Service bulletin - For any TPMS-related warranty repairs, all recorded DTCs must now be entered into the warranty claim. Make sure your repair order includes those DTCs.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2009 Honda Civic tires problems
moderate 18 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $150 · see tires across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$150
What stands out
Among the 13 model years of Honda Civic in our records for tires problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA tires complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 12 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
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.
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
Rear-tire cupping and premature wear dominate the complaints. Multiple owners describe rear tires becoming bald or severely cupped (with metal wires showing) between 11,000 and 25,000 miles—sometimes even within 5,000–15,000 miles of a fresh set of tires. The wear pattern is often diagonal or inside-edge concentrated. This triggers humming, thumping, and vibration at low speeds, and causes dangerous hydroplaning at highway speeds in wet conditions.
Owners rotated tires as recommended and had alignment work done, yet the problem persisted. Honda dealerships consistently denied any defect existed, claimed no other complaints were on file, and attributed the wear to normal driving or road conditions. One tire-shop employee mentioned a known "wedge" modification to prevent the wear, but it's not recalled.
A second major issue involves valve-stem defects. Honda issued a July 2009 service bulletin warning against standard (long-handle) air chucks because they can cause valve-stem explosions. The contradiction: Honda's own brochure tells drivers to fill tires at dealerships or gas stations, where standard chucks are the only option available. One owner's valve stem exploded during a routine pressure check; Honda and the dealership refused warranty repair and charged $175 for diagnosis.
Additional reports describe tire separation and belt failure as early as 12,000–24,000 miles, repeated punctures requiring multiple patches, and one rim destroyed by a small road obstacle at 20,000 miles. One owner replaced tires four times by 58,000 miles despite proper maintenance.
Same Honda Civic tires reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Rapid/Excessive Rear Tire Wear (Cupping and Wear Patterns)
Owners consistently report premature wear concentrated on rear tires, including cupping (scalloped edges), diagonal wear patterns, inside-edge wear, and smooth treads. Multiple complaints describe rear tires becoming bald or severely worn within 5,000–15,000 miles of installation, well before normal tire life.
When: Typically between 11,890 and 25,148 miles on vehicle; often observed during first rotation or service after purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Humming or thumping noise from rear tires at low speeds; Severe cupping in rear tire tread (scalloped pattern); Diagonal wear pattern on rear tires; Wear concentrated on inside edge of rear tires; Rear tires worn completely smooth (to 2/32 or less tread depth); Vehicle vibration tied to cupped rear tires; Loss of traction in wet conditions; hydroplaning at highway speeds; Rear-end loss of traction on wet roads
Repairs/costs cited: Owners replaced all four tires multiple times (some four times on single vehicle at 58,000 miles); dealer-performed alignments did not resolve issue; tire shops noted this is a known issue; one shop mentioned a 'wedge' available to prevent the wear but not covered by recall
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda dealerships refused to acknowledge defect, claimed no other complaints on file, attributed wear to 'normal driving' or road conditions despite alignment checks showing some out-of-spec camber angles; TSBs existed for 2007–2008 Civics but dealers claimed none for 2009 models; one tire service bulletin (July 2009) addressed shallow air-chuck usage only
Tire Valve Stem Defects and Valve Stem Explosions
Owners report valve stems exploding or failing when air is added, posing safety risk. Honda issued a July 2009 service bulletin warning against using standard (long-handle) air chucks due to explosion risk, yet still requires drivers to add air at gas stations where only standard chucks are available, creating an unresolved contradiction.
