2008 Honda Civic Wheels Problems

MY HONDA CIVIC EXPERIENCED SEVERE REAR TIRE WEAR ON THE INSIDE EDGES ABOUT 10 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE (AS A NEW VEHICLE). IN OCTOBER 2009, THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH REAR UPPER CONTROL ARMS AS DESCRIBED IN HONDA SERVICE BULLETIN 08-001, WHICH HAS SINCE BEEN REPLACED BY SB 13-047 (ATTACHED). THE ARM REPLACEMENT WAS INTENDED TO RETURN THE TIRE CAMBER ANGLE TO ZERO (SEE ALIGNMENT CRITERIA IN LAST PAGE OF TSB) SO THE THE WHEEL WOULD BE PERPENDICULAR TO THE ROAD, AND NO LONGER CAUSE WEAR AT THE INSIDE EDGES. AT A RECENT INSPECTION, THE TIRES WERE AGAIN FOUND TO BE WORN AT THE INSIDE EDGES: THERE WAS ABOUT 1/4 INCH OF TREAD ON THE OUTSIDE EDGE, BUT THE CORDS WERE SHOWING ON THE INSIDE EDGES. I VALIDATED THAT THE DEALER HAD ACTUALLY INSTALLED NEW CONTROL ARMS (THEY ARE MARKED WITH A "C" AS DESCRIBED IN THE BULLETIN). USING A LEVEL, I DETERMINED THAT THE TOP EDGE OF THE WHEEL WAS LEANING INWARD ABOUT 9/16" INCH, SO IT IS APPARENT THAT THE REPLACEMENT ARMS DO NOT CORRECT THE CAMBER ANGLE PROBLEM. IT IS TRUE THAT THE TIRE WEAR RATE HAS BEEN REDUCED BY THE REPLACEMENT ARMS. HOWEVER, SINCE THE INSIDE EDGE WEAR IS NOT OBVIOUS WITHOUT CRAWLING UNDER THE CAR, THIS CONDITION COULD LEAD TO TIRE FAILURE. I CORRECTED THE PROBLEM BY INSTALLING AFTERMARKET CONTROL ARMS THAT HAVE A LENGTH ADJUSTMENT, WHICH ALLOWS THE CORRECT CAMBER TO BE ACHIEVED DURING ALIGNMENT. AS SHOWN ON PAGE 1 OF THE SB, THE HONDA ARM HAS NO LENGTH ADJUSTMENT.

I OWN A 2008 HONDA CIVIC. I PURCHASED A SET OF ECOPIA EP 422 TIRES ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD THREE FLAT TIRES. MY FIRST FLAT HAPPENED WHILE ON MY WAY HOME. I WAS ON A HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 70 MPH. (MY TIRE PRESSURE GAUGE ON MY DASH IS FAULTY SO I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT WHEN IT CAME ON SINCE I ROUTINELY CHECK MY TIRE PRESSURES.) ABOUT A MINUTE LATER I NOTICED THE ROAD NOISE SEEMED LOUDER THAN NORMAL. VERY QUICKLY I STARTED TO FEEL MY TIRE BECOMING FLAT AND MY CAR WAS SLOWING DOWN ON ITS OWN. AS A YOUNG WOMAN I FELT UNSAFE PULLING OVER ON A DARK ROAD IN THE RAIN, AND IN A LOCATION THAT I WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH. I PULLED OFF THE NEXT EXIT AND DROVE VERY SLOWLY UNTIL I COULD PARK IN A WELL LIT GAS STATION. HOWEVER BY THIS TIME TIRE WAS TOTALLY SHREDDED. THIS ALL HAPPENED IN THE TIME SPAN OF 3 MINUTES, THERE WAS LITTLE WARNING OR TIME TO REACT. WHEN I GOT MY SECOND FLAT I WAS DRIVING WHEN IT LOST AIR. THE THIRD FLAT OCCURRED WHEN IT WAS STATIONARY IN A PARKING LOT. I DROVE TO SCHOOL WITH NO PROBLEMS, AND ABOUT TWO HOURS LATER I FOUND THAT MY TIRE HAD LOST IT'S AIR. IN THE LASTTWO INSTANCES, MY TIRE BECAME FLAT WITH NO APPARENT CAUSE; NO NAILS, TEARS, OR GASHES. I HAVE THE ROAD HAZARD WARRANTY WHICH IS WHY I'VE STAYED WITH THIS BRAND, HOWEVER I AM CONSIDERING SWITCHING TO TIRES THAT ARE A LITTLE MORE RELIABLE. THE HEAT SHIELD IN THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL NOW MAKES A NOISE AND I BELIEVE IT WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THE TIRES UNRELIABILITY. EVEN WHEN THE TIRES WERE IN GOOD CONDITION, THE ROAD NOISE AT HIGHER SPEEDS WAS VERY LOUD AND I FOUND THEM TO HAVE POOR TRACTION IN RAIN AND WINTER CONDITIONS. IN THE RAIN, I HAVE TO DRIVE SLOWER THAN OTHER DRIVERS BECAUSE MY CAR WILL HYDROPLANE WHEN IT GOES OVER THE SMALLEST PUDDLE. IN THE WINTER, MY CAR WOULD FISH TAIL CONSTANTLY EVEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT VERY LOW SPEEDS. I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH THIS BRAND OF TIRE AT ALL.

