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What seems to be the issue with the brake system of your Honda Civic causing the car not to start?

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49 answers

★ Top Answer
David

If your Honda Civic won't start and the brake system indicator light is on, the issue is probably caused by a malfunctioning electronic parking brake that is stuck. Another possibility is a problem with the battery or its terminals. Drivers have reported encountering the same issue of the brake system light being illuminated and being unable to start the car. This is typically the result of a faulty battery that needs either recharging or replacement. A new battery can cost between $100 and $150, depending on the brand and quality. Make sure to verify that your battery is charging correctly as well.

More answers

  • James Snoddy

    Where can I find the fuse box in the Honda vehicle?

  • robbie Davis

    If a Honda Civic is having trouble starting because of a brake issue, it probably has to do with the electronic parking brake being stuck in the on position. In that case, you should remove the fuse for the electronic parking brake.

  • Glen Y

    I'm experiencing the same problem. I plan to contact Honda Service tomorrow to schedule an appointment. I'm seeing alerts on my dashboard screen when I try to start my car – Electric Brake System Problem, Parking System Problem, Parking Hold System Problem. This prevents me from starting the car, and it's happening sporadically. I'm not sure if there's a recall for this issue that can be resolved with an update. I hope to have more information soon. If anyone has a solution, I'm all ears. My car is a 2019 Honda Civic Sedan Sport, automatic transmission without turbo.

  • Gale A.

    If you happen to stumble upon this page while searching on Google, I want to assure you that there is a simple solution to your problem. Your battery is running low on charge. Just connect it to a charger and let it charge for about an hour. Once you reconnect it, the problem should be resolved. For a quicker fix, you can try jump-starting the car using standard cables and another vehicle that is in working condition. I hope this information proves useful to you.

  • Mammie Fillingame

    Can you tell me where I can find the electrical panel?

  • Marie A

    Has anyone been able to identify the issue? My car started acting up earlier today.

  • Arlene Z

    One day my car suddenly had multiple warning lights come on, just like a Christmas tree lighting up. Although the car started, every system inside displayed an error. I took it to the dealership today to get it checked out, so we'll find out what the issue is soon. It's a 2018 Civic Sport with a manual transmission, and even the gear shifter seemed to be acting strange.

  • Deanna M.

    Simply give your car a jump start. The battery is usually the culprit in most cases.

  • Mcguirk

    Hey, occasionally the braking system light comes on in my 2018 Honda Civic and my car won't start without any warnings. I took it to the shop and they said it was nothing to worry about.

  • Clarence J

    I'm experiencing the same problem as @TAZcivic. I charged the battery fully, but the issue only seemed to be resolved temporarily. A few hours later, the car wouldn't start again. Any suggestions? My car is a 2017 Civic, and the warranty expired a couple of months ago.

  • Adrian C.

    Yesterday, I experienced the same issue with my 2019 Civic. It turns out that the financial institution that funded the car actually shut it down due to missed payments.

  • Lorraine P

    I'm dealing with an issue. Trying to jumpstart it didn't solve the problem, and replacing the brake fuse didn't help either.

  • Leonard B.

    I recently encountered an issue with my car that triggered brake system and electric brake system warnings. This tip might help some of you out there: my car only needed a boost and then it was back to normal. A simple way to determine if your car needs a jump is to inspect your headlights and high beams. If the high beams are not functioning, a jump-start could resolve the problem with the brakes, just like it did for me.

  • Lucy R.

    Hey, Pete, were you able to identify the issue?

  • Ed M

    My 2018 Civic EX-T began experiencing an issue yesterday. It worked normally earlier in the day, but when I tried to start it again a few hours later, it wouldn't start. There was a clicking sound from the engine, and the brake system error appeared on the dashboard. I checked the battery, and it was at 80% charge, so I fully recharged it to see if that would resolve the problem. However, the car still won't start, and now there is no clicking noise, and the dashboard doesn't light up at all. I was advised that it might be a problem with the main relay. Has anyone else encountered this issue and replaced a relay to fix it?

  • Dannielle C

    I can't stand it when people give answers without knowing what they're talking about. There isn't a fuse for the electronic parking brake, ALMA! (Refer to the response above.) You'll need to jump-start your car. Your battery is either drained, dying, or dead.

  • Wilson P.

