10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 2 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 49,626 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
1999 Honda Civic, right rear tire blew out causing the driver to lose control. Vehicle went off the left side of the highway and struck the median barrier. (Ohio traffic crash report# 10-0500-90) updated 09/13/10
- Lorain, OH, USA
Two months ago my son's 1999 Honda Civic experienced a flat tire. The tire shop said the valve stem was defective and replaced the stem at a cost of $26. On April 16, 2009, my son experienced a sudden loss of air pressure on a different tire, left front tire, while driving on an interstate highway. He said the car suddenly pulled strongly to the left and he almost lost control of the vehicle. I remembered seeing information on a valve stem recall last summer and gave my son information about the dill valve stem recall. The valve stems were the ones manufactured and recalled by dill, ref. ODI defect investigation EA08022. The tire shop denied any knowledge of the recall and the Honda dealer that installed the tires 2 years ago also pleaded ignorance. After further persistence, my son was able to get the Honda dealer to replace all of the defective valve stems and replace the tire that was damaged beyond repair. He is still out $26 due to the first valve stem failure which should have been covered by the tire shop if the spirit and intent of the dill valve stem voluntary recall was being followed. My complaint is that the voluntary recall by dill is inadequate and not accomplishing its intended purpose. ODI defect investigation EA08022 was prematurely closed. The recall should be mandated by NHTSA and backed up by the law! the tire companies are not following the spirit and intent of the dill voluntary recall. This is resulting in unnecessary expenses to the public and a very dangerous condition. I feel it is very unsafe to drive on a two lane highway not knowing if oncoming traffic will suddenly swerve into me because of a defective valve stem. There are millions of defective valve stems in service. Something more needs to be done.
- Lenexa, KS, USA
My 1999 Honda Civic caught on fire November 11 it was 11:45 pm my car was parked within 6 feet of my house my dog alerted me by barking and going crazy I was asleep so got up and went to the bathroom, and noticed a bright flickering light went outside to see what was causing this and saw my car on fire: Drivers side. It looked to me the fire was right above the tire, and also the fire dept. Confirmed that don't know if it was the tire, or electrical system I owned the car for approximately 6 months I had no insurance so was out $4,000.
- Tampa, FL, USA
Tread completely separated from tire while driving 65 mph on freeway. Tire looks like a retread even though it wasn't purchased as one.
- Las Vegas, NV, USA
Valve stem failure on three tires resulting in flat tires that needed to be replaced.
- Richmond, VA, USA
I was driving my 1999 Honda Civic LX 4 door vehicle on a return trip from birmingham, al to atlanta, ga and about 45 minutes into my return trip the tread separated from the front right tire of my vehicle. I was fortunate that that although the 1/3 of the tread separated from the tire it did not blow out and I was able to get to an exit safely. I then proceeded to a walmart tire replacement center where I asked the technician if this was the first time he had seen this happen. The technician told me that this was the second time he had seen this issue within the past 2 months and that the other tire that was brought in for replacement had only been on the car for a few weeks (my tire was about 2 years old). I contacted Firestone to inform them of the issue and was told that they could only take action if I could mail them the tire. I provided Firestone the contact number for the tire shop where they could obtain the tire if needed for analysis (Firestone was not interested in obtaining the tire). The tire that was involved was an fr 680.
- Conyers, GA, USA
My wife's Firestone tire blew on her 1999 Honda Civic and almost caused a major accident on I75. She is lucky to not have been injured. Also, her sister's Firestone tire blew 1 year later on her 1998 Honda Civic while driving on another Florida highway. The probabilities of such incidents happening to one family must be high unless there is a defect in these Firestone tires. Luckily no one was injured but that is probably because these were not SUV's. date of incident is estimated since it was a minor incident and no one was injured but it should be noted that these Firestone tires may not be safe. Please also note that the make of these tires are unknown since they have been discarded a long time ago.
- Gainesville, FL, USA
While driving the right rear tire blew out. Consumer lost control, spun 180 degrees across the lanes into the left shoulder scraping against the guard rail damaging the vehicle. Dunlop P185/65R14 (Ohio traffic crash report)
- Crestwood , NY, USA
I received a recall notice on my 1999 Honda Civic for the ignition switch in September 2002. I took the car to get a new switch installed. After that I did not see a positive change or faster start up of the car. In fact, it seemed to start slower and slower. When I would press the accelerator I felt a grinding sensation under my foot from the gas pedal, which sounded like the car was struggling to speed up. Also, when I would turn the key in the ignition the car would not start right away, it stalled for about (7) seven seconds or so. I believe this car is a lemon. When I bought it, the gears wouldn't change properly. I would press the accelerator to go up to spped on the highway and it would take a long time for the car to change gears, it sounded very loud because of this. I don't know why it did this, I am concerned and it became very annoying. I had an accident while driving this car on Oct. 16, 2002. As I was driving I heard something crack under the car and the car started to spin to the other side of the road causing me to lose control of the car. I believe the car had a safety defect that caused the wheels to break, resulting in loss of control of the vehicle. The insurance adjuster told me these are some of the damages to the car: The bottom of the floor shifted, the axle broke, the tires and wheels broke, they declared the car a total loss. I believe the wheels/tires broke first, which is probably what the cracking sound was that I heard which caused the car swerve. My insurance company paid the car off so fast which leads me to believe they are hiding something. Aslo, I think the steering of the car was out of line, because sometimes the car would veer to the right when I would be driving straight it would be difficult to stay in the lane I would appreciate all the information you can give to help me find out what else is wrong with this car as I already said a recall for the ignition was issued more defects may be found.
- Newark, NJ, USA
- Clover, SC, USA