2009 Honda Civic MPG
The 2009 Honda Civic gets 21–26 mpg in the city and 29–36 on the highway (24–29 combined), across the 3 gasoline versions the EPA rated.
The most efficient pairs the 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine with a manual transmission and front-wheel drive, at 29 mpg combined. At the other end, the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with a manual transmission and front-wheel drive manages 24 mpg combined, 5 mpg less. The EPA also rated hybrid and natural-gas versions, the best at 42 mpg combined. That matches the best gasoline version of the 2008 model.
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civic Hybrid | 1.3 L 4-cyl hybrid | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 40 | 45 | 42 | Regular · 212 g CO₂/mi |
| Civic | 1.8 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 | 34 | 29 | Regular · 306 g CO₂/mi |
| Civic | 1.8 L 4-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 | 36 | 29 | Regular · 306 g CO₂/mi |
| Civic CNG | 1.8 L 4-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 | 36 | 28 | CNG · 251 g CO₂/mi |
| Civic | 2.0 L 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 29 | 24 | Premium · 370 g CO₂/mi |
2009 Honda Civic fuel cost per year
Driving 15,000 miles a year on regular gasoline at the September 2026 U.S. average of $4.36 a gallon, the 2009 Honda Civic costs about $2,250 a year to fuel in its most efficient form (29 mpg combined), or roughly 15 cents a mile.
This is an estimate from EPA combined mpg and the EIA national average price; your cost depends on how and where you drive and on local prices.
2009 Honda Civic specs
The EPA lists 3 engine choices for the 2009 Honda Civic: 1.8 L 4-cyl, 1.3 L 4-cyl hybrid and 2.0 L 4-cyl. It came with continuously variable (CVT), automatic and manual transmissions, with front-wheel drive. For fuel-economy purposes it sits in the EPA's "Subcompact Cars" class.
| Engine size (L) | Cylinders | Transmissions | Drive | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 L | 4 | Manual 5-spd; Automatic 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 3 |
| 1.3 L hybrid | 4 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 1 |
| 2.0 L | 4 | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 1 |
2009 Honda Civic problems
As of October 2026, NHTSA (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) holds 426 owner complaints about the 2009 Honda Civic.
Air bags are the most-reported area (19% of component mentions), followed by electrical system (9%) and structure (8%).
Spread over its time on sale, that is 24 complaints a year: fewer than the 2008 (52 a year) and about as many as the 2010 (24 a year).
That ranks 14th of 17 Honda Civic model years (2008–2024), counting from the most complaints per year.
Of the 426, 42 mention a crash, 6 a fire and 31 an injury.
| Component | Mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 103 | 19% |
| Electrical system | 48 | 9% |
| Structure | 46 | 8% |
| Unknown or other | 37 | 7% |
| Suspension | 36 | 7% |
| Engine | 30 | 6% |
| Power train | 29 | 5% |
| Tires | 25 | 5% |
| Hydraulic service brakes | 24 | 4% |
| Service brakes | 21 | 4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 18 | 3% |
| Visibility | 18 | 3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 14 | 3% |
| Visibility/wiper | 14 | 3% |
| Steering | 13 | 2% |
| Exterior lighting | 11 | 2% |
| Wheels | 11 | 2% |
| Seats | 10 | 2% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 8 | 1% |
| Equipment | 6 | 1% |
| Seat belts | 5 | <1% |
| Electric service brakes | 4 | <1% |
| Other fuel system | 3 | <1% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | <1% |
| Gasoline fuel system | 2 | <1% |
| Air service brakes | 2 | <1% |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 1 | <1% |
| Equipment adaptive/mobility | 1 | <1% |
What owners told NHTSA
There is a recall for the engines and air bags on theys cars handa said so.
The contact purchased a 2009 Honda Civic. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. …
The contact owns a 2009 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the sun visor split over and blocked his driving view. The contact stated that the failure was related to TSB Technical Service Bulletin 11-031. …
2009 Honda Civic recalls
The 2009 Honda Civic has been the subject of 8 recall campaigns.
The most recent, campaign 19V502000 from June 2019, concerns air bags.
Air bags account for 7 of the 8 campaigns, more than any other area.
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Civic years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19V502000 | June 27, 2019 | Air bags | 2008–2011 |
| 19V378000 | May 16, 2019 | Air bags | 2008–2011 |
| 18V268000 | April 26, 2018 | Air bags | 2008–2011 |
| 18V042000 | January 9, 2018 | Air bags | 2009–2011 |
| 17V545000 | August 31, 2017 | Air bags | 2008–2011 |
| 17V030000 | January 10, 2017 | Air bags | 2008–2011 |
| 16V346000 | May 24, 2016 | Air bags | 2008–2011 |
| 08V535000 | October 14, 2008 | Gasoline fuel system | 2008–2009 |
Safety ratings
NHTSA has not published 5-star crash ratings for the 2009 Honda Civic.
Compared with other years
Complaints per year on sale divide each model year's NHTSA complaints by the years since it went on sale, so older and newer Honda Civics can be compared fairly.
| Year | Best mpg | Complaints | Per year on sale | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 42 | 987 | 52 | 7 |
| 2009 | 42 | 426 | 24 | 8 |
| 2010 | 42 | 412 | 24 | 8 |
| 2011 | 41 | 171 | 11 | 9 |
| 2012 | 44 | 474 | 31 | 4 |
Every Honda Civic model year compared →
FAQ
Is the 2009 Civic a good car?
We don't rate cars, but the official data gives a picture. The 2009 Honda Civic has 24 NHTSA complaints per year on sale (14th most of 17 model years), 8 recall campaigns and up to 42 mpg combined from the EPA.
What are common 2009 Civic problems?
The components owners report most to NHTSA are air bags (103), electrical system (48) and structure (46). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many recalls does the 2009 Civic have?
NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns. To see whether a recall is still open on a specific car, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2009 Civic get?
The EPA rates the gasoline versions at 24–29 mpg combined (21–26 city, 29–36 highway). The hybrid and natural-gas versions reach up to 42 mpg combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2009 Civic per year?
About $2,250 a year for 15,000 miles in its most efficient form, using EPA mpg and the September 2026 U.S. average regular gasoline price of $4.36 a gallon (EIA).