NHTSA Complaint #10438649 — 2006 HONDA CIVIC

MY 2006 HONDA CIVIC EX COMPLETELY STALLED OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING, LEAVING ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION. IT HAD BEEN DRIVING PERFECTLY WITHOUT ISSUE BEFORE THE STALL, AND HAS RECEIVED ALL NECESSARY MAINTENANCE IN A TIMELY FASHION UP UNTIL THAT TIME. MY CAR WAS INOPERABLE AND TOWED TO A NEARBY MECHANIC. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TENSIONER BOLT HAD BROKEN OFF IN MY ENGINE; HOWEVER, PART OF THE BOLT WAS STILL STUCK INSIDE OF MY ENGINE. DUE TO THE BOLT BREAKING, MY ALTERNATOR WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DAMAGED AND CAUSED THE CAR TO STALL. AFTER CONSULTING WITH A SEPARATE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT DUE TO THE LOCATION AND ANGLE OF THE BOLT, THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE COMPLETELY DROPPED OUT TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THIS BOLT AND TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THIS PROBLEM IS COVERED UNDER TSB 09-007 (JAN 09 CAMPAIGN - ENGINE DRIVE BELT TENSIONER BOLT REPLACEMENT); HOWEVER, EVEN THOUGH MY VIN FALLS WITHIN THE RANGE OF AFFECTED VEHICLES, IT IS NOT AN EXACT MATCH. *TR