NHTSA Complaint #10255777 — 2006 HONDA CIVIC

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK ONE MORNING AND AS SHE WAS PULLING INTO THE PARKING LOT SHE NOTICED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS PEGGED ON HOT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO OUR REPAIR FACILITY (SPECIALISTS IN HONDA/ACURA AUTOMOBILES). THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A CRACKED ENGINE BLOCK WHICH WAS CORROBORATED BY THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER WHERE WE HAD THE CAR TOWED IN ORDER FOR HONDA TO ACCESS THE SITUATION. THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR STATION THAT WE ORIGINALLY TOOK THE CAR HAD LOOKED UP BULLETINS AND FOUND HONDA TSB 08-044, THAT WAS ISSUED 7/25/08. WE TALKED TO HONDA AND THE REPAIR AMOUNTS TO $3,300. THEY HAVE OFFERED US TO PAY FOR THE PARTS ($2,000) AND US THE LABOR ($1300). I HAVE LOOKED UP THIS TSB ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND MANY PEOPLE (THERE'S A POSTING OF AN '08 CIVIC THAT HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN WITH 7,000 MILES ON IT) . THERE WERE OTHERS AT VARIOUS MILEAGES UNDER THE 60K, SEVERAL OVER AND ONE AT 96K WHERE THAT OWNER FELT HONDA SHOULD PAY FOR IT. THE OFFER HONDA MADE TO US IS UNACCEPTABLE TO BOTH MY WIFE AND I AND WE THINK YOUR ORGANIZATION SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY. AS FAR AS I CAN FIND ON THE INTERNET, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE UNHAPPY WITH THE WAY HONDA HAS HANDLED THIS ISSUE. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL HONDA VEHICLES AND BEEN VERY PLEASED WITH THEM UP UNTIL NOW. WE ARE AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM THE ESCALATION COMMITTEE BUT I HAVE MY DOUBTS AS TO WHAT THEIR RESPONSE IS GOING TO BE, SO I DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU NOW. *TR