    My 2020 Honda Accord had a similar issue last night. Everything was running smoothly, but when I tried to start the car, a bunch of warning lights lit up on the speedometer. The parking brake released, the engine stalled, and the power windows wouldn't respond. Luckily, someone nearby had jumper cables, so I jump-started the car. It's surprising that a car just under 2 years old is experiencing these problems.

  • Roger K.

    I've been experiencing the same problems with my 2019 Honda Civic Sport for a few weeks now. Has anyone figured out the root cause yet? I've been driving my car all day, but when I tried to start it to go to the store, a brake system failure warning popped up and shut the whole car down.

  • Audrey A.

    I had a similar problem with my 2019 Honda Civic. Initially, I thought the battery was the issue, but it turned out to be the ABS fuse. After replacing it, the car started up fine. I'm still investigating what might have caused the fuse to malfunction.

  • Rocky D.

    Received a warning about the brakes, but the car wouldn't start. Tried jump-starting it quickly, but it didn't work. Perhaps I should have waited longer while connecting to the nearby car with jumper cables? The battery was four years old. I had been using a cellphone charger while the car was parked for an extended period before it wouldn't start. Eventually, I gave in and bought a new battery. The engine started immediately. All dashboard indicators lit up, but then turned off after a two-minute drive. Later, when I checked the battery, it was completely drained!

  • Hayden Anderson

    I just faced a similar issue with my car's electronic brake system causing it not to start. Even after disconnecting and reconnecting the battery, the problem persisted. However, using jumper cables to recharge the battery allowed the car to start. I plan on replacing this faulty battery soon.

  • Margaret E.

    Today, I encountered a problem with my 2013 Honda Civic where the window wouldn't roll up and a "check brake system" message appeared on the dashboard. Even after getting a jump-start and waiting, the issue persisted. However, I was able to get the car started by holding the brake and turning the ignition key to "on" while connected to another car. This solution might be helpful for others facing a similar situation. Just wanted to share my experience.

  • Nicholas

    So, it's the same problem again - a dead battery in my Honda. It's disappointing because Honda was once known for their reliable products, but it seems like things have changed now.

  • Zoe P.

    I'm having the same problem with my car today. Do you have any suggestions on how we can get Honda's attention and ensure they address this? I had another vehicle jump-start my car, and it worked.

  • Joshua B.

    Has anyone with a fully charged battery experienced the same issue? After driving my 2019 Honda Civic Coupe LX for approximately 45 minutes, the brake system alert appears followed by all the monitoring system lights and sensing features. Once this occurs, I cannot restart my car until about an hour later. This situation consistently happens after driving for around 45 minutes. If I happen to be using cruise control when it occurs, the brakes engage briefly before the cruise control warning lights up and stops functioning. This problem seems to have started on the day I replaced a rear tire. Could something in the brake system have been impacted or damaged to cause this issue? Any insights?

  • Edna E.

    Make sure to charge your battery, which resolved the problem I was having.

  • Richard C.

    I experienced a situation where my car wouldn't start, and it turned out to be a software issue rather than the battery or fuse. I found a helpful post on the civicx website by user RockyD on May 12, 2016, titled "Fix for Brake System Problem." This post included detailed instructions with pictures on how to resolve the issue. I hope this information can assist others facing a similar problem!

  • Kieth A.

    Yesterday, my car broke down, and now it won't start this morning. I had to contact AAA for assistance. Hopefully, they can determine if the issue is with the battery.

  • Miguel L.

    The battery is totally dead. It's not a problem with your parking brake. Try jump-starting the battery and then replace it.

  • Frank Crasher

    Jump-starting the vehicle solved the problem for me. I believe the battery was too low on power, causing it to not release the electronic brakes.

  • Rachel U.

    This recently occurred with us in my daughter's 2018 Civic, and a jump start did the trick. AAA quoted us $195 for a new battery.

  • German C

    I drive a 2017 Honda Civic and recently experienced a problem with it. I was able to fix it by jumpstarting the car. When jumpstarting, make sure to keep the engine running for a while to prevent the issue from happening again. If you leave any lights on or the trunk open, the battery can die once you try to start the car. So, after jumpstarting, let the engine run for a bit. It's also essential to drive the car if possible to fully recharge the battery.

