NHTSA Complaint #10091140 — 2002 HONDA S2000

PURCHASED A HONDA S2000 IN AUGUST, 2002. IT HAD TO BE TAKEN IN FOR REPAIRS AUGUST 16, 2003. THE CAR WAS SERVED BY HONDA OF MENTOR IN MENTOR, OHIO. DAMAGE WAS TO THE CYLINDER HEAD AND ENGINE BLOCK. A NEW ENGINE ASSEMBLY WITH HEAD WAS REQUIRED GIVEN INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE PISTONS/VALVES. HONDA REFUSED COVERAGE UNDER THE 36/36,000 FACTORY WARRANTY. I HAD ALSO PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THROUGH CNA NATIONAL WARRANTY CORPORATION AND THEY DENIED BECAUSE "THE MANUFACTURER...VOIDED OR RESCINDED THE FACTORY WARRANTY." THERE WAS 28,948 MILES ON IT. HONDA INSISTED THE DAMAGE WAS HOW DRIVEN/MAINTAINED. I INSTALLED A USED ENGINE (WITH 3,500 MILES) & THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED 9/29/03 BY HONDA OF MENTOR AT A $6,400 COST TO ME. MARCH 25, 2004, THE CAR TAKEN IN BECAUSE THE ENGINE MAKING A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RICK CASE HONDA IN EUCLID, OHIO. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE BEARINGS AND BLOCK (#2 AND #3 CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS WERE WELDED TO THE JOURNALS). THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE HAD GONE 9,540 MILES WHEN IT FAILED. [HONDA OF MENTOR'S INVOICE-MILEAGE WHEN RECEIVED AT 28,948. RICK CASE HONDA'S INVOICE - MILEAGE AT 38,488 MILES; A DIFFERENCE OF 9,540 MILES.] THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD 2 ENGINE FAILURES IN 1 1/2 YEARS. BOTH DUE I BELIEVE TO PROBLEMS IN THE CAR NOT HOW IT WAS DRIVEN/MAINTAINED. THE INITIAL FACTORY WARRANTY IN AUGUST, 2002, WAS 36/36,000 AND I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE 1ST MALFUNCTION OCCURRED AUGUST, 2003, AT 28,948 MILES. THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE WAS INSTALLED SEPTEMBER, 2003, HAD A 12/12,000 LIMITED WARRANTY. IT MALFUNCTIONED MARCH 25, 2004, AFTER 9,540 MILES. I BELIEVE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE WHICH CAUSES THE ENGINES TO MALFUNCTION. I AM COPYING AMERICAN HONDA AND CNA INSURANCE. *JB