Honda is recalling more than 400,000 Civic models in the United States after identifying a defect in certain aluminum alloy wheels that can allow a wheel to detach while driving. The issue centers on how the wheels interface with the hub and lug nuts, raising the risk of sudden loss of control if a wheel separates at speed. The recall covers a specific group of Civic sedans and hatchbacks equipped with 18‑inch alloy wheels, and owners are being urged to schedule repairs as soon as possible.

What the alloy wheel defect involves and how the recall unfolded

At the heart of the recall is a manufacturing error in the 18‑inch aluminum alloy wheels that affects how the lug nuts seat against the wheel surface. According to a recall notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the geometry of the lug nut seating area can prevent proper clamping force, which in turn allows the wheel to loosen over time. If the condition progresses, the wheel may separate from the hub entirely, a failure mode that regulators explicitly flag as a serious crash risk. A related defect report filed on Oct 30, 2025, states that a manufacturing error may allow the wheels to detach from the vehicle and notes that the Consequence of such a failure is loss of vehicle control, with the potential for a crash and injury to occupants or nearby road users.

The scope of the campaign is significant. One analysis of the recall notes that it affects 406,290 Civic vehicles equipped with the problematic 18‑inch aluminum alloy wheels, a figure that aligns with Honda’s own defect filings and internal investigations into the wheel design. That same overview explains that the issue was first discovered on a customer’s vehicle, then confirmed through additional testing of the alloy wheel batch and its interaction with the hub and lug nuts across multiple production runs of the Honda Civic. Separate reporting describes how more than 400,000 Honda Civics were recalled after the automaker determined that the wheels may detach from the vehicle, reinforcing that the defect is not theoretical but a documented risk that triggered a formal safety action affecting roughly 400,000 units of one of Honda’s most popular models.

Which Civics are affected and what owners should watch for

While Honda has not publicly tied the defect to every Civic on the road, the recall targets a defined subset of models that share the same 18‑inch aluminum alloy wheel design. Consumer reporting on the campaign explains that Honda is recalling over 400,000 vehicles because of an issue with the Civic’s wheels, and that owners can See impacted models by checking their vehicle identification number against the official recall database. Another account notes that More than 400,000 Honda Civics were recalled after engineers found that the wheels may detach from the vehicle, underscoring that the problem is concentrated in a large but specific production group rather than the entire Civic lineup. A separate legal analysis reiterates that Honda Motor Co Ltd has acknowledged the defect in its filings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, emphasizing that the company views the risk as serious enough to warrant a broad safety campaign.

For owners, the most important step is confirming whether their car is included and then arranging the free repair. The federal safety regulator maintains an online portal where drivers can enter their VIN and see any open campaigns, including this one involving potential wheel detachment, and the recall information for the Civic alloy wheels is available through the main recalls database. Consumer coverage of the issue notes that Honda has recalled over 400,000 vehicles because of the wheel problem and that the company will inspect and, if necessary, replace the affected wheels at no cost to the owner, a point echoed in reports that Honda will address the wheels at no cost as part of the safety action. Additional reporting from Nov 12, 2025, explains that Honda has issued a safety recall because of an accessory wheel issue on certain Honda Civic models, warning that the Wheels may detach while driving and that owners should respond promptly to recall notices sent by Honda.

Timeline, risk level, and what comes next for Honda Civic drivers

The recall unfolded over several weeks as regulators and the automaker moved from initial defect reports to a full campaign. Earlier in the month, a defect report dated Oct 30, 2025, outlined that a manufacturing error may allow the wheels to detach from the vehicle and specified that Wheel detachment can cause a loss of control, a sequence that set the stage for the broader safety action documented in the Oct 30, 2025 filing. Public reporting followed quickly, with coverage on Nov 7, 2025, explaining that Honda recalls over 400,000 vehicles and detailing how the alloy wheel issue affects the Civic with the wheel issue, and additional stories on Nov 8, 2025, and Nov 12, 2025, describing how More than 400,000 Honda Civics were recalled and how the Honda Civic safety recall warns that Wheels may detach while driving. By Nov 19, 2025, legal and consumer advocates were summarizing the campaign as a recall of 406,290 Civic vehicles equipped with 18‑inch aluminum alloy wheels, while a detailed analysis on Nov 21, 2025, walked through how the defect was documented in filings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

For drivers, the risk level is serious but manageable if the recall is addressed quickly. The defect reports and recall notices stress that a wheel detachment may occur only after progressive loosening of the lug nuts, which means some vehicles could exhibit warning signs such as vibration, noise, or changes in steering feel before a complete separation. However, because the Honda Civic is widely used as a daily commuter car, often at highway speeds and with full passenger loads, regulators treat any possibility of wheel loss as an unacceptable safety risk. The recall therefore instructs dealers to inspect the affected alloy wheels, verify proper lug nut seating, and replace any defective components, with all work performed free of charge so that owners of the roughly 400,000 to 406,290 impacted Civics can restore their vehicles to safe operating condition.