SERVICE BULLETIN - DURING ASSEMBLY, SOME WHEEL SPEED SENSORS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED AND DO NOT SEAL THE HUB ASSEMBLY.WATER MAY ENTER THE HUB ASSEMBLY AND DAMAGE THE WHEEL BEARING. IN AREAS WHERE ROAD SALT IS USED, THE WHEEL BEARINGS MAY CORRODE, WHICH MAY CAUSE THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE AND FALL OFF.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Honda Civic wheels problems
severe 23 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $400 · see wheels across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
23
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$400
2crashes
What stands out
Of the 15 model years of Honda Civic we track for wheels problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 23.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering wheels 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.
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
Owners report wheel bearing failures across multiple positions (front driver side, rear) starting at around 6,890 miles and continuing through 60,000 miles, typically announced by clicking or thumping noise and vibration above 40 mph. Honda issued a recall in August 2007 for rear wheel bearing O-ring defects, but several owners state they never received notice or that dealers failed to perform the work even after recall notices arrived. One owner's recall was supposedly completed in October 2008 but left no parts documentation, and the symptoms persisted.
Tire wear is relentlessly uneven—zebra-stripe patterns, inside-out wear, and complete tread burnthrough to wire mesh—forcing owners into frequent rebalancing and alignment appointments despite regular maintenance. One owner cycled through three tire sets by 94,000 miles and paid $1,100 for control arm replacement, which mechanics linked to the accelerated wear. Honda acknowledged a defective rear upper control arm and offered a warranty extension, but some owners discovered the problem only after that warranty had expired and Honda refused to honor the claim.
Blowouts and sidewall splitting occur at highway speed, with owners reporting burnt rubber smell and smoke. One Goodyear Viva 2 tire failed at the sidewall during highway driving within a year of purchase; Michelin Defender tires developed sidewall splits that the tire company acknowledged as defective but refused to address.
Wheel hubs wobble or fail outright, and one wheel cover separated and fell off during normal driving, causing undercarriage damage.
Same Honda Civic wheels reports on nearby years: 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Wheel Bearing Failure
Wheel bearings fail, typically on front driver side or rear, causing noise, vibration, and in some cases wobbling wheel hubs that can create unsafe driving conditions.
When: Between 6,890 and 60,000 miles; failures reported as early as 2007 and as recently as 2017
Symptoms owners cite: clicking or thumping noise; vibration at highway speeds (40+ mph); wheel hub wobbling; loud roaring noise from tire
Repairs/costs cited: Driver side front wheel bearing and drive shaft replacement: $500. Dealer replacement of wheel hub covered under recall in some cases; some owners reported dealerships denied coverage based on prior unrelated repairs.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda issued a recall (NHTSA 07V399000) in August 2007 related to wheel bearing O-ring defect affecting rear wheel bearings. Recall notice for ABS rear wheel sensor O-ring inspection also issued. Some owners report Honda warranty extension expired before defect was identified; Honda declined post-expiration warranty claim (case 05759414).
Premature and Uneven Tire Wear
Tires wear unevenly or prematurely, often on the inside edge, creating safety concerns and excessive noise. Owners report needing frequent rebalancing and alignment despite regular maintenance.
When: Observed between 6,000 and 94,000 miles; one owner wore through 3 tire sets by 94,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: uneven tread wear (zebra stripe pattern); interior tread wear-through to wire mesh; roaring noise from tires; excessive vibration; tires worn inside-to-outside
Repairs/costs cited: Tire replacement costs $150–$210 per service visit (including rotation, balance, alignment). One independent garage estimated control arm replacement at $1,100 and recommended new tires plus realignment. Tire warranty does not cover uneven wear.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda acknowledged rear upper control arm defect in 2006 Civic with warranty extension, but extension expired before some owners were informed of the issue. Honda declined to cover repair costs for owners presenting claims after warranty expiration.
Tire Blowout and Sidewall Failure
Tires experience blowouts and sidewall splitting at highway speeds, creating immediate safety hazards. One Goodyear Viva 2 tire blew out on the side wall at 70 mph; Michelin Defender tires developing sidewall splits.
When: Goodyear Viva 2 blowout at approximately 12 months of ownership (10/2014–10/2015); Michelin tire splitting ongoing
Symptoms owners cite: loud noise before blowout; smoke and burnt rubber smell; inability to accelerate; sidewall splitting without flat development; vibration preceding failure
Repairs/costs cited: Goodyear Viva 2 replacement at prorated rate through Walmart road hazard coverage; Michelin refused to honor defect claim or issue recall.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Goodyear replaced tire under road hazard warranty at Viva 2 discontinued; substituted with Viva 3. Michelin disputed defect claim and declined recall action.
Wheel Hub Failure
Wheel hub assembly fails, causing wobbling and unstable wheel movement that can precipitate loss of control at highway speeds.
When: At 6,890 miles; also reported in 2010
Symptoms owners cite: thumping and shaking from rear; wheel wobbling visibly; wheel hub coming loose from assembly
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced wheel hub. One owner needed right front wheel bearing replacement after mechanic identified wobbling hub.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer identified manufacturing defect as probable cause but no recall action documented in these narratives.
Wheel Imbalance from Rim Contamination
Rims accumulate ice, mud, and dirt that cause persistent imbalance and vibration, requiring frequent cleaning to maintain drivability.
When: Ongoing, particularly problematic in winter conditions
Symptoms owners cite: vibration and imbalance; inability to drive over 30 mph in winter; constant need for tire cleaning and rebalancing
Repairs/costs cited: Requires owner maintenance; no repair cost noted beyond regular rebalancing service.
Wheel Rim Structural Failure
Wheels crack or break under normal driving conditions; one new vehicle cracked rim from pothole impact; another wheel cover fell off.
When: One failure at 1 month of ownership; wheel cover loss during normal driving
Symptoms owners cite: rim cracking from pothole impact; wheel cover separation; tire flattening after rim damage
Repairs/costs cited: Rim and tire replacement: $600 for one-month-old vehicle. Wheel cover loss caused undercarriage and front bumper damage.
Synthesized from 23 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had wheels 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 wheels problem on the 2006 Honda Civic?
It's a meaningful issue. 23 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $400.
At what mileage does the wheels typically fail?
Across the 18 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most wheels failures cluster between 30,000 and 130,000 miles, with the median around 79,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 30,000; a quarter make it past 130,000. 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 $400 for wheels 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 wheels?
No active recalls currently cover wheels 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.