7.4

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$500
Average Mileage:
44,850 miles
Total Complaints:
7 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (3 reports)
  2. replace tires (3 reports)
  3. replaced rear control arms (1 reports)
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problem #7

Jun 052014

Civic Hybrid

  • Automatic transmission
  • 33,000 miles

About two weeks ago, the car started shaking uncontrollably any time I drove over 60 mph. I took the car to Burns Honda and they told me the rear tires needed to be replaced and balanced and that the front tires needed to be balanced. They said nothing about the alignment. Since they wanted almost $500 for the work, I took the car to STS to have the tires replaced and balanced. The technician checked the alignment for me FOR FREE while I was there and advised that the rear control arm needed to be replaced and that that was what was causing the tires to wear out so quickly. STS couldn't fix the alignment and told me to take the car back to the dealer. After doing some research, I discover that Honda is well aware of this problem and has already settled a class action suit. More info here: http://www.hondaproblems.com/problems/civic-tire-wear.shtml Burns Honda refused to check the alignment without charging me a $100 diagnostic fee. I tried calling Honda of America and they told me they would open a case for me, but I HAD to pay the $100 to get the diagnostic report at the dealer or they wouldn't do anything about it.

- Liz M., West Deptford, NJ, US

problem #6

Jul 182009

Civic Hybrid 1.3L

  • CVT transmission
  • 25,000 miles

The tires and maintenance was all done by the dealer...including tire rotations when oil is changed as per maintenance minder schedule. At first I thought it was due to wear from the tires on the front....where all the weight is from the engine. I never suspected the rear. When the inner edge was bald and you had nearly full tread on the outer edge...I knew something was wrong...other than winter low pressure tread wear.

Alignment checked out perfect at three different shops on three separate machines. I then suspected under inflation from temperature fluctuations or winter driving. I typically run the tire pressures on the low end in the winter when a storm is coming to increase surface area traction and driveability in heavy wet snow. I pushed the inflation up to the max and noticed the wear lessen and the road noise diminish as the cupping wore down. However, the traction was noticeably diminished in wet snow. I resorted to rinning high and letting air out of tires if I had to drive in snow.

Every time the car came from the dealer the tires were on the low end of recommendation or 10-20% below. I specifically asked my wife to have them inform and document the pressure, but not to adjust is downward. The tech was very polite but annoyed and informed my wife that it was only increasing the wear rate of the tire and decreasing the life of the tire.

There is no win...you either wear out the inside and cupp the tires or you need to inflate to high end and run the tire on the inner section versus the outer section.

I notice the wear is worse on the right rear and the cupping/road noise is unbearable. The only way to avoid the road noise is to overinflate and change tires out prematurely. One is a critical safety concern and the other is a financial burden.

- Matthew H., Simsbury, CT, US

problem #5

Aug 212013

Civic Hybrid 1.3L

  • CVT transmission
  • 130,632 miles

After trip to drop off son at college in Va (from CT)...the right rear tire was bald, threads exposed/worn, under layer rubber exposed/worn, steel belts exposed.

The rest of the tire is perfect...probably another 30 to 40 K miles left....but the inner right rear tie was showing danger signs with exposed cables.

The left rear is wearing the same, but not quite as bad...no threads or cables exposed.

Last month I received a notice from Honda (or lawfirm) about class action settleement about premature tire wear and control arm replacements.

I was excluded due to my VIN #. My extended warranty 96 months 120K miles just ran out April...and I was expecting inclusion in the settlement. Now I cannot use the extended warranty to replace the control arms. I paid $2K for the extended warranty....and actually have a problme I have know about...but dealer would not fix or state it was the control arm....now I cannot get it fixed.

- Matthew H., Simsbury, CT, US

problem #4

Aug 022009

Civic Hybrid 1.3L

  • CVT transmission
  • 20,000 miles

Same complaint about the rear tires only lasting 20,000 miles no matter what type, how many alignments, etc. They get scalloped and then roar until you replace them. I think maybe the Honda alignment spec needs to be modified. It is always on the insides. Probably should use 0 toe in and 0 camber. It seems the manufacturers never do it this way probably to achieve better stability or something.

- J D., Bryan, TX, US

problem #3

Apr 132010

Civic Hybrid

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35,000 miles

click to see larger images

abnormal tire wear

After purchasing a '08 Honda Civic Hybrid new from the dealer and having the rear control arms recalled and repaired, I had hoped my second set of new tires would wear normally. After only 13,000 miles, they were bald (as shown), and I was contacting Honda once again about this flaw in their Hybrid. They checked out my car and could "find nothing wrong" despite this abnormal wear. They replaced the Dunlop tires with Bridgestones at 50% cost as they had done the summer prior, and I determined to hope for the best.

- t j, Vacaville, CA, US

problem #2

Jun 272011

Civic Hybrid

  • Automatic transmission
  • 54,000 miles

I just became aware that my '08 Honda Civic Hybrid has worn out a THIRD set of new tires. Each set has lasted, on the average, only 15,000 miles despite all maintenance being performed as directed. I have had this car to the dealer on numerous occasions regarding this problem. I have corresponded with Honda Corporate. I bought my car for performance and economy and have been very pleased with its stellar gas mileage, but having to replace tires every summer--even at 50% cost courtesy of Honda--negates any savings AND is environmentally unsound. Honda advertises my Civic as a GREEN, environmentally sensitive car. I wonder, however, instead of GREEN, it is LEMON YELLOW!!! I want my car fixed--Honda, are you listening???

- t j, Vacaville, CA, US

problem #1

Aug 312009

Civic Hybrid

  • Automatic transmission
  • 16,000 miles

My brand-new honda Civic Hybrid wore out its first set of dealer-installed tires at 16,000 miles. After much wrangling and a rear-arm control recall & repair under warranty, Honda covered 50% of the cost of new tires.

- t j, Vacaville, CA, US