NHTSA Complaint #10335759 — 2002 HONDA CIVIC

I OWN A 2002 HONDA CIVIC SI AND WAS CHECKING ON THE VALVE ADJUSTMENT IN MY ENGINE TODAY. I NOTICED ONE OF THE CAM LOBES (CYLINDER #3 ON THE EXHAUST SIDE) HAD SOME SEVERE GALLING AND PITTING. ALL OF THE OTHER CAM LOBES WERE IN PERFECT CONDITION. AFTER DOING SOME SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET (SEARCH FOR "CAM GALLING" OR "HONDA GALLING" OR SOMETHING SIMILAR) I HAVE FOUND THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE TO MANY WHO OWN THIS YEAR CIVIC SI. I ALSO FOUND SOME SITES STATING IT IS ALSO A PROBLEM IN OTHER K SERIES ENGINES (MY CAR HAS A K20A3 ENGINE) AND POSSIBLY A PROBLEM IN OTHER HONDA CARS/SUVS. MY FEAR IS THAT THE LOBE COULD DISINTEGRATE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS AND CAUSE TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE AND POSSIBLY INJURY OR AN ACCIDENT. I PLAN ON TAKING PICTURES TOMORROW AND SEEING WHAT HONDA RECOMMENDS. SINCE THE MAINTENANCE INTERVAL ON ADJUSTING VALVES IS 110,000 MILES ON MY HONDA, IT'S DIFFICULT TO CATCH A PROBLEM LIKE THIS BEFORE THE WARRANTY IS UP SINCE REMOVING A VALVE COVER IS NOT A STANDARD PROCEDURE...ALTHOUGH I WOULD VENTURE TO GUESS THE PROBLEM HAD BEGUN DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. AND, LOOKING AT THE NUMBER OF POSTS ON THE ISSUE, SOMETHING HONDA SHOULD BE RECALLING OR HELPING WITH. *TR