NHTSA Complaint #10298591 — 2006 HONDA CIVIC

2006 HONDA CIVIC EX, 69000 MILES. DRIVING TO VISIT FAMILY ON CHRISTMAS DAY, MY ENGINE BEGAN SMOKING WITH NO WARNING. THE TEMP GAUGE NEVER MOVED. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY EXIT THE FREEWAY AND AFTER LETTING THE CAR COOL, ADDED OVER A GALLON OF COOLANT. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC, THINKING IT WAS JUST A HOSE OR SOMETHING, AND HE DIAGNOSED IT WITH A CRACKED ENGINE BLOCK. HE SHOWED ME TSB 08-044 AND SAID THE ONLY WAY THE ENGINE BLOCK COULD HAVE CRACKED IS FROM A DEFECT IN THE PART. HE SUGGESTED I TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND INFORM HONDA OF THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THE CRACKED ENGINE BLOCK AND OFFERED ME A 75/25% SPLIT, LEAVING ME WITH A BILL OF $840. HONDA NEEDS TO COVER THIS REPAIR FOR ALL OWNERS AT 100%, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. IN MY RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS KNOWN DEFECT IS BECOMING MORE WIDESPREAD IN 2006, 2007 AND NOW EVEN 2008 HONDA CIVICS, AS THESE NEWER CARS BEGIN TO REACH HIGHER MILEAGE. THE DEFECT IS A RESULT OF FAULTY CASTING RESULTING IN A POROUS ENGINE BLOCK PRONE TO CRACKING AT NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURES, WHICH HONDA IS TRYING TO COVER UP. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL OR AT LEAST OWNER NOTIFICATION SO THAT PEOPLE CAN HAVE THEIR CAR INSPECTED FOR THIS PROBLEM BEFORE THEIR WARRANTY IS UP. I BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH A DEFECTIVE ENGINE... I WAS JUST UNLUCKY ENOUGH TO FIND OUT ABOUT IT AFTER MY WARRANTY WAS UP. *TR