Honda Civic Parking Brake Switch Defect Prompts Recall and Lawsuits

A defect related to the Honda Civic parking brake switch may result in the vehicles rolling away, which can in turn cause a crash or injury.

In October 2016, a recall of Honda Civic models was announced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Honda Civic rollaway recall affected over 350,000 two door and four door 1.5 L and 2.0 L 2016 Honda Civic models.

No injuries have been reported in relation to the Honda Civic parking brake switch defect, but the problem could result in Honda Civic rollaway accidents.

The recall was prompted by at least 342 warranty claims which suggested that the Honda Civic parking brake switch was defective. The defect allegedly resulted in the electronic parking brake failing to engage when applied immediately after turning off the car.

Parking Brake Defect

The cause of the Honda Civic parking brake switch defect stems from an issue with the software. The software in the Vehicle Stability Assist Electronic Control Unit allegedly interferes with the function of the electronic parking brake if the brake is applied right after the ignition is turned off.

Warranty claims were allegedly received by Honda as early as December 2015, when it started an investigation into the issue with the assistance of Continental, the supplier for its electric parking brake parts. Over 300 warranty claims and a thorough investigation prompted the automaker to recall certain models.

As a part of the recall, Honda rolled out new software updates in November 2016 which would allow the electronic parking brake to engage immediately after the ignition was turned off.

While the initial Honda Civic rollaway recall only affected 2016 models, consumers claim that the problem is also present in 2017 and 2018 model years as well.

Honda Civic Class Action

One consumer brought their claims in the form of a class action lawsuit. The class action alleged that the Honda Civic parking brake switch defect was present in other model years. The plaintiff in the suit owned a 2017 Honda Civic EX hatchback which allegedly rolled into her neighbor’s tree after she had “shifted the vehicle into park, push the ignition button to turn off the car, and stepped out of the car.”

The Honda Civic parking brake switch class action also claims that the fix implemented by Honda was not sufficient to correct the issue.

The plaintiff argues that the 2016, 2017, and 2018 Civics were practically identical and would therefore be affected by the same issues. According to the Honda civic parking brake switch class action, Honda recalled the 2016 models but “manufactured, marketed, and sold its substantially similar—virtually identical—2017 [Honda Civic], and is or will be selling its 2018 [model year] Civic Class Vehicles in the same defective condition with the same Rollaway Defect.”

In November 2018, another Honda Civic class action lawsuit was filed by two consumers who had leased Honda Civic vehicles. The plaintiffs claim that both of their vehicles experienced the Honda Civic rollaway defect when they rolled from their position after the car was put in park.

Join a Free Honda Civic Parking Brake Lawsuit Investigation

You may qualify to file a Honda Civic class action lawsuit under the following circumstances:

• You owned or leased a 2016, 2017 or 2018 Honda Civic.
• The vehicle rolled away after it was put in “park.”

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