NHTSA Complaint #10332215 — 2006 HONDA CIVIC

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2006 HONDA CIVIC AND HAVE HAD ALL THE RECOMMENDED SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR. WITH MY LONG COMMUTE I'M UP TO 143,000 (HIGHWAY) MILES. I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM HAVING THEIR "B13" SERVICE WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON; IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE(!) THEY TOLD ME THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2006 CIVICS AND THAT DEALERSHIP HAS HANDLED "SEVERAL, ONE JUST THIS WEEK", AND THAT IT MANIFESTS ITSELF ARBITRARILY, "THE ENGINE IS FINE AND THEN IT JUST BREAKS". MOST CIVICS LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD ARE STILL UNDER WARRANTY (OR CLOSE ENOUGH) SO I IMAGINE THAT THESE PEOPLE HAVEN'T FELT THE NEED TO REPORT THIS. BUT EVEN WITH THEM MANAGING TO GET HONDA AMERICA TO PAY 25% OF THE COST I'LL STILL PAY OVER $3000 IN REPAIR COSTS. HONDAS ARE "SUPPOSED" TO BE VERY RELIABLE, SO HAVING A WELL-MAINTAINED ENGINE DIE AT LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD FEELS LIKE I'VE BEEN CHEATED. BUT MORE SIGNIFICANTLY, IF HONDA KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM, I THINK THEY SHOULD TAKE MORE ACTION AND RESPONSIBILITY ABOUT FIXING IT. EVEN WITH THEIR "SERVICE BULLETIN" THEY SAID IT WON'T BE A RECALL UNLESS IT'S A "SAFETY ISSUE" LIKE SEAT BELTS. I DON'T THINK IT'S SAFE FOR PEOPLE TO BE DRIVING AROUND CIVICS WHERE THE ENGINE COULD FAIL AT ANY MOMENT WITHOUT PROVOCATION. *TR