MajorCommonSuspension

Honda Civic: Rear Wheel Bearing Failure (All Generations)

Rear Wheel Bearing Failure (All Generations) is a common suspension fault on the Honda Civic on the 2006–2021 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $280 to $620 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: 2006–2021
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 of the Wheel bearing yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

Rear wheel bearings on the FN, FB, and FC Civic are non-serviceable sealed hub units pressed into the rear knuckle. Road contamination, pothole impacts, and normal fatigue cause the bearing races to develop pitting and spalling, producing characteristic load-dependent noise. Failure progresses from a faint hum to a loud growl and ultimately to wheel wobble. The FC generation (2016–2021) has a higher incidence in the rear-left position, possibly related to the independent rear suspension geometry and higher cornering loads associated with the sportier suspension tune. Replacement requires a hydraulic press to remove and install the bearing from the knuckle.

What you would notice

Persistent low-frequency hum or growl from the rear of the vehicle that increases in pitch with road speed
Noise changes character or volume when the steering wheel is turned slightly, indicating load shift isolates the failing bearing
Rumbling or growling audible inside the cabin at highway speed, sometimes confused with tyre noise
In advanced cases, slight wobble felt through the seat or chassis and occasional ABS light triggered by the degraded wheel speed sensor signal

How to check it

Where to look. Rear wheel hub bearing units, typically rear-left first

During a test drive at 60–100 km/h, listen for a humming or growling noise that changes pitch when the steering wheel is turned slightly left or right (load shift isolates which side is failing). Spin the hub by hand and feel for roughness or hear grinding. If a workshop inspection is possible: Jack the rear of the vehicle and grasp the tyre at 9 and 3 o'clock then 6 and 12 o'clock; any perceptible play indicates severe bearing wear.

Parts involved: Wheel bearing.

What it costs to put right

$280 to $620 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

“Have you noticed any humming or growling from the rear at highway speed, and does it change with slight steering input?”
“Has any rear wheel bearing been replaced, and at what mileage?”
“Has the ABS or stability control warning light appeared without an obvious triggering event?”

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 rear wheel bearing failure (all generations) serious on a Honda Civic?

We rate it major and common on the Honda Civic. Rear wheel bearings on the FN, FB, and FC Civic are non-serviceable sealed hub units pressed into the rear knuckle. Road contamination, pothole impacts, and normal fatigue cause the bearing races to develop pitting and spalling, producing characteristic load-dependent noise. Failure progresses from a faint hum to a loud growl and ultimately to wheel wobble. The FC generation (2016–2021) has a higher incidence in the rear-left position, possibly related to the independent rear suspension geometry and higher cornering loads associated with the sportier suspension tune. Replacement requires a hydraulic press to remove and install the bearing from the knuckle.

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

$280 to $620 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 2006–2021 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.