NHTSA Complaint #11301789 — 2008 HONDA CIVIC

MY HONDA CIVIC EXPERIENCED SEVERE REAR TIRE WEAR ON THE INSIDE EDGES ABOUT 10 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE (AS A NEW VEHICLE). IN OCTOBER 2009, THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH REAR UPPER CONTROL ARMS AS DESCRIBED IN HONDA SERVICE BULLETIN 08-001, WHICH HAS SINCE BEEN REPLACED BY SB 13-047 (ATTACHED). THE ARM REPLACEMENT WAS INTENDED TO RETURN THE TIRE CAMBER ANGLE TO ZERO (SEE ALIGNMENT CRITERIA IN LAST PAGE OF TSB) SO THE THE WHEEL WOULD BE PERPENDICULAR TO THE ROAD, AND NO LONGER CAUSE WEAR AT THE INSIDE EDGES. AT A RECENT INSPECTION, THE TIRES WERE AGAIN FOUND TO BE WORN AT THE INSIDE EDGES: THERE WAS ABOUT 1/4 INCH OF TREAD ON THE OUTSIDE EDGE, BUT THE CORDS WERE SHOWING ON THE INSIDE EDGES. I VALIDATED THAT THE DEALER HAD ACTUALLY INSTALLED NEW CONTROL ARMS (THEY ARE MARKED WITH A "C" AS DESCRIBED IN THE BULLETIN). USING A LEVEL, I DETERMINED THAT THE TOP EDGE OF THE WHEEL WAS LEANING INWARD ABOUT 9/16" INCH, SO IT IS APPARENT THAT THE REPLACEMENT ARMS DO NOT CORRECT THE CAMBER ANGLE PROBLEM. IT IS TRUE THAT THE TIRE WEAR RATE HAS BEEN REDUCED BY THE REPLACEMENT ARMS. HOWEVER, SINCE THE INSIDE EDGE WEAR IS NOT OBVIOUS WITHOUT CRAWLING UNDER THE CAR, THIS CONDITION COULD LEAD TO TIRE FAILURE. I CORRECTED THE PROBLEM BY INSTALLING AFTERMARKET CONTROL ARMS THAT HAVE A LENGTH ADJUSTMENT, WHICH ALLOWS THE CORRECT CAMBER TO BE ACHIEVED DURING ALIGNMENT. AS SHOWN ON PAGE 1 OF THE SB, THE HONDA ARM HAS NO LENGTH ADJUSTMENT.