DETROIT, MI. (Pain In The Pass) >> Honda Motor Company has issued an urgent recall affecting more than 406,000 Civics in the U.S. due to a potentially dangerous defect that could increase the risk of crashes, injuries, or death.
The recall, announced on Friday October 31 through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), involves Honda Civic models spanning six model years.
The problem involves wheels that could come loose and even detach from the vehicle. While no injuries or accidents have been reported so far, the company warned that loose or missing lug seat inserts could cause the wheel nuts to loosen over time, potentially leading to wheel separation during use.
The recall underscores how a small manufacturing error can have large-scale safety and financial consequences — especially when it affects one of the most popular compact cars in the U.S. market.
Here are the details of the recall, according to NHTSA:
Recall details:
Model years affected: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
Number of vehicles recalled: 406,290
Component involved: 18-inch alloy wheels
Reason for recall: Missing or improperly installed steel lug seat inserts that may cause wheel nuts to loosen and wheels to detach from the vehicle
Where the cars were sold: U.S. Honda dealerships nationwide
Manufacturer of the affected part: Wheel supplier factory in Italy (now closed)
What consumers should do: Owners will be notified by mail and can visit their local Honda dealer for inspection and free replacement wheels.
According to the recall notice, the defect originated when a factory worker at the wheel supplier’s facility in Italy moved a safety fence that separated finished wheels from unfinished ones, according to a safety recall report. Some unfinished wheels — missing the crucial press-fitted lug seat inserts — were mistakenly shipped as completed products and distributed across several markets.
Although manufacturers can make every effort to notify affected customers about recalls, it’s not always possible. So, if you want to check if your vehicle has an active recall, sometimes you need to do it yourself. Checking for a new or old recalls on your vehicle is easier than you think. Enter your vehicles VIN number at NHTSA Recall Site or CheckTopProtect.org to see if your vehicle has a open recall.
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