Honda Accord Brake Light Stays On (Causes & Fixes)

You’ve noticed your Honda Accord brake lights stay on after releasing the brake pedal. Now you are panicking and wondering what could be wrong with your car. If that’s you, stick around to find out what causes this problem.

Honda Accord brake light stays on mainly due to a faulty brake light switch or a damaged brake light switch stopper. Other potential causes for this problem include a faulty brake pedal, electrical issues, and faulty wiring.

This article provides you with more in-depth details about the issue of your Honda Accord light staying on. You’ll learn the most common causes of this problem, and what to do if this happens.

Honda Accord brake light stays on (causes and fixes):

Here are the most common reasons behind your Honda Accord brake light staying:

Bad brake light switch

A malfunctioning brake light is probably the most common reason behind your vehicle brake light not coming off even when you turn off your car.

When this switch is failing, it can’t properly disengage, causing the brake light to stay on.

Solution: If your car brake light switch is misaligned or failing, then you ought to replace it with a new one and properly adjust it.

Damaged wiring

Another common problem that causes the brake light in your Honda Accord to stay on is wiring problems in the brake light circuit.

Any loose connections, frayed wires, and corroded terminals in the wiring harness can easily disrupt the electrical circuit—resulting in the brake light staying on.

Solution: Repairs and replacement for any damaged wiring and connectors, ensuring proper and secure electrical connections can fix the wiring problem.

Damaged brake light switch stopper

The brake light switch stopper refers to a small component situated near brake pedal.

It ensures your car brake pedal stays properly aligned and engaged when you’re not pressing the brake pedal. In other words, it acts as the stopper for the brake pedal arm.

However, this stopper can become damaged, worn, or out of adjustment with time.

When this happens, it can lead to the brake lights staying continually on (or it can make the lights stay off). In some cases, it can cause both the brake light and tail lights to come on when your car is turned off.

Solution: You’ll need to access the stopper and inspect it for misalignment, damage, or wear. Ideally, it should be intact and correctly placed. In case of any problems, you should adjust or replace the stopper as necessary.

Here’s a video showing you how to fix a damaged or worn stopper in your Honda Accord:

Video:

Electrical system issue

An electrical system issue in your car can also interfere with the brake light circuit, causing the brake light to stay illuminated. Some common electrical problems to look out for include a blown fuse, malfunctioning control module, etc.

Solution: If your car has electrical system issues, then further diagnosis should be done to establish and solve the exact issue. Repairs and replacement of any faulty components will be needed.

Faulty brake pedal

Issues with the brake pedal may also be behind the brake light continually staying on in your Honda Accord. Specifically, the pedal may be stuck or misaligned, thus preventing proper engagement with the brake light switch.

This will keep the brake light on. A stuck brake pedal is usually caused by brake pedal spring not having the power to return to its default position.

Solution: The brake pedal assembly should be inspected for any malfunctions and adjusted accordingly. This will ensure smooth operation and promote proper alignment with brake light switch. Lubricating all the necessary pedal components may also help promote free movement.

What to do if your Honda Accord brake light stays on?

If you notice your Honda Accord brake light staying on, we advise you to take action as quick as possible to solve this issue. The brake light staying in with your car turned off can eventually kill your car battery.

You’ll need to troubleshoot your car to find out the exact cause of the brake light not turning off. As we’ve just discussed above, there are many potential causes for this problem.

Start by inspecting the brake light switch for proper alignment and functionality. You can use a multimeter to test if the switch is in good working condition.

Next, check if the brake light switch stopper is intact and functioning correctly.

Remove the brake light bulb and inspect it for any corrosion, loose connection, or signs of damage.

Inspect the wiring harness that connects to brake light bulb. Look out for any damages, frayed wires, or loose connections.

Also, confirm that the brake light circuit fuse is in good working condition and not damaged or blown.

Now conduct a test on the brake light circuit for any short-circuiting or grounding issues.

Where possible, use a diagnostic scan tool to help you pull any stored error codes in your car’s onboard computer that are related to the brake light system.

Once you find the culprit behind the problem, you can then go ahead and resolve it. Refer to our previous section for the right solution for different causes.

If you follow the above troubleshooting guide and still can’t find out the issue with your Honda brake lights, we advise you to take your Honda Accord to a certified auto mechanic for a more in-depth diagnosis.

