My Honda Civic began to shake while driving at any speed higher than 35mph, the rear tires are bald. The mechanic I took it to said the wheels could not hold the alignment and suggested adding a part to hold the tires in alignment and to allow for tightening of the alignment.

- Ronan, MT, USA

NHTSA recall campaign number: 97V140000. Component: Suspension:front:springs:coil springs. Details: Vehicle description: Passenger vehicles. Road grit and gravel associated with winter road conditions can penetrate the rubber of the lower front spring mounts and accumulate in the mounts causing notches or pits to develop. These notches can develop cracks resulting in breakage of a bottom coil of the spring. Consequence: The vehicles ride height could be affected causing noise while the vehicle is driven. The vehicles dynamic stability can be affected reducing the drivers ability to maintain control of the vehicle. Corrective action: Dealers will replace both front springs and lower spring mounts.

- Ashaway, RI, USA

On 2/26/10, I had 4 new tires installed in my 2005 Civic; at 56,000 miles. Even purchased the warranty. About two weeks later, I felt a very mild vibration between 48-52 mph. I didn't make such a big deal of it then. The past 6 weeks or so, about 60,000 miles, the Civic's vibrating has gotten worse between 48-52mph. I took it for it's maintenance, had everything done, especially the break rotors and alignment. The vibrating has not stopped. I brought it back to the dealership. According to them, the car was checked, and felt the vibrating. Car was re-aligned, the said it was the rear struts. I had them replaced with a different auto mechanic, then had it re-aligned once more to another auto mechanic. Still vibrates. Brought it back to the mechanic who installed the rear struts. He did a test drive, and balanced the tires. The vibrating is still there. Now it's between 48-60mph at random. Sometimes it does it, sometimes it's mild, sometimes it stronger, depending after my apply the brakes. The vibrating occurs under the seats, floor, rear, some is felt very mildly on the dashboard. Could be since the rest of the car is vibrating. I'm very frustrated.

- Kissimmee, FL, USA

From the day I purchased it, the needle on the speedometer would periodically fluctuate. It was only ever noted on the service reports once. This mention occurred before the factory warranty expired, and the only note from the dealership was that they were unable to duplicate the problem. The needle finally froze on 80mph in 12/06. The dealership charged me $80 just to tell me the speedometer's electrical assembly needed to be replaced, that it would cost several hundred dollars, and that none of the work would be warranted, despite the fact that it had been a documented problem from the date of purchase. When the extended warranty I purchased would not cover any of this either, I called american Honda and filed a complaint. Their only offer was to pay for the parts, not the labor. I told them this was not acceptable. Some time later I received a letter in the mail notifying me of a class-action law suit filed against american Honda for the same problems I'm having with my car. I contacted american Honda again at the beginning of this year to try once more to resolve this issue. I was told that I would have to take my car to the dealership for a second diagnosis of the problem. I told them that I would be unable to do this because not only is it an inconvenient loss of time, it's another $80 I would have to pay for them to tell me exactly what they've told me before. Talking to american Honda is an absolute waste of time. The second electrical issue involves the radio and cd player. I had a new cd in one day when it suddenly stopped playing and the display flashed "hot", spitting the cd out. The cd itself was so hot it melted the top portion. Still under warranty, I took it to the dealership, where they rolled me right on through service, brushing the problem off as insignificant. This car is a fire hazard. Because of american Honda, I am operating a vehicle without a properly functioning speedometer, which is against the law.

- Bluffton, SC, USA