GANLEY SUBARU OF BEDFORD, OH (GANLEY BEDFORD IMPORTS, INC.) SOLD THIS PRE-OWNED 2008 HONDA CIVIC SI WITH NO TPMS SENSORS. THE TPMS WARNING LIGHT WAS ON, AND GANLEY SUBARU STATED THAT ONLY AN "UPDATE" (TO THE ECU) WAS NEEDED DUE TO A TIRE REPLACEMENT OF ALL FOUR TIRES, WHEN IN REALITY THEY ALLOWED A VEHICLE WITH NO TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SENSORS TO BE SOLD.

PREMATURE TIRE WEAR. SINCE 2008 WHEN I BOUGHT THIS CAR, I HAVE PUT ON FIVE SETS OF FOUR TIRES FOR A CAR THAT NOW HAS 140000. EACH SET WAS FROM NAME BRAND TIRE COMPANIES LIKE MICHELIN, BRIDGESTONE, ETC. IN ADDITION, EACH SET'S MILEAGE WARRANTY RANGING FROM 50000 TO 80000 MILES. AT 140000 MILES WITH FIVE TOP RATED TIRE SETS, I HAVE NOT REASON TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS TIRE COMPANY. INSTEAD, IT CLEARLY LOOKS LIKE HONDA'S DESIGN FAULT. EVEN MULTIPLE MECHANICS HAVE POINTED OUT THE SAME TO ME. I ALSO HAVE ADDITIONAL VEHICLES IN THE HOUSE HOLD THAT I DRIVE AND I DON'T HAVE THE SIMILAR ISSUE WITH THEM. SO THAT ELIMINATES DRIVER AND DRIVING CONDITION AS AN EXCUSE THAT HONDA MAY LIKE TO HIDE BEHIND.

I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES ON MY HONDA CIVIC PREMATURELY BECAUSE OF "FLAT SPOTS" THAT WOULD APPEAR AND LEAD TO EXTREME NOISE INSIDE THE CABIN WHILE DRIVING. I'VE RESEARCHED AND ASKED THE TIRE STORES AND THEY BASCIALLY STATED THAT THEY SEE THIS A LOT IN THE 2008 CIVICS. IF I DIDN'T ROTATE THE TIRES EVERY COUPLE OF THOUSAND MILES THIS WOULD HAPPEN OVER AND OVER. AFTER REPLACING ALL FOUR TIRES RECENTLY THE NOISE THIS TIME DID NOT GO AWAY, IN FACT IT WAS EVEN LOUDER THAN IN THE PAST. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT'S THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. THIS CAR HAS 83,000 MILES ON IT! I LOOKED UP WHEEL BEARING REPLACEMENT AND IT SEEMS THERE WAS A FACTOR RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR 2006-2007 MODELS, BUT NOT THE 2008. IT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE WHEEL BEARING PROBLEM IN THE 06-07 MODELS LEAD EARLY TIRE WEAR AND TO THE NOISE PROBLEMS I EXPERIENCED AS WELL. I'M SURE NOW THAT THE BEARINGS WHERE PROBABLY THE MAJOR PROBLEM FROM THE BEGINNING AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPACED THOUSANDS OF MILES AGO. AGAIN, THIS CAR ONLY HAS 83,000 MILES ON IT. I'M NOT SURE WITH MY 2008 CIVIC DIFFERS FROM THE 06-07 MODELS AND WHY HONDA WILL PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THOSE YEARS BUT NOT MINE? I'VE HAD A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THIS CAR, WHICH I WAS TOLD WAS SUPPOSE TO BE VERY RELIABLE. I WILL NOT BE PURCHASING A HONDA AGAIN IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