Why your Honda Accord parking brake light stays on

If you’re dealing with a situation where your Honda Accord parking brake light stays on, this is your part. The most likely causes for this issue include:

Faulty brake light switch

A failed switch is one of the most common culprits behind the parking light staying in your Honda Accord. The switch essentially detects when your parking brake is disengaged or engaged.

If it becomes misaligned or faulty, it may send the wrong signal that the brake is still engaged, making the light stay on.

Parking brake isn’t fully disengaged

If the brake pedal isn’t fully released, it may also cause the brake light to stay on. You can try pulling on the lever or completely releasing the pedal to see if the light goes off.

Low brake fluid

Another possible reason your parking brake stays on is low brake fluid level. The parking brake light is also designed to illuminate if brake fluid drops below a specific point.

You can easily check the fluid level by checking the fluid reservoir sitting under your car hood.

Low fluid level could indicate a bigger problem such as a leak or braking system problem. In this case, you may want to have a mechanic inspect and fix this issue for you.

Malfunctioning sensor

Your Honda Accord master cylinder comes armed with brake fluid level sensor. If this sensor starts to malfunction, it may also cause the parking brake light in your car to stay continuously on.

Why Honda Accord emergency brake light stays on

The most likely reason why your Honda Accord emergency brake light stays on is when the emergency brake isn’t fully released.

Check if your brake lever/pedal is in the fully disengaged position.

A faulty or misaligned brake switch may also cause the light to stay on. When not working correctly, this brake can keep the brake light on. Adjusting or replacing a misaligned or faulty brake can help solve this issue.

Another potential cause for the emergency brake light to stay on includes low brake fluid level. Check if the fluid level in the reservoir is at the recommended level.

Still at it, a failing fluid level sensor can also cause the emergency brake light to stay on.

Why Honda Accord dashboard brake light stays on

If you notice the Honda Accord brake light on the dashboard illuminate, then it indicates that your brake fluid level is running low or your car braking system has an issue.

Check your car brake fluid level in the reservoir and top it up as necessary. Low fluid levels can be caused by brake fluid leaks, so you should inspect your car for signs of a leak and act accordingly.

If the fluid level is okay, check if your car parking brake is fully disengaged. Even a slight engagement of this brake can activate the brake light to come on.

Other areas to check are whether the brake light switch is functioning properly and if there are any wiring issues or electrical connections in your brake light circuit.

If you can’t seem to identify and resolve the issue behind the light staying on, then we recommend you have a certified auto mechanic or authorized Honda service center inspect your car.

How do you reset the brake light on a Honda Accord?

The process of resetting the brake light on your Honda Accord varies depending on your car year and model. However, the general steps to follow are as outlined below:

Step 1. Turn off your car ignition and ensure your car is in “park” mode

Step 2. Now press and hold your car brake pedal

Step 3. Release the brake pedal

Step 4. Turn your car ignition back on

Step 5. Press on the brake pedal again.

The brake pedal should successfully reset after following the above steps. However, if the light stays on, your car could be having serious issues with the braking system. In this case, we advise you to have a professional inspect your car.

If you’re experiencing a brake light that stays on in your Honda Accord, you may also find our article on Subaru brake light flashing and check engine light on helpful. This article provides insights and recommendations for addressing a similar issue in Subaru vehicles. Additionally, if you’re looking for instructions on how to reset the brake light on a BMW, our article on how to reset brake light on BMW offers step-by-step guidance to resolve the problem.

FAQs:

Why do my Honda Accord brake lights stay on when car is off?

Your Honda Accord brake light staying on when the car is off may be caused by a faulty brake light switch or short-circuiting in the brake light circuit. You should have the issue addressed promptly to avoid draining your car battery and ensure proper functioning.

Can I drive my Honda Accord with the brake lamp light on?

It’s dangerous to drive your vehicle with brake lamp light on and we strongly recommend against it. If your car brake light comes on, it usually indicates a problem with your braking system. We advise you to stop operating your car until the underlying issue is resolved.

Conclusion

It is common for Honda Accord brake light to stay on. A faulty brake light switch mainly causes this. However, there are other potential causes such as a damaged brake light switch stopper, electrical system problems, bad wiring, or a faulty brake pedal. If you experience this issue with your car, we advise you to stop operating until it gets resolved.

This article has just discussed the common causes for the Honda Accord brake light staying on and how to fix this issue. Follow out troubleshooting tips to help you find out the exact issue behind the light staying continuously on. If you are not comfortable doing the diagnosis on your own, or if you can’t find the cause, you’d want to have a professional inspect your car.