Best-selling car brand urgently recalls over 46,000 motors in UK as the wheels could fall off

TENS of thousands of motors are being recalled in the UK – due to a fault that could lead to a wheel coming off while the car is being driven.

According to the EU Commission, the problem involves some Honda Civic models where a wheel nut may not have been tightened enough, meaning it did not meet the required torque.

Auto Express say that, if the nuts are not sufficiently tightened, they can gradually loosen as the car moves, which increases the risk of wheel loss – potentially causing an accident and injuries.

The recall is reported to affect up to 46,152 Honda Civics in the UK – specifically ones built between 2017 and 2021.

The same defect has also been identified in several other European countries, including Germany, France, Portugal, Sweden and Slovakia, suggesting the problem is not limited to UK-produced or UK-supplied cars.

Honda reportedly plans to start contacting affected customers early this year.

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Drivers will also be able to provide their details by scanning a QR code at a main Honda dealer, after which Honda will check whether the individual vehicle is affected.

And if it is, the customer will be offered an appointment for the necessary work to be carried out to correct the issue.

Although the fault sounds concerning, Honda has reassured owners that they can continue to drive their Civic in its current condition while waiting for the recall process, rather than stopping use of the motor immediately.

This is by no means the first time a popular model has been recalled due to problems involving wheel fastening.

There was a large Porsche recall in 2024 involving cars with centre-lock wheels, where wheel bolts did not meet required specifications.

In that case, Porsche took a more urgent approach by issuing a stop-drive order to around 1,000 affected drivers in the UK.

The Civic has long been a familiar sight on British roads, helped by its reputation as a reliable, well-built family hatchback.

However, in recent years it has become less common, partly due to its more premium price point.

Despite still being regarded as dependable, its popularity has dipped amid the boom in SUVs and following the closure of Honda’s Swindon factory.

Sun Motors has approached Honda for a comment.