NHTSA Complaint #10475930 — 2007 HONDA CIVIC

I PURCHASED A SLIGHTLY USED CIVIC FROM A DEALER IN JANUARY OF 2009 AND BEGAN TO DRIVE IT ON ICY ROADS IN ONTARIO WINTER. MY WIFE WHO USUALLY DRIVES THE CAR COMPLAINED SHE WAS SCARED TO DRIVE IT IF THERE WAS ANY ICE ON THE ROAD SURFACE BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD SUDDENLY SHIFT POSITION SIDEWAYS IN THE LANE. I FOUND THE REAR TIRES WORN OUT VERY FAST ON THE INSIDE OF BOTH WHEELS. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT HONDA HAD ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO REPLACE THE REAR UPPER STRUTS WITH A LONGER UNIT. THE DEALER DID NOT DISCLOSE THIS INFORMATION WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR BUT AFTER I BROUGHT IT UP VOLUNTEERED TO REPLACE THEM AND NEGOTIATED WITH ME FOR HALF THE REPLACEMENT COST OF THE TIRES. I THOUGHT THIS WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE NEXT SET OF REAR TIRES ALSO WORE PREMATURELY ON THE INSIDE IN ABOUT 25000 MILES. WHEN I CALLED THE HONDA DEALER HE TOLD ME I NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT. I PAID FOR AN ALIGNMENT AT AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE AND WAS TOLD THE REAL WHEELS COULD NOT B ADJUSTED TO CORRECT THE NEGATIVE CAMBER. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME THAT HONDA DID NOT RECOGNIZE THIS DEFECT AND THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER ANY REMEDY. HE DID A FREE REALIGNMENT FOR ME WITH DIFFICULTY AND SAID TO ROTATE MY TIRES MORE OFTEN. I TRIED THAT AND MY NEXT SET OF TIRES WORE OUT ON THE INSIDE JUST THE SAME. THE DEALER DID SAY THERE WAS AN AFTERMARKET PART THAT MAY CORRECT THE PROBLEM BUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE INSTALLATION ($600). I HAVE ABOUT 180000 KILOMETERS ON THE VEHICLE.THE VEHICLE MAKES REAR NOISE AND THE VIBRATION CANNOT BE GOOD FOR THE VEHICLE. THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR