Honda has just requested that 400,000 of the already famous Honda Civic go through its facilities after finding a very serious defect in the wheel bolts.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there is a possibility that the wheels could come loose while the car is in motion, and we wouldn’t even want to imagine how that could end…
So, starting on December 8, 2025, the company will begin notifying affected owners to visit dealerships or authorized workshops to replace the wheels. We’ll tell you everything below!
Safety risk
The problem affects vehicles equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels. It is estimated that around 400,000 vehicles have these wheels installed.
And according to the NHTSA, the bolts do not properly secure the wheel to the hub, allowing them to gradually loosen… until they completely detach. Obviously, no one wants to be driving down the road and have a wheel decide to go its own way; it doesn’t take much imagination to know how dangerous that can be.
“The defect originates from a design failure that compromises the structural attachment of the assembly.”
Which models are affected
The recall affects only Civics manufactured between 2016 and 2021 that have those 18-inch wheels. In total, 406,290 vehicles are part of this recall, which, by the way, is one of the largest Honda has launched in recent years.
So, if you have a Civic and are not sure whether your car might be affected, you can check it on Honda’s official website or on the NHTSA portal, using campaign numbers 25E071 and MMZ.
A difficult year for Honda
The automotive world is facing more and more recalls, and it also has to do with the fact that cars are becoming more modern (they are practically computers).
So far in 2025, the Japanese brand has already had to recall nearly one million vehicles for different reasons. First, 750,000 units (including Accord, CR-V, Fit, HR-V, Odyssey, and Pilot) due to problems with airbag sensors.
Then another 250,000 vehicles were added due to brake defects, affecting models like the Honda Pilot (2023–2025) and the Acura TLX and MDX.
And of course, since Japanese vehicles are known for being reliable, this news has shaken the industry a bit. We know that Honda takes the safety of its drivers very seriously, but the reality is that nearly one million vehicles have been affected for one reason or another.
What owners should do
The first thing is to stay calm, and if you notice that a wheel is coming loose, go to the workshop immediately. Honda will start contacting its customers beginning on December 8, and the process will be as simple as going to your official dealership to have the wheels completely replaced.
Of course, the inspection will be free for customers, and if you have any questions, you can call 1-888-234-2138 (Honda customer service) or check the list of affected vehicles on the NHTSA website.
“The Civic remains a benchmark, but these failures test Honda’s credibility in its most emblematic model.”
Caution
Honda Civics have a problem, and it’s not something to take lightly. If you have one of these vehicles, the best thing you can do is wait for the letter and schedule your appointment immediately to fix the issue.
Honda has acted quickly and transparently with this recall, but it is up to the users to take their vehicles in as soon as possible to have them repaired.