2008 Honda Civic Tires & 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2009, THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH REAR UPPER CONTROL ARMS AS DESCRIBED IN HONDA SERVICE BULLETIN 08-001, WHICH HAS SINCE BEEN REPLACED BY SB 13-047 (ATTACHED).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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA CIVIC EQUIPPED WITH WESTLAKE TIRES (NA), SIZE: P205/55/16 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THERE WAS A VIBRATION IN THE TIRES. THE CONTACT PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE TIRES AND DETERMINED THAT THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED RECENTLY. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 195,000. THE VIN AND TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT PROVIDED.

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.

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.

MY '08 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID WEARS TIRES ABNORMALLY, LEADING TO UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS, ESPECIALLY ON WET OR FROSTY SURFACES. I HAVE CONTACTED HONDA YEARLY ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, HAVING HAD TO REPLACE TIRES AT INTERVALS OF APPROXIMATELY 15,000 MILES. AT THIS LOW MILEAGE, MY TIRES WERE BALD IN SPOTS. ALTHOUGH HONDA HAS SUBSIDIZED THE COST OF NEW TIRES, AT 50%, THEY HAVE NOT FIXED THE DEFECT WHICH CONTINUES TO CAUSE THIS ABNORMAL TIRE WEAR. *TR

TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM LIGHT ACTIVATED. CAR HAS BEEN TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM NINE TIMES WITH THE MOST RECENT VISIT JUNE 16, 2012. *TR

2008 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID EXPERIENCING SEVERE TIRE CUPPING FOR 3RD TIME. VEHICLE IS HAVING IT'S 3RD SET OF TIRES PUT ON AT 51,000 MILES. FUEL ECONOMY IS DRAMATICALLY LOWER AS WELL. HONDA HAS AGREED (2ND TIME NOW) TO PAY 50% OF ANOTHER NEW SET OF TIRES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN ALIGNED AND TIRES HAVE BEEN ROTATED AS ADVISED. I KNOW TWO OTHER PERSONS IN MY CITY WITH THE TIRE CUPPING ISSUE. THIS PROBLEM IS ALSO RAMPANT ON THE INTERNET. HONDA HAS NO SOLUTION TO FIX THE CAUSE OF THE SEVERE TIRE CUPPING PROBLEMS. OWNERS ARE BEING FORCED TO GET HALF LIFE OUT OF THEIR TIRE PURCHASES. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 HONDA CIVIC EX-L. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS 23,700 MILES ON IT. I HAVE BEEN HEARING A LOUD VIBRATION NOISE ON THE BACK OF THE CAR FOR SOMETIME NOW AND AFTER I JUST HAD MY TIRES ROTATED, I HAVE FOUND THAT THE BACK TIRES HAVE FLAT SPOTS ON THEM. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND THAT MANY MANY OTHER CONSUMERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME COMPLAINT AND HAVE HAD NO LUCK WITH HONDA IN FIXING THE PROBLEM. FROM WHAT I HAVE RESEARCHED IT IS BECAUSE OF THE CONTROL ARM THAT IS MAKING THE TIRES WEAR OUT FAST. I HAVE CONTACT THE DEALER AND THEY STATE THEY ARE UNAWARE OF ANY SUCH PROBLEM, WHICH I FIND VERY HARD TO BELIEVE. SOME PEOPLE HAVE WENT TO OTHER DEALERS AND WERE TOLD THAT HONDA DIDN'T FEEL THIS WAS A BIG ENOUGH PROBLEM FOR A RECALL. WELL IF THAT IS THE CASE THEN WHY DON'T THEY FIX THESE CARS> ARE THEY WAITING FOR DEATHS TO OCCUR FROM FAULTY TIRES? I WANT MY CAR FIXED IT IS UNFORTUNATE, BUT I STILL OWE 17000 ON IT AND I DON'T WANT TO JUST THROW THAT MONEY OUT THE WINDOW IF I HAVE TO BE BUYING TIRES EVERY FEW MONTHS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA CIVIC EQUIPPED WITH BRIDGESTONE ALL SEASON 89H TIRES, SIZE P205/55/R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HAVING REGULAR MAINTENANCE PERFORMED THE MECHANIC ADVISED HIM THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE BALD. HE WAS ADVISED THAT IT WAS UNUSUAL FOR TIRES TO BALD AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR FOUR NEW TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 17,500. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA CIVIC. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL400 TIRES, AND TIRE SIZE 205/55/16H(NA). THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING DOWN AN INCLINE, APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE ROAD SURFACE WAS DRY. THERE WAS A LOUD THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR TIRES. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND SLIDE. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TIRES REQUIRED REPLACEMENT WITH AN ALIGNMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED NOR HAVE THE TIRES BEEN REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,215. UPDATED 05/12/10 *BF UPDATED 05/14/10.*JB

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.

