NHTSA Complaint #10242364 — 2006 HONDA CIVIC

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN I HEARD A SQUEALING NOISE, THEN THE SMELL OF RUBBER BURNING, AND THEN LOSS OF POWER FROM THE ENGINE. WHEN I PULLED OVER, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT FROM THE SIDES OF THE HOOD AND I DID NOT OPEN IT. I CALLED AAA AND THEY TOWED ME TO A DEALERSHIP FOR THE CAR TO BE REPAIRED. WHEN THE DEALER ADDED ENGINE COOLANT TO THE CAR, IT RAN RIGHT THROUGH AND ONTO THE GROUND. THE DEALER SENT IT OUT TO A MACHINE SHOP TO SEE IF THE CYLINDER HEAD COULD BE SAVED. DUE TO THE EXTREME HEAT CAUSED BY LACK OF COOLANT, THE DIP STICK MELTED AS WELL AS THE SPARK PLUGS AND OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE ENGINE. THE DEALER HAD TO INSTALL A BRAND NEW ENGINE BLOCK, CYLINDER HEAD, NEW SPARK PLUGS, NEW TIMING CHAIN AND OTHER PARTS. THE COST WAS OVER $6000! IT HAD ONLY 80,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS 27 MONTHS OLD. I AVERAGE 100 MILES PER DAY TO GET TO AND FROM WORK VIA THE FREEWAY, 3000 MILES PER MONTH, 36,000 MILES PER YEAR. I HAD THE INTERMEDIATE SERVICE DONE AT 47000 MILES AND ANOTHER ONE AT 70000. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT AFTER ONLY 80000 MILES AN ENGINE WOULD GIVE OUT LIKE THAT. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT AND THE MAINTENANCE MINDER ON THE DASH NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT THE ENGINE OVERHEATING OR NO COOLANT. WHEN I GOT HOME AFTER THE INCIDENT, I FOUND A POOL OF BRIGHT BLUE FLUID ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. I THOUGHT IT WAS WINDOW WASHER FLUID, BUT IT WAS THE ENGINE COOLANT! DEALER SAID IT MAY HAVE BEEN A BAD SEAL AT THE BASE OF THE COOLANT RESERVOIR. THE CAR TOOK A LITTLE OVER A WEEK TO FIX AND IT'S RUNNING FINE NOW. *TR