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What does it mean if your 2016 Honda Civic won’t start and it says there's a brake system problem?

When I tried to start my car today the gauge cluster just kept reading “electric brake system problem.” It still won’t turn on properly. What is going on?

avatar
Shannon Fitzgerald · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Sorry to hear your Civic is having issues! Typically, if your 2016
Honda
Civic won’t start and the says there’s an electric brake system problem, your electric parking brake is stuck.
There are a few reasons why this might be occurring:
  • Dead battery—your battery may not have enough charge to activate (or deactivate) your electric braking system
  • Dirty brake button—dirt and debris can collect around the parking brake button, causing it to trigger unnecessarily
  • Loose wiring—a bad connection in your Civic’s wiring can also cause your brake system to malfunction
Since a malfunctioning brake system is extremely hazardous on the road, your best bet is to
tow your car
to a trustworthy mechanic to diagnose the underlying problem. While it is possible to try
jumpstarting your dead car battery back to life
, it’s much safer to let a professional take a look just in case a dead battery isn’t the real culprit.
Dealing with mechanical issues is never fun—especially when they add more costs to your car’s maintenance budget. To offset some of the financial woe, you can save on your
Honda Civic insurance costs
by downloading
Jerry
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trustworthy insurance savings app
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MORE: Are Hondas expensive to maintain?
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