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MajorCommonSuspension

Honda Civic: FN/FB Rear Trailing Arm Bushing Collapse

FN/FB Rear Trailing Arm Bushing Collapse is a common suspension fault on the Honda Civic on the 2006–2015 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $350 to $750 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 39 documented faults on the Honda Civic.

Vehicle
Honda Civic
Years
2006–2015
System
Suspension

This page covers the Honda Civic as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Honda Civic faults39 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph for this fault yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of something else.

What goes wrong

The 8th-generation (FN) and 9th-generation (FB) Civic use a multi-link rear suspension with rubber trailing arm bushings that are undersized relative to the loads imposed on a spirited-driving platform. The inner rubber core debonds from the outer metal sleeve and collapses, causing the rear trailing arm to shift rearward under cornering loads. This changes rear camber dynamically and causes accelerated tyre wear on the inner shoulders. The failure is progressive and may not be immediately obvious to the driver; wheel alignment readings expose it.

What you would notice

  • Rapid inner-edge tyre wear on rear tyres, often consuming a tyre in 15,000–25,000 km
  • Rear end stepping out or feeling unsettled over mid-corner bumps or during lane changes
  • Rear wheel alignment drifting out of specification within a short time after being set
  • Clunking or knocking from the rear suspension over sharp road imperfections

How to check it

Where to look. Rear trailing arm front pivot bushings, both sides

Inspect the inner tyre shoulders for diagonal feathering. Request a four-wheel alignment printout: rear toe that cannot be corrected to spec with the adjuster implies bushing collapse. Visually inspect for cracked or extruded rubber at the bushing bore. If a workshop inspection is possible: Lift the vehicle and firmly grasp each rear trailing arm; try to move it fore-and-aft — any movement beyond 2–3 mm indicates failed bushings.

What it costs to put right

$350 to $750 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

  • “When were the rear trailing arm bushings last inspected or replaced?”
  • “Do you have a recent four-wheel alignment printout showing the rear toe values?”
  • “Has the rear tyre wear pattern been checked — any unusual inner-edge wear?”

Now check the Honda Civic you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Honda Civic buyer questions

Is fn/fb rear trailing arm bushing collapse serious on a Honda Civic?

We rate it major and common on the Honda Civic. The 8th-generation (FN) and 9th-generation (FB) Civic use a multi-link rear suspension with rubber trailing arm bushings that are undersized relative to the loads imposed on a spirited-driving platform. The inner rubber core debonds from the outer metal sleeve and collapses, causing the rear trailing arm to shift rearward under cornering loads. This changes rear camber dynamically and causes accelerated tyre wear on the inner shoulders. The failure is progressive and may not be immediately obvious to the driver; wheel alignment readings expose it.

How much does it cost to fix on a Honda Civic?

$350 to $750 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Honda Civic years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2006–2015 Honda Civic. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Inspect the inner tyre shoulders for diagonal feathering. Request a four-wheel alignment printout: rear toe that cannot be corrected to spec with the adjuster implies bushing collapse. Visually inspect for cracked or extruded rubber at the bushing bore. If a workshop inspection is possible: Lift the vehicle and firmly grasp each rear trailing arm; try to move it fore-and-aft — any movement beyond 2–3 mm indicates failed bushings. Look here: Rear trailing arm front pivot bushings, both sides