Honda Car Forum

Why would my 2006 Honda Element with 12,300 miles on it already need an alignment?I got a letter in the mail stating that it was time to bring my Honda in for a 10,000 maintenance check. I took it and they checked the battery, hoses, fluid levels and changed the oil. They went to rotate and balance my tires and the tech showed me excessive wear on the rear tires in the inside. He said it looked as if I had over 30,000 miles on these tires. I told him that I take care of my vehicle (I have had it since July 06) and why would it look like that He said it may need an alignment. I don't understand why it would need an alignment so soon because I treat this car as if it were a baby! I was reading the warranty book and it looks like they will cover it if there is no more than 12,000 miles on it. Should I pay for an alignment. Should I put up a fight and make them pay? Also, what other causes would cause a car to wear the tires like this and need an alignment so soon? P.S Also I'm a woman that doesn't know alot about cars so please explain. Thanks!!!

because of potholes and hitting curbs. maybe it was out of allignment in the first place before you bought it. cars never stay alligned. strange that its the back tire though. i cant keep my truck in allignment, i always have to get it done. it should only cost you like $100 to have it done.

hit a pothole or a curb good and it can easily knock out an alignment.

alignment is free for the first 12 months in any toyota truck. i'm sure honda would do the same.

yearly alignments are a good idea, especially if your tires are wearing unevenly. my car pulled to the right the minute i drove it away from the dealer. since then i've aligned it about once a year and it's been fine.

If i were you i would fight it and try to get them to do it. The reason that you might need an alignment is it you hit a pot hole rather hard. even the best drivers do it some times.P.S. good luck

I wouldn't go to a dealership to get it aligned UNLESS THE WARRANTY COVERS IT! Try a neighborhood shop or someplace local that specializes in frame/axle work. They will be able to align your car for at least half the price of a dealership (should be around $100) and they will be able to tell you right off the bat if there is something wrong with your vehicle...they specialize in that, so they know what they are talking about! Most dealerships hire (no offense intended) dumb high school kids who know not what they are doing.That is strange that your rear tires have the excessive wear on them...usually it is the front tires because most vehicles are front wheel drive and some drivers are very spirited in their acceleration. But your vehicle is either front wheel drive or 4WD, and with 4WD you can't spin/squeal your tires even if you wanted too!In most cases, hitting pot holes, curbs, and even bumps in the road can cause your car to come out of alignment.But the main thing is...if your tires are wearing that way, then something is wrong and you should have your vehicle checked out. Also be sure to have your tires rotated every 10,000 miles or so...that will longer the life of your tires and if there is a problem, then rotating them can temporarily correct the wear pattern on the tires.OH YEAH, and maybe your tires are just junky. A lot of tires have a certain warranty and you should check that out because if the tires are worn so much and are only so old, then you might get them replaced for free. (but read the fine print, if you have any nails or repairs made to the tires, that voids the warranty)

You could leave the dealer's shop, and either hit a pothole or run into a curb and need another alignment. I once hit a pothole that was so bad, we bent a part under the car and it the part had to be replaced.You might also want to check at the website for the Center for Auto Safety. They list unpublished "free repairs" offers from the manufacturers. They used to have info on Hondas - but Honda started a program to stop all leaks of this information to the public.We have a 2002 Civic and a CR-V. And before that, a 1991 Accord. Few major repairs - but the cost of maintenance really seems high. Tires will also wear uneven if they are too low on air or have too much air in them. I try to buy all of my tires at CostCo - and IF YOU KEEP YOUR ORIGINAL RECEIPT FROM COSTCO - you can go in (I go every 4-6 months) and they will check the air and rotate the tires for free. Tires may have a slow leak. Or when things get real cold (metal and tire shrink - but at different rates) and then get warm (they expand, at different rates) - you lose a little air from the tires.

Very strange that you should need an alignment so soon given the fact that you baby your "Cube." I do a bunch of urban off-roading (bumping over curbs to get from one parking lot to another) and have not needed an alignment. I'd say that you had a bad alignment from the factory. If the tires are wearing unevenly by all means get the alignment but do try to get them to pay for it.

I have to say that previous generation CRV and Element - they share the same suspension - do not hold alignment very well. Some people have a bad habit of hitting curbs which doesn't help either. I agree it shouldn't be happening but it appears that Honda's past success and earned reputation somehow turned into a message that we need another ford... Call them and make a statement! I have...