Civic petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2009 Honda Civic petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2009 Honda Civic petrol than on all cars registered in 2009.

• Headlights2.4× usual
  Honda Civic

  17% All 2009 cars

  7%

  Failed outright at MOT: 6.7%, against 3.8% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

  At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

• Shock absorbers2.3× usual
  Honda Civic

  16.1% All 2009 cars

  7.1%

  Failed outright at MOT: 5.3%, against 2% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

• Track rod ends2.1× usual
  Honda Civic

  10.4% All 2009 cars

  4.9%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2.6%, against 2.4% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £50–£150 (one end, plus about £30–£50 if it needs a wheel alignment) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

• Brake lights1.7× usual
  Honda Civic

  8.8% All 2009 cars

  5.1%

  Failed outright at MOT: 8.3%, against 4.2% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

• Headlight aim1.6× usual
  Honda Civic

  8.2% All 2009 cars

  5%

  Failed outright at MOT: 8.2%, against 5% of all 2009 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £20–£60 our estimate

  At the viewing: Park facing a wall at night or in a garage and check both headlight beams sit level. Aim is a cheap adjustment.

Common 2009 Honda Civic petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2009 Honda Civic petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Suspension
  46% of testsRough price £120–£400

  At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

• Lights and electrics
  42% of testsRough price £10–£80

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

• Tyres
  31% of testsRough price £70–£150

  At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

• Brakes
  29% of testsRough price £150–£350

  At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

• Exhaust and emissions
  9% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

  At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for an engine warning light.

• Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
  9% of testsRough price £15–£250

  At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Known faults on the 2009 Honda Civic petrol

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

• Brake pedal recall

  All engines

  Cars built between August 2009 and April 2010 were recalled because a faulty pin in the brake pedal could lengthen stopping distances.

  At the viewing: Run the free DVSA recall check on the reg.

  Source: What Car?: Honda Civic (2006-2012) reliability

• Handbrake ratchet recall

  All engines

  There was a recall for a handbrake ratchet that could be faulty.

  At the viewing: Ask for proof the recall was done, and check the handbrake holds firmly.

  Source: Parkers: Honda Civic (2006-2011) used review

• Squealing brakes and quick-wearing rear pads

  All engines

  The brakes can squeal and the rear pads wear quickly, especially with cheap replacement pads.

  At the viewing: Look at the rear pads and check the handbrake doesn’t pull up too far.

  Source: Parkers: Honda Civic (2006-2011) used review

• Misty light units

  All engines

  Front and rear light units can mist up in damp weather because of poor seals and breathers.

  At the viewing: Look for condensation inside the headlights and rear lights.

  Source: Parkers: Honda Civic (2006-2011) used review, What Car?: Honda Civic (2006-2012) reliability

• Soft paint and interior rattles

  All engines

  The paint chips easily, and squeaks, rattles and worn seat bolsters are common.

  At the viewing: Look over the paint for chips and listen for rattles on rough roads.

  Source: What Car?: Honda Civic (2006-2012) reliability

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2009 Honda Civic petrol

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

1. Has the brake pedal recall been done?
2. Any recent work on the headlights? (Flagged at MOT 2.4× as often on the 2009 Honda Civic petrol as on other cars the same age.)
3. Any recent work on the shock absorbers? (Flagged at MOT 2.3× as often on the 2009 Honda Civic petrol as on other cars the same age.)
4. Any recent work on the track rod ends? (Flagged at MOT 2.1× as often on the 2009 Honda Civic petrol as on other cars the same age.)
5. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?