Honda Is Stopping Civic Type R Sales Over Faulty Seats

Honda issued a stop sale on the Civic Type R Friday over faulty welds in the driver's side seat cushion frame, according to a dealer communication from the automaker.

The issue means that the frame could fail to secure the seat during a collision, reducing the effectiveness of restraining safety measures, according to a dealer notice posted to the Civic XI forum and filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Friday.

The weld issue is a result of "improper manufacturing," the document says. While a failure during a crash is the most catastrophic risk, the weld issue can also lead to squeaking and rattling noises that have been noted by Civic Type R owners on the same forum since November.