One problem related to spare tire has been reported for the 1997 Honda Civic. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
On 5/30/02, I drove my Civic home from austin, TX on hwy 71 at 60mph. On approaching hwy I-10 vibrations at the right rear wheel were felt. When I got on hwy I-10 at 2pm that wheel became bumpy, followed by a loud bang from its cover/fender, shaking so strongly that I had to pull over. I found the tire's treated portion peeled off and lost, and the lower forward corner of the wheel cover broken loose, dangling outwards. I managed to drive home using the spare tire, although the car seemed no longer road-worthy. Dt.