FL5 recall (2022-2025 Civic Steering Gearbox Assembly)

[CTR39322]

For those that are paranoid about the dealers touching your car, just get a dash cam installed like I did. I had the worm gear recall done and there was no need to drop the subframe. Actually it didn't even take that long. Just make sure they have the kit available in parts dept before scheduling an appointment. I have yet to notice any difference..

A dealer has actually unplugged my dash cam when I dropped my other car for warranty service.

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[honman]

I'd really appreciate that. I do rember that did an alignment after maybe I'll take it to a local. Shop tho amd see what's up drivability seems to bee good tho

OK, so the bolts you circled fasten the subframe rear stays to the chassis and are torqued to 69 ft-lbs. See item C in the below assembly diagram. I doubt those were loose from the factory.

As for the missing bolt, I'm 99% sure that bolt and its left side equivalent are the primary bolts fastening the gearbox to the subframe. I circled them in blue in the above and below images. Note the image below only shows 1 bolt, but says "x2" meaning the same bolt/washer/torque spec applies to both sides.

There's no indication that there are any differences between the bolts in the FL5 vs the regular hatchback. I could be wrong about this - it's kind of hard to see where the bolt holes are with the angle the diagrams are drawn at. Also, even the old recall procedure doesn't involve removing the gearbox from the subframe so even if that procedure was used those bolts wouldn't have been touched. It's not uncommon for service procedures and documentation to show bolts/screws/etc that were later deemed redundant or unecessary and not installed from the factory. The FL5 has been pretty much identical through the '23-'25 model years, so it's possible that bolt was removed in '24 or '25 but that change wasn't reflected in the service documentation. Anyway, I'm not a certified Honda tech, so if the dealer says that bolt isn't on the FL5 I'd be inclined to believe them. It just seems odd to me that one of the beefy gearbox-subframe mounting bolts wouldn't be installed.

I attached a PDF of the full front subframe & gearbox removal/replacement procedure if you want more details.

 

[Potato fl5]

OK, so the bolts you circled fasten the subframe rear stays to the chassis and are torqued to 69 ft-lbs. See item C in the below assembly diagram. I doubt those were loose from the factory.

As for the missing bolt, I'm 99% sure that bolt and its left side equivalent are the primary bolts fastening the gearbox to the subframe. I circled them in blue in the above and below images. Note the image below only shows 1 bolt, but says "x2" meaning the same bolt/washer/torque spec apply to both sides.

There's no indication that there are any differences between the bolts in the FL5 vs the regular hatchback. I could be wrong about this - it's kind of hard to see where the bolt holes are with the angle the diagrams are drawn at. Also, even the old recall procedure doesn't involve removing the gearbox from the subframe so even if that procedure was used those bolts wouldn't have been touched. It's not uncommon for service procedures and documentation to show bolts/screws/etc that were later deemed redundant or unecessary and not installed from the factory. The FL5 was has been pretty much identical through the '23-'25 model years, so it's possible that bolt was removed in '24 or '25 but that change wasn't reflected in the service documentation. Anyway, I'm not a certified Honda tech, so if the dealer says that bolt isn't on the FL5 I'd be inclined to believe them. It just seems odd to me that one of the beefy gearbox-subframe mounting bolts wouldn't be installed.

I attached a PDF of the full front subframe & gearbox removal/replacement procedure if you want more details.

Oh holy information thank you!! Yea they showed me on there managers fl5 that he just got so it's missing on that one to so prob took it off. Ok i torqued it close just guessing lol I still need to lift the car up see if they actually fixed it

 

[Potato fl5]

Both bolts are installed for the steering rack so yolo. Do what all honda owners do listen for vibration . Worst case if they missed a bolt i already have record of tyem ins0ecting for loose/missing bolts

 

[Motpeds]

would this recall cause the bolts i circled to be about to literally fall out and in the second picture it seems like a bolt is missing on the right.

Regarding that missing bolt - pretty sure that’s normal. I noticed it the other day when under the car for an oil change. Looked at some fl5 underbody pics online after, and they all seem to be missing it.

 

[J_D]

Just had my recall done. No issues here

 

[EnnioTypeR]

I just called Honda to get my recall done and an oil change. The lady said it takes about 3 hours. I didn’t think anything of it till I got off the phone. Do they not have the updated fix where you don’t have to drop the subframe. This is why I hate bringing my car back to the dealer for anything.

 

[Nanook]

Post #180 has a video of someone doing the recall. Looks like it takes minutes

 

[honman]

I just called Honda to get my recall done and an oil change. The lady said it takes about 3 hours. I didn’t think anything of it till I got off the phone. Do they not have the updated fix where you don’t have to drop the subframe. This is why I hate bringing my car back to the dealer for anything.

I doubt it, Honda doesn't even allow dealers to use the old procedure anymore. They might have a different tech doing the recall since some dealers prefer to have certain techs do some recalls (or do more involved jobs on Type Rs and Si's in general, which is the case for the dealer I go to) but anyone can do an oil change. The extra time could be downtime waiting for the other tech to be available. Or it's just a generic time estimate they give. If you call back and ask if they'll drop the subframe they should tell you.

 

[ayospoonay]

I just called Honda to get my recall done and an oil change. The lady said it takes about 3 hours. I didn’t think anything of it till I got off the phone. Do they not have the updated fix where you don’t have to drop the subframe. This is why I hate bringing my car back to the dealer for anything.

Your car isn't the only one in the shop. From start to finish the recall may only take 30-45mins but they have to set a time expectation for when you drop off your vehicle and when the paperwork will be completed.

 

[frenzal]

Had it done to my Type S in less than an hour from arriving to the dealer and leaving the dealer.

 

[CTR1633FK2]

In Europe they are replacing the whole FL5 steering rack instead of adding grease + new spring. Does anyone know why that is different than the normal Civic?

 

[Clark_Kent]

I was dreading having this done and finally brought the car in to the dealership. I had the recall taken care of last week when I had the second Honda Service Pass complimentary maintenance (oil change, tire rotation, multi-point inspection) performed. The car was ready in 3 hours and it appears I got the car back in the same condition I dropped it off. I'll get the car out in the coming weeks to assess any difference.

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