NHTSA Complaint #10399004 — 2007 HONDA ACCORD

WHEN DRIVING THE CAR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED ON, THEN OFF. WE TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC WHO FOUND NOTHING WRONG. A WEEK LATER, THE LIGHT FLASHED ON AND OFF AGAIN. ANOTHER TRIP TO THE MECHANIC AND THEN TO THE DEALER REVEALED THAT A SPARK PLUG HAD COME LOOSE AND BROKE APART CAUSING THE CYLINDER HEAD, CYLINDER WALL AND PISTON TO BE DAMAGED. THE FIX WAS THAT THE CAR BASICALLY NEEDED A NEW ENGINE (REPLACED SHORT BLOCK, CYLINDER HEAD, ALL SPARK PLUGS AND ALL NECESSARY GASKETS AND SEALS). DUE TO THE NUMBER OF MILES ON THE CAR (69K AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT), IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. EVERYONE FROM THE MECHANIC TO THE DEALER SAID THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. HONDA DID END UP PAYING FOR A PERCENTAGE OF THE REPAIR, BUT OUR PORTION WAS STILL AROUND $2500. THIS WAS OUR FIRST HONDA, WE BOUGHT IT BASED ON REPUTATION AND BECAUSE WE PUT A LOT OF MILES ON CARS. WE NEVER EXPECTED TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT THREE YEARS OLD.