Service Bulletin - There is a pop or clunk from the front suspension area when driving over bumps. This usually occurs after completing a tight (full lock) turn.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Honda Civic suspension problems
moderate 194 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
194
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
5crashes
3injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 194 suspension complaints filed for the 2006 Honda Civic, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 194 suspension complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 14 model years of Honda Civic in our records for suspension problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering suspension on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Service bulletin - The rear suspension geometry (camber) on some models may cause uneven or rapid rear tire wear. This wear may appear as diagonal lines or inner edge tread wear. Tires in an advanced stage of this diagonal or inner-edge wear may vibrate at highway speeds and/or make a roaring noise that sounds like a bad bearing.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗HONDA: WHEN MAKE TIGHT TURN, WOULD HEAR OR FEEL A POPPING OR CLUNKING NOISE, AFTER DRIVING OVER BUMPS, COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗UNEVEN OR RAPID REAR TIRE WEAR.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗POPPING NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHILE TURNING.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2006–2007 Honda Civics consistently describe the same problem: rear tires wearing down on the inner edges alone, often to the steel belts, while the outer tread looks fine. This wear kicks in between 8,000 and 35,000 miles and repeats within months of tire replacement if the underlying suspension defect isn't addressed.
The root cause, per Honda Technical Service Bulletin 08-001, is that the rear upper control arms are manufactured too short. This creates excessive negative camber in the rear suspension, forcing tire edges to wear abnormally. Owners report loud roaring or grinding noises from the rear at highway speeds, steering wheel vibration, and dangerous fishtailing on wet or snowy roads.
Honda issued the TSB in early 2008 but never issued a full recall. Instead, dealers were told to handle repairs case-by-case. Many owners discovered the TSB themselves online months or years later, after spending hundreds or thousands of dollars replacing tires multiple times. Dealers often blamed owners for poor maintenance, faulty tires, or driving habits—never mentioning the known suspension problem. Some dealers refused to perform the repair at all without a recall or warranty coverage, leaving owners stuck. Owners of vehicles with expired warranties or salvage titles report being denied repair coverage entirely.
The fix—replacing the control arms with redesigned units—costs $300–$800 including labor and alignment, but Honda has resisted making it a recall or broadly covering costs.
Same Honda Civic suspension reports on nearby years: 2007 · 2008 · 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Rear Upper Control Arm Design Defect Causing Premature and Uneven Tire Wear
The rear upper control arms on 2006–2007 Honda Civic models are manufactured too short, causing excessive negative camber in the rear suspension. This misalignment causes the inner edges of rear tires to wear rapidly and unevenly, often to the point of exposing steel belts and creating bald spots. The problem develops silently—the outer tire edges often look acceptable, making it difficult for owners to notice the damage until it reaches dangerous levels.
When: Typically between 10,000 and 35,000 miles, though some owners report failures as early as 8,000 miles; repeated within 6–12 months of tire replacement if control arms are not fixed
Symptoms owners cite: Inner edge of rear tires excessively worn or cupped; Loud roaring, humming, grinding, or thumping noise from rear tires, especially at highway speeds (60+ mph); Vibration in steering wheel and throughout vehicle at highway speeds; Bald spots or flat spots on rear tire inner edges, sometimes with steel belts visible; Vehicle fishtailing, drifting, or loss of control on snow, ice, or wet roads; Rear end swaying or kicking out during turns; Difficult to steer straight on bumpy roads
Codes mentioned: TSB 08-001, NHTSA Campaign ID 10024687
Repairs/costs cited: Rear upper control arms must be replaced with redesigned units; owners report repair costs ranging from $300–$800 including new tires and four-wheel alignment. Many dealers initially refused to perform the work without a recall or extended warranty coverage.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda issued Technical Service Bulletin 08-001 (issued February 2008, revised April 2008) addressing the problem for 2006–2007 Civic models (excluding some SI variants), but did not issue a full recall. Honda handled repairs on a case-by-case basis, often only after owners discovered the TSB themselves and complained. Some owners with expired warranties or salvage titles were denied coverage. Class action litigation exists but Honda maintained it was not a safety issue warranting a recall.
Rear Suspension Instability and Control Issues
Due to the shortened upper control arms, the rear suspension geometry is compromised, resulting in poor vehicle handling and stability, especially in adverse weather or when transitioning between dry and wet pavement. Owners report difficulty maintaining control at normal highway speeds and dangerous fishtailing behavior.
When: Can manifest from early ownership; worsens in winter/wet conditions or on poor road surfaces
Symptoms owners cite: Fishtailing on snow and ice, sometimes uncontrollable; Rear end slides or shifts violently side-to-side when transitioning from dry to wet road surfaces; Vehicle cannot be driven safely above 35–40 mph in snowy or wet conditions; Loss of control or near-ditch incidents during normal driving in adverse weather; Excessive sway during turns
Codes mentioned: TSB 08-001
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of rear upper control arms with redesigned components restores proper suspension alignment and vehicle stability.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda issued TSB 08-001 but did not acknowledge this as a safety issue sufficient to warrant a recall, despite owners' repeated safety concerns.
Repeated Tire Failures and Accelerated Replacement Cycles
Owners experience multiple successive tire failures over the life of the vehicle. After replacing tires once or twice, the same wear pattern recurs within months or after only a few thousand miles, creating a cycle of expensive, premature replacements. This occurs because the underlying suspension defect (shortened control arms) is never addressed.
When: First replacement typically 20,000–35,000 miles; subsequent replacements at 6–12 month intervals or every 6,000–15,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Tire tread worn down to steel belts or cords on inner edges; Loud road noise and vibration immediately or shortly after new tire installation; Cupping or waviness in tire tread; Multiple full tire sets needed over vehicle's ownership life (owners report 3–12 tire replacements)
Repairs/costs cited: Owners paid $300–$2,000+ in cumulative tire replacement costs. TSB 08-001 includes a tire proration table for vehicles under 25,000 miles, but many dealers and owners claim this was not offered or enforced. Some owners were forced to absorb entire tire costs.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda refused to provide prorated tire reimbursement in most cases, citing that the tires were the responsibility of the tire manufacturer's warranty rather than Honda's design flaw. Dealers often blamed owner maintenance (tire rotation, air pressure) rather than the suspension defect.
Synthesized from 194 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Honda civic. The contact stated that the rear upper control arm caused the tires to couple. The failure was caused by normal wear and tear when driving the vehicle in cold weather. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who inspected the failure and advised that there was no recall for the failure. The contact was advised that the upper control arm would require…
Had suspension trouble with your 2006 Honda Civic?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the suspension problem on the 2006 Honda Civic?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 194 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $900 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Across the 150 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 24,000 and 75,000 miles, with the median around 43,850. A quarter of owners report trouble before 24,000; a quarter make it past 75,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $900 for suspension repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Honda/Civic.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.