I wrote service full-time at a car repair shop for more than a decade. Over the years, I provided repair estimates for thousands of Honda models, including Civics, Accords, CRVs, Pilots, Odysseys, and Ridgelines. Here are the three most common Honda suspension failures I witnessed as an ASE-certified service consultant. Note: this list applies to ICE Hondas, not necessarily EV models.

Honda sway bars, or stabilizer bars, help prevent body rock around turns. The end links attach the bar to the lower control arms. Sway bar bushings are small, compressed rubber “bands” that grip the bar and help hold and absorb road shock. They’re attached via little brackets. Links and bushings are relatively easy for a tech to replace.

While they aren’t critical safety components, bad sway bar links and bushings make a lot of concerning noises.

Control arm bushings are compressed rubber “donuts” pressed into the lower control arms. They provide a shock-absorbing cushion around the connecting bolt, which runs through the bushing and connects the arm to the frame.

Over time, the compressed rubber dry rots and can crack. Bushings in terrible condition will no longer hold connecting bolts in place properly. This can cause a safety issue.

Lower ball joints are booted, greased corner-point ball and socket components that help provide a flexible connection between the lower control arm and the steering knuckle. Like the bushings above, they’re pressed into the lower control arms. However, they’re topped with a cotter pin.

If a lower ball joint breaks, the driver can lose steering control.

These Honda suspension parts are all interrelated. Depending on the parts pricing and component availability, techs might opt to replace a whole control arm with the bushings and ball joint already pressed in. There’s a great video below showing a lower control arm replacement on an eighth-gen Civic. You’ll get to see a sway bar link, too.