NHTSA Complaint #10424179 — 2003 HONDA CR-V

ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON AUGUST 28TH, MY 2003 HONDA CRV HAD AN ENGINE FIRE. THE ONLY WARNING, WAS A RUBBING SOUND WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED BUT NO DASH LAMPS PRIOR TO SEEING THE SMOKE AND SUBSEQUENT FIRE. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GET MY FAMILY OUT OF THE CRV AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. UPON REPAIRING THE CAR AT THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER, THEY IDENTIFIED THE AC COMPRESSOR AS THE LIKELY ROOT CAUSE OF THE FIRE BASED ON MELTED CLUTCH DRIVE WIRES WHICH APPEAR TO BE THE IGNITION SOURCE FOR THE OVERHEATED DRIVE BELT. SINCE THE 2 YR OLD AC COMPRESSOR WAS A FOUR SEASONS - EVERCO 58881 REPLACEMENT A/C COMPRESSOR FROM AUTO ZONE, HONDA WAS NOT INTERESTED IN ANY FURTHER INVESTIGATION BUT THEY DID ALLOW ME TO KEEP THE DAMAGED AC COMPRESSOR AND DRIVE BELT. I SPOKE WITH EVERCO CUSTOMER SERVICE HOWEVER THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT DEAL WITH THE PUBLIC DIRECTLY SO I DISCUSSED THIS ISSUE WITH THE AUTO ZONE DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER WHO MADE AN INTERNAL INQUIRY AND THEN SAID THEY COULD NOT INITIATE A CLAIM BECAUSE THE COMPONENT IS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY PERIOD. I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT NEITHER HONDA, AUTOZONE NOR EVERCO ARE INTERESTED IN A ROOT CAUSE INVESTIGATION OR PROVIDING ANY COMPENSATION. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS INJURED IN THIS INCIDENT BUT OTHER CRV OWNERS MAY BE LESS FORTUNATE. I HAVE THE DAMAGED HARDWARE AND PHOTOS WHICH CAN SUPPORT AN INVESTIGATION. *TR