NHTSA Complaint #10363970 — 2004 HONDA CIVIC

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING MY HONDA CIVIC LX, 2004 . WE HAVE BEEN USING THIS CAR SINCE LAST 6 YEAR WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM. ON NOV. 1ST WE WERE DRIVING THIS CAR TO GO TO WORK; CAR WAS RUNNING PERFECT SMOOTH WITH NO INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEM. DURING EVENING HOURS WHEN SHE WAS DRIVING BACK TO HOME AFTER WORK. CAR STARTED FINE AS USUAL BUT SHE DROVE ABOUT 5 MILES AND AS SOON AS SHE REACHED ON THE WALT WHITMAN BRIDGE (NJ) SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, SHE PULLED OVER CAR IN THE SHOULDER LANE AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR. SHE CALLED THE POLICE FOR HELP, AS SOON AS POLICE OFFICER ARRIVED ON THE SCENE, CAR BUSTED IN THE FLAMES. POLICE CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR HELP AND SOON WHOLE CAR ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND STARTED TO BURN WITH HIGH FLAMES. BY THE TIME FIRE TRUCK SHOWED UP WHOLE CAR WAS DESTROYED BY THE FIRE. IT WAS VERY UNUSUAL THAT THE RUNNING CAR WITH NO PROBLEM FOR 6 YEARS AND FINE RUNNING CAR ALL OF SUDDEN CAUGHT IN FIRE. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE IS SOME FAULTY ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND MAY BE DUE TO MANUFACTURE DEFECT. I AM VERY FORTUNATE THAT THERE WAS NO INJURY OR DEATH IN THIS INCIDENCE. HOWEVER MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY BURN DOWN AND DESTROYED. I WILL APPRECIATE IF YOU CAN HELP ME WITH THIS. DID ANYONE BEFORE REPORTED THIS KIND OF PROBLEM IN THIS MODEL OF CAR WHICH MAY SUGGEST MANUFACTURE DEFECT? *TR