New Honda Civic Recall Features Faulty Wheels
» Posted January 5, 2026 • Resources | Share This Post
Honda is calling back more than 400,000 Civics over a serious safety issue.
The sedans’ alloy wheels could detach, Honda recently told U.S. auto safety regulators. That is because steel lug seat inserts were not pressed into the nut-seating surface of the wheels, according to Honda.
“During normal vehicle operation, the seating surface may deform, which can cause the wheel nut to loosen and detach,” the company said in a notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “This could result in the wheel separating from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.”
The recall covers certain Honda Civics from model years 2016 to 2021. The company planned to notify owners of recalled vehicles by early December. Honda said it would ask owners to bring their cars to authorized service providers for inspection and possible replacement of wheels and front and rear hubs.
Honda became aware of the problem in July 2024, thanks to a report out of Japan regarding missing lug seat inserts in a single vehicle. The automaker traced the problem to a supplier that had incorrectly marked wheel production as complete.
“At the supplier’s factory in Italy, a separation fence used to separate finished products from unfinished products was removed during the installation of new equipment,” Honda said in the NHTSA notice. “As a result, some unfinished products were mistakenly placed in the finished product storage area and shipped, skipping the seat press-fitting and final inspection process.”
Honda Drivers: Know Your California Lemon Law Rights
This is far from the only safety issue facing Honda and people who drive its cars. The company, like the world’s other largest automakers, recalls millions of vehicles every year. The moves often come in response to defects that pose significant safety hazards.
Honda recently said it is recalling some 70,000 Acura ILX vehicles because of brake problems, for instance. The move came about six months after Honda announced that it was calling back 184,000 Pilot sport utility vehicles whose brake pedals could come loose.
The company is also at the center of a federal investigation into engine failure risks in some 1.4 million vehicles. NHTSA is reviewing more than 400 reports of connecting-rod bearing defects in Honda and Acura vehicles.
Fortunately, Honda owners in California have some important rights and protections under the state’s lemon law. The law forces car manufacturers to perform certain repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. It also requires the companies to buy back cars that they cannot or will not fix.
An auto manufacturer can offer to replace the vehicle instead, but it is up to the owner to decide whether to accept or reject this alternative arrangement.
There is no specific number of repair requests or attempts that must happen before the buy-back or replace requirement kicks in. An experienced California lemon law attorney can help you understand your rights and explore your options.
Talk with a California Lemon Law Attorney
If you have been stuck with a defective or malfunctioning vehicle, a California lemon law attorney at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help you fight back.
Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a California lemon law attorney.
