We bought this car new from the dealer in '07. We have been putting 3 to 4 sets of tires on this car per year, for the last five years, that is not acceptable....it runs in to money and is very unsafe in the winter time. While checking on the internet, I found alot of other people with the same problem. We all feel this should be a recall. Even replacing the rear upper control arms does not…
2007 Honda Civic suspension problems
moderate 240 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
240
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
4crashes
6injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 240 suspension complaints filed for the 2007 Honda Civic, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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
Of the 14 model years of Honda Civic we track for suspension problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 240.
Owners have filed 240 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.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: A 2007 Honda Civic can suffer from a rear suspension defect that wears rear tires rapidly and unevenly, creating noise and handling problems; the issue is well-documented in Service Bulletin 08-001 but dealers often don't disclose it unless specifically asked, and the fix (control arm replacement) does not always prevent recurrence.
Owners of 2006–2007 Honda Civics describe a widespread rear suspension defect centered on the rear upper control arms. The problem manifests as rapid, uneven tire wear—particularly on the inner edge of rear tires—accompanied by excessive noise (described as roaring, humming, or howling) and vibration, especially at highway speeds. Tire wear can be severe; owners report tires becoming bald or showing cords at mileage as low as 12,000–25,000 miles on tires rated for 60,000–75,000 miles. The wear pattern is difficult to detect visually without close inspection, as damage concentrates on the innermost tire edge. Owners also report handling problems: the rear end shifts sideways unpredictably, particularly on ice or wet roads, sometimes causing loss of control.
Honda issued Service Bulletin 08-001 in February 2008 addressing rear upper control arm replacement, along with a pro-rata tire reimbursement program for vehicles under 25,000 miles. However, dealers often withheld this information from customers. Owners report being blamed for aggressive driving, poor maintenance, or misalignment before learning of the defect through online research. Control arm replacement occasionally has not solved the problem permanently; some owners report tire wear recurrence within 15,000–25,000 miles of repair. The defect creates a financial burden: owners cite costs of $500–$1,400 for repeated tire replacements, alignments, and control arm labor, plus frustration over warranty limitations and dealer reluctance to acknowledge or proactively address the known issue.
Same Honda Civic suspension reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Rear upper control arm defect causing uneven tire wear
Rear upper control arms installed from the factory are out of specification or improperly designed, causing negative camber of the rear wheels. This induces rapid, uneven wear on the inner edge of rear tires.
When: Typically first noticed between 12,000–25,000 miles; some owners report cupping or bald spots visible as early as 5,000–10,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Uneven, accelerated wear on inner edge of rear tires; Cupping or feathering of rear tire tread; Loud roaring, humming, or howling noise from rear at highway speeds; Vibration or shimmy at 50–60+ mph; Flat spots developing on tires
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers replace rear upper control arm kit (part number 04523-SNA-A01 or similar) and perform 4-wheel alignment. Some owners cite labor costs of $150–$300+ per visit. Pro-rata tire reimbursement available for vehicles under 25,000 miles at time of repair per TSB 08-001.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda Service Bulletin 08-001 (issued February 2008, revised April 2008 and February 2009) directs dealers to replace rear upper control arm kit at no charge and offers pro-rata tire reimbursement for wear under 25k miles. Control arms were redesigned in later model years, but some owners report the redesigned parts do not eliminate the problem entirely.
Repeated tire wear after control arm repair
Even after rear upper control arms are replaced and alignment performed, some vehicles continue to exhibit premature or recurrent tire wear within 15,000–25,000 miles.
When: Occurs 10,000–25,000 miles after control arm replacement and alignment
Symptoms owners cite: Cupping or uneven wear resuming on replacement tires; Loud tire noise returning; Vibration returning to rear end
Repairs/costs cited: Repeated tire replacement required. Some dealers recommend more frequent tire rotation, but owners report this has not resolved recurrence.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers typically attribute recurrence to alignment or tire rotation issues, shifting responsibility to the owner. No extended correction program documented in narratives.
Unstable handling and loss of control
The rear suspension geometry problem causes the rear end to shift or 'dart' laterally when encountering road imperfections or during cornering, particularly on wet or icy surfaces. Owners report loss of vehicle control and near-spin-out incidents.
When: Can occur at any mileage; one owner reported spin-out at 45–50 mph on wet road after discovering tire/suspension issue
Symptoms owners cite: Rear end moves side-to-side unpredictably in adverse weather or at highway speed; Vehicle fishtailing or darts laterally over road imperfections; Loss of control or near-loss of control on wet/icy roads; Difficulty maintaining lane position
Repairs/costs cited: Control arm replacement intended to address, but owners report handling issues can persist despite repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service Bulletin 08-001 addresses rear suspension geometry, implying the design is the root cause rather than a user-maintenance issue.
Tire blowouts and catastrophic failures
Severely cupped and uneven-wear tires become unsafe; owners report blowouts and tread separation at highway speeds. In one case, a rear tire blew out at 65 mph, causing a collision.
When: Can occur when tire wear reaches advanced stages; reported at 8,300–40,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Tire blowout while driving at highway speed; Tread separation or delamination of tire body; Sudden loss of tire pressure and vehicle control
Repairs/costs cited: Tire replacement required; damaged tire typically disposed of. Collision damage may require body shop repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None specific to blowout prevention; control arm design remains unchanged on affected model years.
Dealer non-disclosure and misattribution of problem
Dealers often fail to proactively inform customers of the Service Bulletin, misattribute the problem to customer driving habits or tire defects, or withhold the bulletin information to avoid warranty work.
When: Throughout vehicle ownership, particularly at service visits after 12,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Service advisor blames aggressive driving or poor maintenance for tire wear; Dealer suggests customer is at fault for not rotating tires or performing maintenance; Dealer claims to have no knowledge of Service Bulletin 08-001 despite it being issued in 2008; Dealer charges customer for tire replacement before acknowledging control arm defect
Repairs/costs cited: Owners often discover the bulletin through internet research and must return to dealer with printed bulletin to receive warranty repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service Bulletin 08-001 issued to dealers only; consumers not notified by mail or recall notice. Honda has not mandated proactive dealer notification to customers.
Synthesized from 240 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
I purchased car from Honda dealership in may 2008; a Honda service bulletin regarding problem with rear upper control arms was issued in february 2008. Therefore, the dealership knew of the problem, but did not fix it or inform me prior to purchasing vehicle. Around february 2010, I started experiencing severe problems with the handling of my car. It vibrated and shook aggressively at highway…
Excessive and premature rear tire wear due to defective rear upper control arms. *tr
Had suspension trouble with your 2007 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 2007 Honda Civic?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 240 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 196 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 20,000 and 57,000 miles, with the median around 33,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 20,000; a quarter make it past 57,000. 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/2007/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.