Honda Civics are generally respected as reliable transportation, and aren't supposed to be prone to things like, say, wheels falling off. But that's the reason Honda is recalling more than 182,000 of them made in 2006-2007.

Honda says the trouble comes from a leaky O-ring in the wheel speed sensor. Water could damage the wheel bearing, which could result in one of the four wheels falling off, "possibly resulting in a crash." Ya think?

Owners of the affected Civics can expect a note in the mail from Honda, offering to fix the problem and replace any damaged parts.

You can read the full recall notice from NHTSA.gov after the jump.

Thanks for the tip, Herb!

[source: The Detroit News]NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 07V399000

Mfr's Report Date : AUG 30, 2007

Component: WHEELS

Potential Number Of Units Affected : 182756

Summary:

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR HOUSING USES AN O-RING SEAL TO PREVENT LEAKAGE TO OR FROM THE WHEEL BEARING. IF ASSEMBLED IMPROPERLY, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAL PROPERLY ALLOWING WATER TO ENTER THE WHEEL BEARING AND EVENTUALLY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE BEARING, ESPECIALLY IN AREAS WHERE USE OF ROAD SALT IS PREVALENT. IF THE DRIVER CONTINUES TO DRIVE WITH THIS CONDITION IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE WHEEL BEARING TO BECOME LOOSE, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE BEARING TO FAIL.

Consequence:

THIS COULD CAUSE A WHEEL TO FALL OFF OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.

Remedy:

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR ABS SENSORS AND WHEEL BEARINGS FOR DAMAGED PARTS AND REPLACE THEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT SEPTEMBER 17, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/14/wheels-...d-honda-civics/

Edited September 15, 200717 yr by TheMattMan

LMAO. i better email my buddy and see if the wheels fell off his new civic yet!

I work for the supplier that builds these wheel bearings. Apparently Honda is installing the bearing improperly and damaging the O-ring, thus causing premature failure. The actual bearing was assembled properly.

I work for the supplier that builds these wheel bearings. Apparently Honda is installing the bearing improperly and damaging the O-ring, thus causing premature failure. The actual bearing was assembled properly.

Woohoo, glad to hear they can't wiggle themselves out of this one (like they attempted to do on the 98-02 accord transmission trouble). I hate lawyers (even though I am in law school - gotta chase the money), but I hope some lawyers get really rich at Honda's expense!

There's a LOT more to it than that.

Old Hondas have their wheels fall off for a multitude of reasons,

mostly crappy, lightweight suspension/balljoint design. I've seen

this occur about a dozen times, not the actual wheel separating

but a stranded 1990s Honda on the side of the road with a wheel

cocked all funny and a long tiremark and gouge in the road from

where the balljoint contacted the road.

I hate Honda, this is just ONE of the reasons.

http://www.cheersandgears.com/forums/index...ic=9247&hl=

There's a LOT more to it than that.

Old Hondas have their wheels fall off for a multitude of reasons,

mostly crappy, lightweight suspension/balljoint design. I've seen

this occur about a dozen times, not the actual wheel separating

but a stranded 1990s Honda on the side of the road with a wheel

cocked all funny and a long tiremark and gouge in the road from

where the balljoint contacted the road.

I hate Honda, this is just ONE of the reasons.

http://www.cheersandgears.com/forums/index...ic=9247&hl=

This happened to my uncle on an 8 year old accord (but with only ~65k miles on it). Unfortenatly it happened at highway speed, fortenatly no one was badly injured. His car was totalled and another car got side swipped, no biggie. He thanks god every day after a situation like that!

I don't hate all of Honda's models, but I do hate how Honda and Toyota are perceived as quality with no excepetions. The news and majority of people's perception is that the Japaneese are totally trouble free, it just doesn't make sense and isn't realisitic.

There's a LOT more to it than that.

Old Hondas have their wheels fall off for a multitude of reasons,

mostly crappy, lightweight suspension/balljoint design. I've seen

this occur about a dozen times, not the actual wheel separating

but a stranded 1990s Honda on the side of the road with a wheel

cocked all funny and a long tiremark and gouge in the road from

where the balljoint contacted the road.

I hate Honda, this is just ONE of the reasons.

http://www.cheersandgears.com/forums/index...ic=9247&hl=

I could hate GM based on past experiences, but I'm not that ignorant.

Hate the media if you want to hate somebody.

I saw an s2000 on the shoulder of U.S. Rt 1 last year: both rear wheels were jammed up in the fenderwells and tilted way out at the bottom. No other cars involved, no skidmarks- looked like it just broke. The owner/driver sure looked like it was his last honda...

True, the medida sucks a long one... but still Honda products turn me off in almost every way...

A friend had to have the front end completely rebuilt on his 99 CRV... ball joints were ready to pop apart. And he bought it based soley on Honda's "impeccable" quality. Total POS IMHO.

LMAO. i better email my buddy and see if the wheels fell off his new civic yet!

Same here. Better call my brother-in-law and see if his Civic Hybrid made it to work this morning.

LMAO. i better email my buddy and see if the wheels fell off his new civic yet!

Same here. Better call my brother-in-law and see if his Civic Hybrid made it to work this morning.