NHTSA Complaint #10147624 — 2001 HONDA CR-V

MY 2001 HONDA CRV HAD TO HAVE THE CYLINDER HEAD REPLACED AFTER A FLASHING ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. A HONDA DEALER STATED THERE WAS LOW COMPRESSION IN THE #3 CYLINDER. THE REPAIR WAS TO REPLACE THE CYLINDER HEAD (AT >3200$). I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1999-2001 HONDA CRVS. I NOW HAVE AT LEAST 5 SUBSTANTIATED CASES (MY OWN, A COLLEAGUE WHO OWNS A 1999 CRV AND, THE COMPLAINT NUMBERS ON YOUR SITE 10062616, 10124224, 10143720). THERE ARE ALSO MANY UNSUBSTANTIATED BUT IDENTICAL CLAIMS ON MULTIPLE WEBSITES THAT IMPLY A FAIRLY WIDESPREAD MANUFACTURERS DEFECT LEADING TO THIS PROBLEM. THE SYMPTOMS ARE THE SAME. HONDA APPEARS TO KNOW OF THIS DEFECT AS EVIDENCED BY THEIR OWN TSB #03-038 THAT STATES THE PROBLEM AND REPAIR. I ASKED HONDA FOR A GOODWILL WARRANTY (THERE IS SOME PRECEDENCE FOR THIS BY HONDA). I WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED COMPLETE SERVICE RECORDS ....THESE WERE PROVIDED. THESE RECORDS INCLUDE A 60,000 MI SERVICE INCLUDING A TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT THAT WAS DONE JUST THE SUMMER BEFORE (MY VEHICLE HAD 82000 MI AT THE TIME OF THE ENGINE FAILURE). I WAS THEN TOLD TO CONTACT HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE TO FILE A COMPLAINT WHERE EVENTUALLY I WAS TOLD BY HONDA THAT THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE REASON WAS THAT I DID NOT GET VALVE ADJUSTMENTS AT THE TIME OF MY 60000 MI SERVICE. THESE ARE HYDRAULIC VALVES AND ACCORDING TO MY OWN MECHANIC AND VERIFIED BY ANOTHER MECHANIC, THIS IS NOT STANDARD PRACTICE. THIS 'VALVE ADJUSTMENT' RECOMMENDATION IS ALSO NOT PART OF THE MITCHELL OEM RECOMMENDATIONS ALSO THAT WERE FOLLOWED BY MY MECHANIC (TSB 03-038 IS ALSO NOT INCLUDED). THE OUTCOME WAS TO TAKE MY VEHICLE FROM HONDA WHERE THEY DID NOT SUPPORT THEIR PRODUCT DESPITE WHAT APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN AND WIDESPREAD DEFECT AND BRING IT TO MY OWN MECHANIC. I HAVE RETAINED THE PART THAT APPEARS TO HAVE CAUSED MUCH OF THE PROBLEM (DAMAGED EXHAUST VALVE). I STRONGLY SUGGEST THERE BE AN INQUIRY INTO THIS PROBLEM AND REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS REPAIR. *JB