I DROVE FOR MONTHS WITH AN EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. ('CAUSE I'M AN IDIOT!) I FINALLY TOOK IT IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO BECAUSE I HAD TO DROP TO 10-20 MILES BELOW THE SPEED LIMIT TO AVOID RATTLING MY BRAINS OUT. I HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES AND GET AN ALIGNMENT. AT THE TIME THE MECHANIC TOLD ME I HAD A REALLY ODD WEAR PATTERN, HE'D NEVER SEEN. TODAY I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE PROBLEM REPORT ISSUED BY HONDA ABOUT THIS VERY THING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AIR LEAKED FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE RIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE WIELD ON TIRE RIM WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,500.

BOTH REAR CONTROL ARMS ON 2008 HONDA CIVIC CAUSING CUPPING ON INSIDE OF REAR TIRES.

WHEEL RIM ON CAR IS NOT COMPLETELY ROUND DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND NOT TO DAMAGE. EXTRA CARE REQUIRED TO BALANCE WHEEL WITH TIRE. SHOP REPORTED THAT OUT OF ROUND WHEEL RIM CAN RESULT IN PREMATURE TIRE WEAR. MILEAGE AT 14,816. *TR

2008 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID REAR TIRE WEAR, WITH 16,000 MILES ON THE CAR THE REAR THE REAR TIRE HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES , AND ARE BAD AGAIN. WE BOUGHT THIS CAR TO SAVE ON GAS AND LESS POLLUTION, BUT CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP BUYING TIRES, WALSER HONDA IN BURNSVILLE MN WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR REPLACED 1 TIRE WHEN THE FIRST OF THIS PROBLEM SHOWED UP AT 4,000 MILES THEN WE WERE TOLD THAT TIRE WEAR WAS OUR PROBLEM. I DON'T THINK THIS IS RIGHT NOW I FIND THROUGH THE INTERNET THAT HONDA HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM SINCE 2006 AND WON'T LET THEIR CUSTOMERS KNOW OF THIS SERVICE BULLETIN TO FIX THE PROBLEM. HOPE YOU CAN DO SOMETHING TO HELP THE PUBLIC BECOME AWARE OF THE PROBLEM & THE FIX. *TR

HAD TIRED ROTATED IN MAY 2008 AND AFTER ROTATION STEERING STARTED SHAKING FROM SIDED TO SIDE. FIRESTONE/BRIDGESTONE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE TIRES WERE DAMAGED BECAUSE OF A CAMBER PROBLEM IN THE REAR OF MY 2008 HONDA CIVIC. WAS NOT TOLD OF THIS PROBLEM WITH MY CAR WHEN I HAD IT TO THE DEALER EARLIER THAT MORNING. *TR

WHILE BEING TORQUED TO MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS, I.E., 80 FT. LBS., LUG NUT STUD ON DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE (HUB) SNAPPED OFF. HAPPENED TODAY. THIS WEEK CAR WILL BE TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT SHOP TO REPLACE STUD, CHECK OUT OTHER STUDS FOR IMMINENT FAILURE AND REPLACE OTHER DEFECTIVE STUDS, IF ANY. *TR

THIS WILL ELABORATE ON RECENT COMPLAINT OF SAME INCIDENT. ALTHOUGH TIRE PRESSURE WAS EQUALIZED WHILE COLD TO MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS: 32 P.S.I., AND ALIGNMENT WAS NOT AN ISSUE, CAR WANDERED ON HIGHWAY. IN ORDER TO RESTORE PROPER HANDLING, LUG NUTS WERE RETORQUED. WHILE BEING RETORQUED TO MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS, I.E., 80 FT. LBS., LUG NUT STUD ON DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE (HUB) SNAPPED/SHEARED OFF. THIS WEEK CAR WILL BE TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT SHOP TO REPLACE STUD, CHECK OUT OTHER STUDS FOR IMMINENT FAILURE AND REPLACE OTHER DEFECTIVE STUDS, IF ANY. *TR