  • Dean D

    I recently purchased a brand new 2022 Honda Accord, and soon after the dashboard warning lights suddenly turned on while the brake pedal felt loose and jolted when pressed down. The dealership replaced the battery since it was still under warranty. However, I am worried about the brake pedal going all the way down and the strange sensation it gives. This is making me apprehensive about driving the car in this condition.

  • Shane L.

    In 2022, while I was in my Civic Touring parked with the engine running in accessory mode, I experienced a series of alarming events. After 50 minutes, the brake system warning light illuminated, followed by the ABS warning, and then my entertainment system unexpectedly shut off. When I attempted to restart the car, it wouldn't start, and the brake pedal felt stuck. I turned off the car and waited five minutes. After firmly pressing on the brake and starting it again, fortunately, the car started this time. It appears that the issue was caused by the battery being drained. I drove the car around afterward and did not encounter any further problems.

  • Brian J

    There are too many arrogant people on this platform...just charge up your battery to get things going. Issue resolved.

  • Jessica J.

    I just experienced the same situation. I was in my car when suddenly a bunch of lights came on. When I tried to start the car, it didn't work.

  • Cholo

    In 2022, my vehicle with 45,000 kilometers experienced a brake warning system issue that prevented me from starting the car. I had to jump-start it, which I found unacceptable for a relatively new car with this mileage. Additionally, I had to deal with a condenser problem that was not covered by the warranty, as it had stone chips - another issue that was not acceptable for a 2022 model.

  • Gregory H.

    I just got a 2021 Civic Touring yesterday and it didn't start when I tried to leave for work this morning. I currently have the battery charging. Do you think I should be worried about the alternator?

  • Brad E.

    I was fortunate when this happened to me because I happened to have a battery charger on hand. Charging the battery resolved the issue temporarily.

  • Gerardo E.

    I'm experiencing a similar problem with my 2019 Honda CRV. The battery connection is really corroded, so I'm hoping that getting a new battery will fix the issue.

  • AUGUSTUS Thomas

    I encountered a problem recently while driving my car on two consecutive days. The car was running smoothly, but I noticed that the electric power steering, VAS light, and brake system light would intermittently turn on and off. On the last day, more warning lights appeared, including the brake light, check engine light, a flashing D with a P symbol, hill start assist light, and the odometer stopped working. The steering wheel became stiff while driving, and the gear shift seemed to be stuck in park. I had two mechanics inspect the car, but they did not find any issues, so I had to seek help from an electrical mechanic. It turned out that there was a wiring recall for newer Civics, and some wires were providing low voltage, causing the electrical issues. After diagnosing and fixing the car, it was back in working condition within three days.

  • Mark Jones

    I had a similar issue with my 2020 Honda Civic. When I tried to start it, I heard a buzzing noise, saw the Christmas tree cluster lighting up, and heard clicking sounds with flashing lights. I thought it might be the battery as it was already four years old, and there was a sudden drop in temperature after a few warm days. The morning after the temperature change, my car started acting up. I checked the battery voltage and it was only 9.7V, so I used jumper cables to start the car and everything returned to normal. Since older batteries tend to lose charge with weather changes, I decided to replace it with a new one. Even though the warning lights stayed on after jump-starting, driving the car for about half a mile cleared the cluster lights.

  • Wayne N

    For me, it was like a crucial connection that could be easily broken.

  • TonySmith

    In 2017, a solution was discovered for fixing a Honda issue. The fix involved removing a medium-sized long fuse located in the bottom right quadrant, and then plugging it back in. This resolved the problem.

  • Rv

    The issue is with the battery; it needs to be swapped out. I recently replaced mine.

  • Jody bennett

    Here's a paraphrased version with a touch of American flair: "Just experienced this myself. The brakes seemed stuck, but I managed to kickstart it after finding advice in this discussion. Looks like the low battery was just too weak to fully release the brakes.

  • Reece p.

    Yesterday, I worked all day without any issues. However, when I tried to start the car this morning, it wouldn't start. I heard a clicking noise from the engine and saw a brake system error message on the dashboard. It seems no one knows how it was resolved. Did you take the car to the dealership, or were you able to resolve the issue yourself?

  • Piers W.

    I had success with this method. After refueling, I experienced alarms going off and the car shutting down when I attempted to start it. Jump-starting it immediately resolved the issue.

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