steering wheel vibration

[CRVNoobie]

i am glad i found this forum. here is my problem. i got my new 2004 crv lx 2wd about 2 days ago, and i noticed something weird. yesterday i took my new crv to the highway for a test drive. once the speed reached around 50-60 mph, my steering wheel started vibrating. i tried at different speed from 60 - 90 mph, all the same. by the way, there was no difference whiel the a/c was on or off. i could still feel the vibration. i was wondering is this normal or what. does this happen to anybody else? any feedbacks are welcome.

i used to have a 92 honda accord lx and i didn't have this kind of problem before. i called the dealership right away and they said it might be the tires. anyways, i will send in my car tomorrow to see what's going on.

[PatrickC1026]

Based on your description, most likely the problem could be your wheel balance. Out of balanced wheels will make your steering wheel vibrate at different (especially high) speed.

[bumpzter]

I second what Patrick said. Sure sounds like wheel/tire balance problem.

[hondadealerl]

yep had thta too went to dealer had the tires balanced runs like on ice no pun intended

[roadster]

what's your vin number b/c I do not want htat car you need to relaxe my friend and break the car in easy........ wheel weights are not installed corectly like we al say , do some homework read your manual.....

[Skavatar]

most likely your tires. i'd suggest you go to Discount tires and get some better tires. when i went they gave my about $16 per tire even though i had driven on those stock tires for about a year. plus you'll get free tire rotations and balances. :D

[dAnnY_23]

It just needs to be balance and check the weights..

[fixjet]

I have the same highway vibration problems and it is not tire related. My 02 with 13000 miles vibrates from 60 to 80 mph. Replaced the tires with no help. Dealer says it is normal. That's crap, my 94 civic with 286000 runs smoother at highway speed. I'll end up finding the problem my self of get rid of the vehicle.

[tones]

Hi, my first post here.
I've got the steering wheel vibration/shaking problem on my 98 CRV. It just started and I'm not sure what's going on - neither do any of the shops I've taken it to. I bought the car new and never had a single problem with it until now - has 130K miles. I've had the brakes checked, tires have 8K miles on them and I've had them rebalanced and rotated 3 times. I've had an axle replaced because of a torn CV boot. The font end shaking happens at different speeds and usually when I'm accelerating. It also happens a lot when I brake at around 40-45MPH. Any suggestions?

thanks.

[phil17]

the vibration on my 97 is even more weird. i first noticed the vibration at 120km/h when i put aftermarket wheel/tires on my car. after getting them balanced numerous times, the vibration stayed. i got so fed up i just switched back to OEM tires/wheels. guess what? the vibration was still there!. i donno what's going on. it happens at 80km/h and around 140km/h now. i do'nt think balancing is goina help cause i already got that done twice since replancing the wheel/tire back to OEM's

[PierreF]

I "fight" with my Honda Dealer with vibration problems since more than one year without success: x-times balancing the wheels, then 2 new Brigdestone Dueler tires on the front wheels, then change to Michelin Pilot Primacy 215/60/16 95 W (less vibration), then a new winter-set Pirelli Icesport 205/65/15 95 Q on steel wheels (very strong vibration), then change of the ATF fluid, three checks on the suspension geometry, etc.

In some other cases mentioned in the CRV-forums the change of the ATF fluid fixed the problem, unfortunately not in my case.

In a other thread in this forum I found:

"http://www.hondasuv.com/main2/viewtopic.php?t=436&highlight=vibration
This topic was brought up a long time ago, but I don't feel like searching for the thread.
The vibrations in gen 1 crvs is known to Honda. It's an actual design flaw. So it can't be fixed... at least not cheap and easy.
I know this because a friend owns a 99, and had the same problems. He took it in, and of course the dealership didn't do anything, said it was 'normal' etc. He wasn't happy. Somehow the dumb receptionist let him see an internal notice stating the design flaw, even though he shoudn't have seen it.
So, best of luck getting it fixed...."

I would like to read / to get this international notice stating the design flaw
Has somebody the reference or the document in electronic form ?

Many thanks.

Pierre from Switzerland.

[BCheng_ca]

if its a design flaw, y can't i feel it?
or is it limited to certain parts of the world?

[phil17]

i never had any vibration on my V until i switch to aftermarket wheels. it was all downhill from there :(. infact, if i remember right, before all that aftermarket crap, i can easily drive up to around 170km/h smoothly with the car.

[camacint]

I have had my '98 for a year now and enjoyed how buttery smooth it drove - nary a shake or rattle, until a couple of weeks ago. The car now shakes at the front end between 80-100km/hr whether I am coasting or on the gas makes no difference. The shake is not consistent either - somedays it is awful, others I have to pay attention to notice it.

When it first occurred I had both front tires re-balanced but this didn't solve the shake at all. I am disappointed because up until now there was absolutely no shaking at all - at any speed...

[blue02v]

I have an 02 and have just recently started to experience a shaking which is most noticable around 60-70mph. I figured the tires were old anyway so I replaced the crap OEM's (40k miles on them) with Yoko touring tires of the same size. The vibration was still there. Rebalanced and even replaced the yoko's to no avail. The tire shop said to bring it to a frame shop.
The tires and rims are good and balanced with no flat spots. The transmission and rear diff flud was changed at 35K. The car still vibrates!
What's the problem? I was just about to have this checked out by another shop or Honda dealer, but after reading about this "design flaw" I'm having second thoughts. Does anyone have anymore info on this?

[PierreF]

Today I know more: Honda has changed the backwards drive shafts - I think this is not the right term (in German "Antriebswellen") up the model year 2003! Those two drive shafts from the CRV-2002 are thinner and not flexible on both ends ! Honda had certainly serious reasons to change the design of those two elements, but no information about this... My Honda Dealer got the instruction that it is impossible to build in the version 2003 in the CRV-2002 ! In my case Honda is not impressed to change this two pieces and will wait until the garantee is off !? On the other way: if the two pieces are changed, how long you will be able to drive without vibration ? 20'000 km odr 30'000 km ? And then the problem starts again ? I think the design flaw concerns these thwo elements and Honda resolved the problem for all new clients CRV-2003 and has no solution for drivers of CRV-2002!