NHTSA Complaint #10439845 — 2006 HONDA CIVIC

IN AUGUST OF 2009, AT 89,549 MILES THE ORIGINAL SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER FAILED. THE TENSIONER BOLT BROKE OFF IN THE ENGINE BLOCK DURING THE REPLACEMENT PROCESS. ENOUGH OF THE BOLT WAS EXPOSED TO GRIP IT AND REMOVE IT FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK. HONDA REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE USED INCLUDING NEW TENSIONER ASSEMBLY, TENSIONER BOLT AND BELT. LOCAL HONDA DEALER WOULD NOT ASSIST. NOT WARRANTY, NO DEFECT, NO OFFER TO ASSIST. OCTOBER, 2011, AT 146,000 MILES, THE TENSIONER BOLT BROKE CAUSING MISALIGNMENT OF THE SERPENTINE TENSIONER PULLEY, TEARING UP THE BELT AND STALLING OUT THE ENGINE. THE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. INSTALLED A SECOND "BELT ENHANCEMENT KIT" FROM LOCAL PARTS COMPANY,WITH NEW LONGER BELT, NEW BELT ROUTING AND NEW TENSIONER WITH A NEW BOLT. PRIVATE MECHANIC HAD TROUBLE REMOVING BROKEN BOLT FROM ENGINE BLOCK, BUT GOT IT OUT. THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER SAID MY VIN NOT AFFECTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. LOCAL PARTS DEALERS COMPUTERS ALL SHOWED A "BELT ENHANCEMENT KIT" AND SO DID THE HONDA PARTS DEPARTMENT. HONDA SERVICE WRITERS NOT HELPFUL, NOT THEIR PROBLEM. WHAT WILL HAPPEN THE NEXT TIME THIS BOLT FAILS AND DAMAGES THE THREADS? OR THIS FAILURE DAMAGES THE ALTERNATOR, WATERPUMP, POWER STEERING UNIT AND OTHER PARTS? THIS SHOULD BE A WARRANTABLE FAILURE COVERED BY HONDA. *TR