HONDA: ON SOME VEHICLES, TIRES IN AN ADVANCED STAGE OF DIAGONAL OR INNER EDGE WEAR, MAY VIBRATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND/OR MAKE ROARING NOISE, DUE TO REAR SUSPENSION GEOMETRY (CAMBER) ON SOME MODELS CAUSING RAPID AND/OR UNEVEN TIRE WEAR. MODELS 2006-2008 CIVIC, CIVIC HYBRID. UPDATED 4/16/14.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Honda Civic tires problems
severe 29 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $150 · see tires across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
29
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$150
1crash
1injury
What stands out
Owners have filed 29 tires 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 13 model years of Honda Civic in our records for tires problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering tires 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.
DEALER MESSAGE - ON JUNE 14, 2013, IN CONNECTION WITH THE SETTLEMENT OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, AMERICAN HONDA ANNOUNCED A LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR SOME 2006-07 CIVIC, AND 2006-08 CIVIC HYBRID VEHICLES. THE WARRANTY EXTENSION COVERS THE REAR UPPER (CONTROL) ARMS IN VEHICLES WHERE PREMATURE REAR TIRE WEAR CAN BE ESTABLISHED UNDER THE TERMS OF THE SETTLEMENT.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗HONDA: THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF, POWER ON, BUT IN ACCESSORY; NEVER USE CONVENTIONAL WHEEL & TIRE ASSEMBLIES ON PAX VEHICLES; MIL ON AFTER THROTTLE BODY CLEANING OR REPLACEMENT; S/M FIX BRAKE SYSTEM BLEEDING, DIALOGUE FOR DVD SURROUND SOUND FROM FRONT SPEAKERS ONLY. VARIOUS MODELS AND MODEL YEARS.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2006 Honda Civic has a documented pattern of rear tire failure. Owners consistently report loud humming, vibration, and cupping or flat spots on rear tires beginning around 8,000–17,000 miles, forcing replacement by 20,000–35,000 miles. Many go through 4–8 tire sets over the vehicle's ownership despite regular rotation and maintenance. The inner edge of the rear tires often wears completely bald while the outer tread remains acceptable, a hallmark of suspension misalignment.
Honda issued Technical Service Bulletin 08-001 for the 2006–2007 Civic, addressing rear upper control arm replacement ($500+ parts plus labor). The bulletin and similar Acura guidance (TSB 05-076) confirm the rear toe increases under load, causing premature wear. However, Honda never issued a recall. Dealers frequently denied warranty coverage, blamed owner rotation practices, or directed customers to tire manufacturers. Bridgestone and other tire makers declined claims, citing vehicle alignment as the root cause.
Some owners experienced catastrophic blowouts at highway speeds, including one accident resulting in a totaled vehicle. Even after control arm replacement, the problem persisted for several owners. Independent shops sometimes found alignment within spec despite obvious tire slant and wear patterns, suggesting a design flaw beyond typical alignment adjustment.
Same Honda Civic tires reports on nearby years: 2007 · 2008 · 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Premature tire wear and cupping on rear tires
Rear tires wear out unevenly and prematurely, often showing inner-edge wear or flat spots and cupping across the tread. Owners report needing tire replacement between 10,000 and 35,000 miles, well below normal tire lifespan. The wear pattern is uneven despite regular tire rotation at recommended intervals. Multiple narratives explicitly link this to rear suspension geometry issues, specifically upper control arm and camber/toe alignment problems.
When: Typically begins between 8,000–17,000 miles; becomes severe by 20,000–35,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loud road noise or humming from rear; Excessive vibration, especially at highway speeds (60+ mph); Flat spots or cupping visible on rear tires; Inner edge of rear tires worn completely bald while outer tread appears acceptable; Uneven tread wear despite regular rotation
Repairs/costs cited: Owners cite Honda Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 08-001 addressing rear upper control arm replacement, costing around $500 parts plus labor. TSB also noted for Acura (Service Bulletin 05-076 dated January 19, 2007) describing same issue. Despite TSB availability, Honda dealers often denied coverage or responsibility. Replacement tires typically cost $400–$600 per set; some owners went through 4–8 tire sets over vehicle ownership.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda issued TSB 08-001 for rear upper control arm kit and flange bolts replacement; however, no recall was issued. Honda customer service and dealerships blamed tire rotation practices, driving habits (emergency brake use, pothole impact), or directed customers to tire manufacturers. Some dealers refused to acknowledge defect despite TSB existence. Bridgestone and other tire manufacturers declined warranty coverage, citing vehicle alignment/suspension as root cause.
Tire blowouts and sidewall failures
Rear tires fail catastrophically due to thin or missing sidewalls and inner wall material breakdown. One narrative describes a sidewall blowout at 70 mph causing vehicle to lose control. Another reports steel belts separating and air leaking through inner tire surface. Premature wear exposes structural tire defects not typical of normal wear.
When: Can occur after minimal use; reported between 10,000–70,000 miles depending on onset of cupping/wear
Symptoms owners cite: Blowout or sudden tire failure while driving; Explosive tire failure with no apparent road debris or pothole impact; Inner sidewall or steel belt separation; Burnt rubber smell and smoke prior to failure
Repairs/costs cited: No repair; replacement tires required. One owner replaced all four tires at independent shop for under $425 with Goodyear tires after Honda dealer quoted $425 plus alignment. Another blowout incident resulted in vehicle totaling after five-roll accident. One narrative mentions Walmart road-hazard warranty coverage for prorated replacement, but refusal to replace remaining tires showing sidewall wear.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented. Tire and vehicle manufacturers both declined responsibility. Honda offered no compensation or recall for tire blowout risk.
Wheel alignment instability and suspension design defect
Vehicle exhibits chronic alignment problems stemming from rear suspension geometry. Rear toe-in increases when vehicle is loaded, causing aggressive inner tire wear. Multiple owners and independent mechanics attribute issue to faulty or poorly designed rear upper control arms and camber arms. Problem persists even after alignment work and tire replacement on new sets.
When: Design flaw present from new; symptoms emerge as early as first few thousand miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle slides out of control when hitting bumps; Poor handling in rain and wet conditions; Steering wheel vibration at highway speeds; Visible tire slant when vehicle sits on flat surface; Alignment shops report alignment within spec despite obvious wear pattern
Repairs/costs cited: Honda TSB 08-001 calls for rear upper control arm replacement ($500 parts plus labor estimated). One owner reports replacement of control arms still failed to resolve alignment and cupping. Another states upgraded control arms could not be properly aligned and required after-market control arms. Alignment shops declined to perform work or found alignment within specification despite obvious tire slant.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda issued TSB 08-001 (08-001) and Acura Service Bulletin 05-076 (January 19, 2007) acknowledging the defect. However, Honda did not issue a recall. Dealers often denied warranty coverage, claiming owner responsibility or tire-company issue. Honda regional service managers refused payment for TSB repairs in some cases. Service bulletin was not widely publicized to owners.
Synthesized from 29 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had tires 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 tires problem on the 2006 Honda Civic?
It's a meaningful issue. 29 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $150.
At what mileage does the tires typically fail?
Across the 21 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most tires failures cluster between 12,500 and 47,000 miles, with the median around 21,237. A quarter of owners report trouble before 12,500; a quarter make it past 47,000. 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 $150 for tires 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 tires?
No active recalls currently cover tires 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.