NHTSA Complaint #10381623 — 2007 HONDA CIVIC

UNSAFE HANDLING. THE REAR OF THE CAR ABNORMALLY "DARTS" LATERALLY WHEN GOING OVER CONCRETE EXPANSION JOINTS, POTHOLES OR SIMILAR ROAD IMPERFECTIONS. THIS MOMENTARY "DARTING" - OR INABILITY OF THE REAR SUSPENSION TO TRACK CORRECTLY - IS MORE PRONOUNCED WHEN CORNERING, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I EXPERIENCED A SPIN-OUT (FORTUNATELY, NO COLLISION) ON A WET ROAD AT 45-50MPH DUE TO OVERCORRECTION FOR THIS "DARTING" CONDITION. IN CONJUNCTION WITH POOR REAR SUSPENSION HANDLING, ACCELERATED AND EXCESSIVE INNER REAR TIRE WEAR IS EXPERIENCED. EFFECTIVELY SHORTENING THE LIFESPAN OF A 35,000 TO 50,000 MILE TIRE BY AT LEAST HALF, IF NOT MORE. IT IS EVEN MORE EXCESSIVE AND ACCELERATED IF THE TIRES ARE NOT ROTATED. AFTER MY SPIN-OUT, I STARTED RESEARCHING 2007 CIVIC HANDLING / TIRE-WEAR ON-LINE AND IT APPEARS MANY, MANY 2006-2007 CIVIC OWNERS HAVE ONE OR BOTH OF THESE CONDITIONS AND THAT HONDA IS AWARE, BUT NOT WILLING TO RECALL THIS UNSAFE REAR UPPER CONTROL ARM DESIGN/MANUFACTURING FLAW. *TR