I was coming home from a trip to San Francisco from LA and approaching the Grapevine when I begin to hear a humming/buzzing sound coming from the front of the car. Took the car into the dealer yesterday and they notified me that the wheel bearing was corroded and had broken. My car is a sedan, 10 months old, 14k miles. Isn't the bearing supposed to be sealed? How did it get corroded so quick? Thanks.

Some are sealed some are not, I have not take apart a 8th gen front bearing set as yet. I can imagine it being open as it is usually pressed in the hub/arm set on most control arm Honda

I was coming home from a trip to San Francisco from LA and approaching the Grapevine when I begin to hear a humming/buzzing sound coming from the front of the car. Took the car into the dealer yesterday and they notified me that the wheel bearing was corroded and had broken. My car is a sedan, 10 months old, 14k miles. Isn't the bearing supposed to be sealed? How did it get corroded so quick? Thanks.
Yes, even if there are no external seals/rings on inner to axle shaft and the hub. The bearing itself will be sealed one, what this means is you won't see the ball bearing race and it will be covered by a ring in the bearing.
Open bearings are used when lubrication is all around like in a CV joint, transmission bearings etc.
Probably either the bearing itself was defective.

Not true...

http://www.car-stuff.com/store/images/prodimage/images/beck_arnley/BA-0513879-1.jpg

2001 pilot wheel bearing

Once again, some wheel bearlings are sealed and some are not.

My guess is that one was defective from the start. At least it went bad under the warranty.

I too had a wheel bearing failure, and mine is also about 10 months old. Took 4 trips to the dealer and finally a trip to a different dealer to diagnose. I've also had both front struts replaced as well.

Not true...

http://www.car-stuff.com/store/images/prodimage/images/beck_arnley/BA-0513879-1.jpg

2001 pilot wheel bearing

Once again, some wheel bearlings are sealed and some are not.

ok, but that uses external seals front an back right ?
no way bearing would last exposed race.

PS: I don't disagree that some bearings are sealed and others are not .

Sure... even if the bearing is open, its more than likely sealed inward against an enclosed Hub chamber, protected by the seal created at the OD of the bearing and the hub wall :thmsup:

any driveability issues before the bearing failed? Pulling, vibration, sloppy handling?

I would be willing to bet there was a harmonic that was audible....

As far as drivability with the failed bearing, it doesn't seem as responsive, little sluggish. I sometimes fear a vibration on my accelerator pedal. There's a distinct humming/buzzing sound that can be hear much like the sound from a offroad tire on one of those monster trucks. I could hear the sound even with the stereo on. I'm driving with the failed bearings since my dealer had to order the replacement parts and I'm kinda taking it easy.

Well finally got the car fixed. Dealer had to replace both front bearings and hubs due to corrosion. Hope this cause by a bad batch of bearings and not a design issue.

Well finally got the car fixed. Dealer had to replace both front bearings and hubs due to corrosion. Hope this cause by a bad batch of bearings and not a design issue.

sounds like bad seal if hub needed changing from corrosion.
can't let bearing be exposed .