NHTSA Complaint #10356721 — 2004 ACURA TSX

2004 ACURA TSX 61K MILES, COOLING SYSTEM FAILED COMPLETELY. I WAS JUST DRIVING LOCALLY WHEN I NOTICED A RATTLING NOISE. ON SOME INVESTIGATION I FOUND OUT THAT THE NOISE COMES ONLY WHEN THE A/C IS TURNED ON. TOOK IT TO A DEALER (POHANKA ACURA, CHANTILLY VA) AND THEY SAID SOME PART WITHIN A/C COMPRESSOR HAS EXPLODED AND THERE ARE METAL PIECES ALL OVER THE A/C SYSTEM AND THAT THE ENTIRE A/C SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $4500. THERE HAVE BEEN SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET FOR THE 2004 ACURA TSX'S. I PUT ON VERY LESS MILES ON THE CAR PER YEAR AND MAINTAINED IT PERFECTLY (PERIODIC MAINTENANCE, REGULAR OIL CHANGES). HOW CAN ACURA NOT ISSUE A RECALL OR ASSIST OWNERS WITH THIS PROBLEM? THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR, NOR WOULD THEY TALK TO ACURA TO EXPLAIN MY SITUATION. I JUST SPENT ABOUT $750 TO REPLACE A FAILER SENSOR TO MAKE THE AIR BAG CHECK LIGHT GO AWAY. I DID NOT EXPECT THIS FROM ACURA! I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE ALL MY FRIENDS ARE WARNED ABOUT THE POOR QUALITY OF ACURA ENGINEERING AND CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE TRICK PART OF IT IS THAT EVERYTHING FALLS APART RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD (50K) IS OVER. WELL, ACURA HAS GOT BRIGHT ENGINEERING MINDS TO MAKE THE PARTS LAST FOR 50K MILES. *TR