NHTSA Complaint #10255907 — 2007 HONDA PILOT

AFTER SMELLING A STRONG ODOR OF ANTIFREEZE, I DECIDED TO BRING MY 2007 HONDA PILOT IN TO CHECK THE RADIATOR. ALTHOUGH, THE GAUGES DID NOT INDICATE OVERHEATING AND I DID NOT OBSERVE ANTIFREEZE COOLANT LEAKING, THE ODOR WAS BECOMING EXTREMELY STRONG. I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET INTO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP SO I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO A BIG O TIRE STORE TO INSPECT THE COOLANT SYSTEM. IT WAS FIRST DIAGNOSED AS A CORE ENGINE HEATER PROBLEM. HOWEVER, AFTER DISASSEMBLING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT A HOSE LEADING TO THE REAR AC/HEATING SYSTEM WAS LEAKING. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC, THE FACTORY PLACED THE CLAMP OVER THE HOSE AND NOT OVER THE NOZZLE. THIS DIRECTLY LED TO THE PUNCTURE OF THE HOSE AND SUBSEQUENT LEAKAGE OF ANTIFREEZE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE FLOORING OF MY VEHICLE. A REQUEST TO AMERICAN HONDA TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE REPAIR WAS DISMISSED SINCE I DID NOT BRING MY VEHICLE INTO A HONDA DEALER. MY COMPLIANT IS TO SEEK RECOVERY OF $450 FOR THE SERVICE REPAIRS AND ADDITIONAL EXPENSE TO REPLACE THE ANTIFREEZE SOAKED CARPET AS WELL AS CLEAN ALL REMAINING RESIDUE. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN JANUARY 2006. THE WARRANTY WAS FOR 3 YEARS/36,000 MILES. CURRENTLY, I HAVE 53,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE REPAIR WAS DUE TO FAULTY ASSEMBLY AT THE FACTORY, I AM SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THIS REPAIR. THANKS *TR