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

I HAVE A 2008 HONDA CIVIC COUPE. AFTER 15,000 MILES THE REAR TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A LOUD RUMBLING NOISE THAT THE MECHANIC SAID WAS SEPARATED BELTS. I HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE AND THE OUTCOME WAS HONDA POINTING FINGERS AT BRIDGESTONE AND VICE-VERSA. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE WITH THE CAR COMPANY OR TIRE MANUFACTURER? *TR

OUR 2008 HONDA CIVIC COUPE DEVELOPED A ROAD NOISE IN THE REAR TIRES AT ABOUT 12K MILES. TIRES HAVE BEEN ROTATED EVERY 5K AND I HAVE SERVICE ORDER REQUESTS TO BACK THIS UP. AT 15KMILES THE NOISE HAD GOTTEN UNBEARABLE. I ASKED MY LOCAL MECHANIC TO CHECK AND SEE IF THERE WAS ANYTHING OBVIOUS BEFORE I TOOK IT TO THE HONDA DEALER AND HE NOTED THAT THE REAR TIRES APPEARED TO HAVE THE BELTS SLIPPED AND THAT THE RIGHT TIRE APPEARED WORN OUT. I CALLED HONDA AND THEY DIRECTED ME TO BRIDGESTONE WHO TOLD ME THE TIRES WERE WORN OUT BECAUSE HONDA HAS A CHASSIS PROBLEM AND THAT THE TIRES WERE NOT WARRANTED FOR WEAR. HONDA SAID THERE IS NO TECHNICAL ISSUES WITH THEIR SUSPENSION AND THEY COULDN'T HELP ME. SO I HAVE A CAR WITH TIRES THAT ARE WORN OUT AT 15K MILES AND I HAVE NO RECOURSE BUT TO EAT IT AND HOPE THAT THE NEXT SET OF TIRES WEARS BETTER. THIS IS UNSAFE IN MY OPINION. POOT TIRE WEAR CAN ONLY COME FROM SO MANY THINGS. I HAVE AIR PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM, SO IT WASN'T IMPROPER INFLATION, THE VEHICLE IS NEW SO IT ISN'T SUSPENSION ISSUES, THE TIRES WERE ROTATED TWICE IN FIRST 10K MILES (DOCUMENTED). I GUESS HAVING UNSAFE TIRES ON A ONE YEAR OLD AUTOMOBILE IS NOT A BIG DEAL FOR HONDA, BUT IT IS FOR ME. HAVING A 1 YEAR OLD AUTO IN THE DRIVE WAY THAT WE ARE SCARED TO DRIVE OUT OF THE NEIGHBORGOOD ISN'T A GOOD THING. *TR

OUR 2008 HONDA CIVIC COUPE DEVELOPED A ROAD NOISE IN THE REAR TIRES AT ABOUT 12K MILES. TIRES HAVE BEEN ROTATED EVERY 5K AND I HAVE SERVICE ORDER REQUESTS TO BACK THIS UP. AT 15KMILES THE NOISE HAD GOTTEN UNBEARABLE. I ASKED MY LOCAL MECHANIC TO CHECK AND SEE IF THERE WAS ANYTHING OBVIOUS BEFORE I TOOK IT TO THE HONDA DEALER AND HE NOTED THAT THE REAR TIRES APPEARED TO HAVE THE BELTS SLIPPED AND THAT THE RIGHT TIRE APPEARED WORN OUT. I CALLED HONDA AND THEY DIRECTED ME TO BRIDGESTONE WHO TOLD ME THE TIRES WERE WORN OUT BECAUSE HONDA HAS A CHASSIS PROBLEM AND THAT THE TIRES WERE NOT WARRANTED FOR WEAR. HONDA SAID THERE IS NO TECHNICAL ISSUES WITH THEIR SUSPENSION AND THEY COULDN'T HELP ME. SO I HAVE A CAR WITH TIRES THAT ARE WORN OUT AT 15K MILES AND I HAVE NO RECOURSE BUT TO EAT IT AND HOPE THAT THE NEXT SET OF TIRES WEARS BETTER. THIS IS UNSAFE IN MY OPINION. POOT TIRE WEAR CAN ONLY COME FROM SO MANY THINGS. I HAVE AIR PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM, SO IT WASN'T IMPROPER INFLATION, THE VEHICLE IS NEW SO IT ISN'T SUSPENSION ISSUES, THE TIRES WERE ROTATED TWICE IN FIRST 10K MILES (DOCUMENTED). I GUESS HAVING UNSAFE TIRES ON A ONE YEAR OLD AUTOMOBILE IS NOT A BIG DEAL FOR HONDA, BUT IT IS FOR ME. HAVING A 1 YEAR OLD AUTO IN THE DRIVE WAY THAT WE ARE SCARED TO DRIVE OUT OF THE NEIGHBORGOOD ISN'T A GOOD THING. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 HONDA CIVIC LX 4 DOOR AND MY REAR TIRES ARE CUPPING AND HAVE FLAT SPOTS. I DO NOT DRIVE HARD AND IT SEEMS THERE IS A PROBLEM... THIS CAR IS BRAND NEW AND I AM CONCERNED. I KEEP MY TIRES PROPERLY INFLATED AND LOOK AT THEM OFTEN. I BELIEVE THIS MAY BE A SUSPENSION ISSUE. I THINK A RECALL IS NEEDED SEEING THAT I HAVE OTHER FRIENDS WITH THIS ISSUE AS WELL. *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