Honda has issued a voluntary recall affecting approximately 406,290 Civic vehicles from model years 2016 through 2021. The reason is as concerning as it is dangerous: certain accessory wheels could potentially detach while driving, creating an immediate risk of a crash. Let’s examine what this means for Civic owners, what caused the issue, and how Honda plans to address it.
What You Need To Know
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Honda announced the recall on November 7, 2025. Safety regulators are taking this issue seriously due to the catastrophic nature of wheel detachment during operation. According to Honda’s official statement, this marks an important safety concern that requires immediate attention from affected owners.
While the recall encompasses a large number of vehicles, Honda has clarified that only about 3,276 of these Civics are equipped with the potentially faulty 18-inch aluminum alloy accessory wheels.
Owner notification letters will be mailed beginning December 8, 2025. Honda is prioritizing inspections based on manufacturing dates, with dealerships ready to perform free inspections and replacements as necessary. Concerned owners can also check if their vehicle is affected by visiting www.recalls.honda.com.
The Technical Problem And Warning Signs
Engineers have traced the root cause to a manufacturing process error by a supplier. The steel lug seat inserts in the aluminum accessory wheels may not have been properly installed (pressed) into the nut seating surface. During regular vehicle operation, the lug nut seating surface may deform, causing the wheel nuts to loosen and eventually detach.
An investigation conducted starting from 2024 pinpointed the issue to the supplier’s factory in Italy. Apparently, a separation fence used to distinguish finished products from unfinished ones was removed during the installation of the equipment. This allowed some unfinished wheels to be mistakenly placed in the finished product storage area.
The defective wheels were only produced from December 2018 to December 2019, but the safety implications are significant. Honda dealers will inspect the wheels of all recalled vehicles and replace the hubs and wheels as necessary, completely free of charge to owners. The fix is straightforward but essential to prevent potential wheel separation while driving.
Industry Impact And Consumer Response
Honda has announced that it has not received any confirmed reports of crashes or injuries related to this issue in the United States between September 24, 2015, and October 16, 2025. This is fortunate given the severity of wheel detachment while driving at speed.
The recall comes while Honda has been experiencing strong Civic sales, with the model being a staple in their lineup for over five decades. Honda dealers nationwide have begun preparing for an influx of concerned customers. Parts ordering systems have triggered shipments of replacement wheels to Honda service centers, and some dealers report extended hours to accommodate the anticipated volume of inspections.
Social media channels have also seen increased activity related to the recall, with many owners questioning whether they should continue driving their vehicles until inspections are complete. For most drivers, the recall will not impact their daily commute as the affected wheels were only installed on a small percentage of vehicles.
However, Honda encourages all owners of 2016–2021 Civics to have their vehicles inspected as soon as they receive notification.