When: Approximately 6–7 months after purchase (early 2010); triggered when tire pressure is checked and air chuck is applied
Symptoms owners cite: Valve stem explosion when air chuck is applied during tire-pressure check; Valve stem failure risk from impact (rock or debris striking stem); TPMS light coming on repeatedly despite normal driving
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer and Honda refused to repair at no charge; one owner charged $175 for front-end analysis after valve stem incident; replacement cost not explicitly stated
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda issued July 2009 service bulletin restricting use to shallow air chuck only and prohibiting standard long-handle chucks; Honda and dealership refused warranty coverage, claiming operator error despite use of proper shallow chuck; Honda's own brochure instructs drivers to fill tires at dealerships or gas stations where standard long-handle chucks are standard equipment
Severe Tire Pulling and Uncontrolled Steering
Owner reports severe, recurrent pulling requiring three complete tire replacements in 16,000 miles and 6 months; despite multiple dealer visits, formal case with American Honda, and multiple letters to CEO, root cause was never identified.
When: Within 6 months and 16,000 miles of purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Severe and recurrent vehicle pulling; Safety concern; pulling could lead to accident; Unable to be resolved despite multiple dealer interventions
Repairs/costs cited: Three complete tire replacements in 16,000 miles; exact cost not stated
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Multiple dealer visits, district parts and service manager involvement, case manager supervisor consultation, formal case opened with American Honda, and two letters sent to CEO Tetsuo Iwamura; root cause never identified; described as 'stonewalling' by owner
Tire Separation and Belt Failure
Owners report tire separation and broken/slipped belts at very low mileage, creating immediate blowout risk. One owner had tire belt failure at 12,000 miles; another had tires separating at 24,000 miles despite proper maintenance.
When: 12,000–24,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Tire separation during normal driving; Belt breakage or slipping visible on inspection; Blowout risk; unsafe to drive
Repairs/costs cited: Tire replacement required; one dealer blamed driver impact with hard object (unsubstantiated)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer attributed belt failure to driver striking hard object; no recall or TSB mentioned
Foreign Object Embedded During Tire Manufacture
Owner received Continental tire with a wire (~5 inches long, 0.125 inches diameter) embedded in the sidewall during manufacture, causing a sidewall slice and flat tire. Continental investigated, confirmed manufacturing defect, and provided full refund.
When: Within 200 miles of purchase (tire purchased 12/12/13, failed 12/17/13)
Symptoms owners cite: TPMS light illumination due to flat tire; Wire embedded in tire sidewall with corresponding slice in sidewall; Air loss from sidewall defect
Repairs/costs cited: Tire replaced; Continental issued full refund after investigation
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Continental (tire manufacturer, not Honda) investigated and confirmed manufacturing defect; full refund issued; tire returned for analysis
Repeated Tire Punctures and Slow Leaks
Owner with 45,244 miles reports multiple punctures requiring patches on rear tires within a short timeframe (May and August 2014), with one tire needing a second patch 6 months later. TPMS light activated repeatedly; owner notes another 2009 Civic owner at same gas station with identical issue.
When: May 2014 and August 2014 at ~45,244 miles total
Symptoms owners cite: TPMS light activation multiple times; Repeated slow leaks requiring patches on rear tires; Tire losing pressure (27 psi instead of 32 psi); Identical issue observed on another 2009 Civic owner at same location
Repairs/costs cited: Two patches applied to rear tires in August; one tire had been patched 6 months prior; exact cost not stated but owner notes it is 'getting really expensive'
Rim Damage from Low Tire Incidents
At 20,000 miles, owner encountered small road obstacle at 65 mph; rear driver-side tire became completely flat and rim was severely damaged with a 3–4 inch gash across it, requiring rim replacement.
When: 20,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Complete tire failure after encountering small road obstacle; Severe rim damage (3–4 inch gash)
Repairs/costs cited: Rim replacement required
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
I bought a set of continental procontact tires 205/55/16 for a Honda civic. On 12-12-13 and drove to harrisonburg va about 200 miles on 12-17-13. That night the tire pressure indicator lit up since it was late we waited until morning to check the tire at which time it was flat. Embedded in the tire was a wire going from near the wheel along the sidewall toward the tread. It was about 5 inches…
Had tires trouble with your 2009 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 2009 Honda Civic?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 18 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $150 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the tires typically fail?
Across the 16 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most tires failures cluster between 12,000 and 25,000 miles, with the median around 20,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 12,000; a quarter make it past 25,000. 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/2009/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.