NHTSA Complaint #10116808 — 2003 HONDA CIVIC

2003 CIVIC, HIGHWAY MILES OF 49,800. CAR OVERHEATED VERY QUICKLY ON THE HIGHWAY, PULLED OVER, GOT HOTTER AND HOTTER WITH STEAM EVERYWHERE. DEALERSHIP TOWED IT TO THEIR GARAGE AND GAVE US LOANER CAR. DEALERSHIP EXTENDED 36000/3YEAR WARRANTY TO 50000 BY THE WAY. TECHS SAID THEY HAD NEVER SEEN SUCH A MESS. RADIATOR LITERALLY *MELTED INTO THE ENGINE*, THEY SAID. I READ ABOUT HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS ON SOME ONLINE HONDA OWNER GROUPS, SO I ASKED IF THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED, AND THEY SAID IT WAS DEFINITELY BLOWN, BUT CAN'T DETERMINE IF THAT HAPPENED FIRST OR THE RADIATOR FAILED. IT TOOK THEM FOUR DAYS TO DETERMINE THAT *MAYBE* A ROCK HIT THE RADIATOR ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSING A SLOW LEAK. MY INSURANCE GUY LOOKED AT THE CAR AND WILL NOT PAY BECAUSE HONDA CANNOT PROVE ANY KIND OF HIGHWAY *ACCIDENT* HAPPENED. THEY CAN'T EVEN GET IT TO LEAK OR FIND A HOLE, BUT WITH PRESSURE THEY CAN SEE A *WET SPOT* ON THE RADIATOR. AND... THEY WILL NOT HONOR THE 50000 EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE I DID NOT GET EVERY OIL CHANGE AND RECOMMENDED SERVICE AT THE DEALERSHIP. THIS CAR IS NOT EVEN 2 YEARS OLD. WE BOUGHT A HONDA BECAUSE IT CAN TAKE THE HIGH HIGHWAY MILEAGE. WE EVEN JUST BOUGHT A HONDA VAN LAST MONTH BECAUSE OF HONDA'S LONGEVITY AND REPUTATION. THIS CAR SHOULD NOT BE BLOWING AN ENGINE AT THIS AGE. THIS HAS TO BE SOME KIND OF DEFECT.*AK