NHTSA Complaint #10157934 — 1998 HONDA ACCORD

THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT LIT UP ON A SUNDAY, BUT THE SERVICE DEALER WHO LOOKED AT THE CAR ON MONDAY COULD NOT DETERMINE WHY. A DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE INDICATED A PROBLEM AROUND THE CARBURETOR SO THE TECHNICIAN TURNED OFF THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT AND I WAS TOLD TO DRIVE AROUND FOR AWHILE AND SEE WHAT HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED TO OVERHEAT WHILE DRIVING WITHIN THE CITY. THERE HAD BEEN NO PROBLEMS BEFORE THIS INCIDENT AND ALL REGULAR MAINTENANCE WAS DONE ON THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CAR OVERHEATED, IT COULD NOT EVEN BE DRIVEN FOR A MILE WITHOUT STOPPING TO LET IT COOL DOWN. THIS WOULD'VE BEEN A SERIOUS PROBLEM IF IT HAD OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WARNING AND THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY INCAPACITATED. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK HAD CRACKED AND THE ONLY REMEDY WAS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE CAR ONLY HAD 63,000 MILES ON IT, BUT THE COST OF A REBUILT ENGINE (WITH 120,000 MILES ON IT) WAS ALMOST AS MUCH AS THE BLUE BOOK VALUE. SUDDENLY, OUR CAR WAS WORTHLESS WHEN WE EXPECTED IT TO LAST FOR SEVERAL MORE YEARS. THE DEALERSHIP SAW NO REASON TO PROVIDE ANY COMPENSATION. AN EMPLOYEE AT THE DEALERSHIP BOUGHT THE CAR FOR $1000 FOR PARTS. *NM