NHTSA Complaint #10468420 — 2007 HONDA CIVIC

EXCESSIVE REAR TIRE NOISE AND WEAR. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON MY REAR UPPER CONTROL ARMS - THEY ARE NOT MARKED WITH A "C". (BUT SEE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH I WAS INFORMED, BELOW.) I AM HAVING THE NEW CONTROL ARMS INSTALLED ON 9/2/12. (I HAD NEW REAR TIRES PUT ON, AND AN ALIGNMENT PERFORMED, 8/28/12.) I SPENT APPROXIMATELY $500 ON THE TIRES/ALIGNMENT. THE ESTIMATE FOR THE NEW CONTROL ARMS IS APPROXIMATELY $350. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY I HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR. I'VE NOTICED THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT EXCESSIVE REAR TIRE NOISE AND WEAR (AND SUBSEQUENT NEED FOR REAR UPPER CONTROL ARM REPLACEMENT) ON HONDA CIVICS OF THIS VINTAGE (2007). WHY IS THIS ONLY BEING TREATED AS A "SERVICE BULLETIN" RATHER THAN A "RECALL". BY THE WAY, I WOULDN'T HAVE EVEN KNOWN ABOUT THE PROBLEM IF MY HUSBAND WASN'T CONCERNED THAT THE NOISE WAS A WHEEL BEARING THAT WAS FAILING. I TOOK IT TO HONDA TO HAVE THEM CHECK OUT THE WHEEL BEARING AND THEY BLAMED THE NOISE ON A BROKEN TIRE BELT. WHEN I GOT HOME FROM THE DEALER I NOTICED THE INFORMATION ON MY INVOICE ABOUT THE "SERVICE BULLETIN". THEY HADN'T EVEN MENTIONED IT TO ME THEMSELVES! I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL HONDA DRIVER FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 YEARS. AS A RESULT OF THIS ISSUE, PLUS OTHER THINGS ABOUT THE CIVIC I'M JUST NOT CRAZY ABOUT, I WILL NEVER AGAIN BUY A HONDA PRODUCT! *TR