2009 Honda Civic Suspension Problems

Which parts fail

• Rear
  8
• Front
  2
• Front › Macpherson strut
  1
• Front › Control arm › Lower arm
  1

Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  1244%
• 25k–50k
  933%
• 50k–75k
  14%
• 75k–100k
  27%
• 100k–150k
  27%
• 150k+
  14%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2009 Honda Civic owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 2009 Honda Civic. The contact stated that on several occasions while making left or right turns, there was an abnormal clicking and clacking sound coming from the front of the vehicle and the steering column. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the lower control arm needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 220,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Honda Civic. While driving 45 MPH, a clicking and popping noise emitted from under the hood. The failure recurred several times without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but the technician was unable to diagnose the failure. In addition, the vehicle started making a squeaking sound when making a turn. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the front end suspension on both the passenger and driver sides of the vehicle was defective. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 5,971.

The rear lower control arm snapped while driving straight on the highway at approximately 65 MPH. This could have caused a significant accident, and upon investigation I realize that this is what has been causing significant tire wear on my car over the years as well as shaking and loud buzzing while driving at higher speeds. The tow truck driver had a significant amount of difficulty loading and unloading the car due to the rear bumper coming within inches of hitting the ground because it was no longer being supported by the control arm. This is a serious safety hazard.

Tl contact owns a 2009 Honda Civic. While driving 10 MPH, the contact struck another vehicle on the driver's side. She does not know how the front driver's side tire detached from her vehicle after striking the other vehicle from a right angle. The entire front end came off of the contact's vehicle and it was unable to be driven. The vehicle was towed from the scene and a police report was filed. There were no injuries. The dealer advised her to have the vehicle towed to them so it can be repaired. The failure mileage was 45.

Defective rear upper control arms of our 2009 Honda Civic caused the tires to cup severely, making it hard to handle the car, especially on wet roads. All four tires needed to be replaced. It is such a common problem that, without even looking at the car, American Honda agreed to pay for two of the tires and the dealership agreed to pay for one, after we called complaining of the problem. They did not replace the control arms however, as there is no better version to replace them with. Because of that, the problem is not solved. The new tires will also wear unevenly. Unless we were to put new tires on every single year, if not sooner, we will be driving on dangerous tires. What happens when the warranty is up? Will drivers pay for four new tires per year, or be unsafe on the road because they can't afford to pay for Honda's defect? The sad thing is we didn't learn the first time. …

2008 Civic coupe lx with Bridgestone el 400 tires began shaking and vibrating at 13,000 miles. Regular maintenance and tire rotations are on record, yet zimmerman Honda in rock island, il claims that the uneven tire wear and subsequent second set of tires to be replaced are my fault and will be at my expense. I did a little research and discovered that the '06 and '07 civics have a service bulletin for the "c" arm leading to uneven tire wear. Obviously the problem was never fixed during the assembly for the newer models of Honda civics. Car is now at 27,000 miles, needing new tire again!!!!! Cost so far is $600 and I am very unhappy with Honda and its dealers. I feel as if I am getting the runaround and am made to feel as if their manufacturers defects are my fault. …

I have a 2009 Honda Civic that has 35,000 miles on it. I have taken care of my vehicle in the 1 year I have owned it. My car recently started making a loud thumping noise driven at all speeds. I brought the vehicle in to the local Honda dealership where I bought it and they first tried to tell me that my tires were wearing down and I needed an alignment. I said wait I had this same issue with my 2008 Honda and the control arm was recalled. The dealer kept saying that my tires have uneven wear and cupping. Which is the exact description of what would cause such dramatic wear is such a quick time. The dealer then said that since there has not been a recall there is nothing that they could do. My car is still under full warranty, but technically they can say the cause for the uneven wear " cupping." it sounds like a helicopter is hitting my car when I drive my new car. …

Bought 2009 Honda Civic late nov of 2010. Vehicle had aprox 28000 when purchased. Dealer installed 4 new tires (balanced) and wheel alignment. Rotated tires every 5000 miles. Owner started noticing uneven (cupping) of both rear tire aprox 10K after purchasing vehicle (vehicle mileage aprox 38000. Kept driving vehicle for an additional 5K miles, noticed 2 rear tires were balding. Took vehicle to auto shop, was informed struts and shocks were in good condition. Alignment not the problem either. Read so many blogs online about 2009 Honda Civic problem with upper control arm. By dealer not recalling upper control arm (causing abnormal tire wear on the rear of vehicle), it can cause many consumers(drivers) on the highway to be driving at risk because cupped tires or bald tires is very unsafe for any vehicle. …

On my 2009 Honda Civic that is only five months old right around 20,000 miles I noticed a vibration in the rear end. This vibration got worse quickly. At 20,560 I had the tires looked at and both tires have good tread left but have excessive cupping in a diagonal pattern the same as the 06/07 TSB. I took the car to the dealer I bought the car from. The service dept stated that there was no TSB or recall and that they could check the alignment but it was out of warranty at 12,000 miles (meaning I would be charged) and even though Honda sold me the car with these tires on it they did not produce the tires and they were not covered under any warranty. NHTSA needs to assist consumers by looking into this (numerous posting on other internet sites) before owners ignore this problem and someone is killed by the tire failure due to a problem in the rear end.

I own a 2009 Honda Civic lx-s. It now has 32,000 miles on it and the rear tires are completely bald. I did some online research and found this seems to be a common problem with Honda Civic's. Honda has a TSB about the problem but they refuse to fix the problem. The TSB says there is a problem with the rear control arms and that is what causes the excessive wear on the tires. I contacted a couple of dealers about getting my car fixed under warranty and they give you the run around and don't want to do what the TSB says they need to do. If there are this many people with the same excessive tire wear then they should issue a recall and fix the problem before a tire blows and causes a wreck and someone gets hurt. I even noticed that there is a class action lawsuit to try and force Honda do what is right and have a recall and fix the control arms.

Suspension complaints in other Civic years