by Honda Civic Recall Due to Wheel Defect
Honda has announced a recall of Civic models from 2016-2021 due to a manufacturing defect in the wheels. The issue concerns 18-inch alloy wheels that lack the necessary mounting bushings. This could lead to the wheels coming off while the vehicle is in motion. It is estimated that approximately 406,290 vehicles equipped with these official accessories require inspection.
Problem Details and Risks
If you have installed stylish alloy wheels on your car, you typically cannot see them while driving. However, in this case, owners might get an unwanted opportunity to see them in motion, as the wheels may detach at high speed. The recall will affect Civics in the USA that are equipped with a specific type of 18-inch wheel manufactured by a supplier from Italy. These wheels have a distinctive appearance: a red stripe along the outer edge and 15 thin spokes combining dark and silvery shades.
Many of these wheels may lack the steel inserts in the mounting holes, which are mandatory. Without these simple bushings, the nuts may loosen, which in the worst-case scenario could lead to the detachment of a wheel or wheels while driving, causing an accident.
Cause of the Defect and Manufacturer’s Actions
Honda’s investigation revealed that the problem occurred due to an error at the wheel manufacturer’s factory. During the installation of new equipment, a barrier separating finished wheels from unfinished ones was dismantled. Because of this, a batch of wheels was shipped before workers had time to press in the bushings and conduct the final inspection. The supplier ceased operations in 2023, which is likely a positive step to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Recall Scope and Remediation Procedure
Although the recall covers tenth-generation Civics from 2016 to 2021, the wheels themselves were manufactured only for 12 months – from December 2018 to 2019. Honda will send a notification to owners who, according to its data, purchased such wheels, urging them to undergo an inspection at official service centers. Technicians will remove all four wheels to check for the presence of bushings and, if necessary, replace the wheels and suspension hubs. Additionally, they will drill two holes in the defective wheels to ensure they cannot be reused.
Challenges in Reaching All Owners
However, there is a problem: wheels are often bought and sold on the secondary market, especially for vehicles that have been in use for several years. This complicates Honda’s task of notifying every owner of a 2016–2021 Civic who uses such wheels. Furthermore, many of these vehicles are serviced outside of official dealerships, which reduces the opportunities for their future inspection.
This situation highlights the importance of rigorous quality control in the automotive industry, especially when defects can directly impact the safety of drivers and passengers. Honda Civic drivers should check their wheels for characteristic features, such as the red stripe, and contact a service center for diagnostics, even if they have not received an official notification. The manufacturer’s delayed actions and the supplier’s closure point to systemic issues that may require stricter regulatory measures to prevent similar cases.
