NHTSA Complaint #10459441 — 2006 ACURA MDX

FIVE DAYS AFTER PASSING THE STATE CAR INSPECTION AT A HONDA DEALERSHIP, MY WIFE AND TWO SONS WERE DRIVING OUR MDX ON 146N WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED TWICE, FIRST TO A LOCAL GARAGE (AS IT WAS AFTER 7 PM AND ON THE WEEKEND) AND THEN TO THE ACURA DEALERSHIP, ACURA TECHNICIANS CONFIRMED THE DIAGNOSIS OF THE GARAGE AND STATED THAT A SPARK PLUG HAD BEEN SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNUSABLE WITH SIGNIFICANT ENGINE DAMAGE. THE INITIAL COST ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR WAS $8,100 AS THE FOLLOWING PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED: ENGINE SHORT BLOCK, CYLINDER HEAD, GASKET KITS, COIL PACK, SPARK PLUG(S), ETC. THE OWNER OF THE INDEPENDENT GARAGE HELPED MY WIFE TAKE SIDE-BY-SIDE PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE WHICH ARE AVAILABLE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM. AS THE DAMAGED PARTS HAD BEEN TAKEN OUT OF MY VEHICLE, AGAINST MY REQUEST, THESE PICTURES ARE ALL THAT I HAVE TO SHOW THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. PLEASE NOTE THAT ACURA DOES NOT INSPECT SPARK PLUGS UNTIL 100K MILES AND THIS DAMAGE OCCURRED AT 84,553 MILES. WE HAVE FOLLOWED THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE RECOMMENDED BY ACURA AND WERE JUST OUTSIDE OF OUR POWER TRAIN WARRANTY PERIOD AND BELIEVE THAT A LUXURY MANUFACTURER SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT ESPECIALLY FOR DAMAGE CAUSED BY A SPARK PLUG THAT IS NOT REQUIRED TO BE INSPECTED FOR ANOTHER 15,000 MILES.