NHTSA Complaint #10234725 — 2007 HONDA CIVIC

PURCHASED 2007 HONDA CIVIC EX ON 3/10/07. ON 8/7/07 TOOK CAR IN FOR ROUTINE MAINT. OIL PAN DRAIN PLUG REPLACED. ON 8/9/07 STEERING SYSTEM MADE NOISE WHEN TURNING. TOOK TO DEALER, NO PROBLEM FOUND. ON 10/8/07 TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALER WITH SAME ISSUE. DEALER SAID "DURING ASSEMBLY SOME REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSORS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED AND DO NOT SEAL THE HUB ASSEMBLY. SENSORS WERE INSPECTED AND THEY DEEMED NO REPAIR NECESSARY. ON 12/26/07 TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR SAME NOISE WHEN TURNING WHEEL. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHEN DRIVING!! WHEN ACCELERATING, CAR MADE A WHINING TYPE OF NOISE. DEALER KEPT MY CAR OVER NIGHT AND FOUND P/S PUMP WHINING DUE TO NO FLUID IN SYSTEM. P/S RACK WAS LEAKING. POWER STEERING RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY. FOUND POWER STEERING RACK LEAKING FROM BOTH ENDS. REPLACED POWER STEERING RACK AND REALIGNED WHEELS. ON 7/7/08 TOOK CAR TO DEALER, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. STILL HAVE NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH. DEALER KEPT MY CAR FOR 3 DAYS WITHOUT GIVING A LONER TO ME. WHEN DEALER DID DIAGNOSTIC, THEY PULLED UP 7 CODES AND STATED "GAUGE CONTROL LOST COMMUNICATION, MAY BE OLD CODES RELATED TO PAST REPAIRS. DID NOT FIND A CAUSE FOR STEERING TO LOCK. FOUND THAT THE NOISE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL WAS CAUSED FROM THE SEAL AT THE FIREWALL WAS RUBBING ON STEERING SHAFT. CORRECTED INSULATION AND FOUND WHEN AT IDLE AND TURNING WHEEL, HOOD VIBRATED AND MADE A NOISE. THEY ADJUSTED RUBBER STOPPERS AND RECHECKED SAYING IT IS ALL OK. NOW, TODAY ON 7/17/08 I HAD STEERING WHEEL LOCK UP ON ME FOR A BRIEF SECOND. TOOK MY CAR TO A MECHANIC I KNOW AND THEY TOLD ME TO FILL OUT THIS FORM. THEY SAID THE NOISE I HEAR IN MY STEERING COLUMN SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED BY DEALER. I CALLED DEALER AT 3 PM TODAY AND WILL BE TAKING MY CAR BACK TO DEALER TOMORROW MORNING AT 9. MY CAR IS STILL RANDOMLY HAVING THE STEERING FREEZE ON ME WHEN DRIVING, THE NOISE WHEN TURNING MY STEERING WHEEL, AND I NOW HAVE A CRACKLING NOISE IN MY A/C! *TR