NHTSA Complaint #10534653 — 2008 HONDA CIVIC

IN JULY 2012, I STARTED NOTICING A CLICKING NOISE WHEN I WOULD TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. A FRIEND OF MINE WHOSE HUSBAND OWNS A GARAGE TOLD ME THEY HAD RECEIVED A SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT THIS SAME THING. IT WAS DATED JULY 16, 2009, SERV. BULL. # 262286. (STEERING GEARBOX MOUNTING BOLTS NOT TORQUED CORRECTLY). I CALLED HONDA'S CUST. SER. #. SHE INFORMED ME I COULD TAKE IT TO MY HONDA DEALERSHIP AND THEY WOULD INSPECT IT FOR ME FOR 75.00 I ASKED HER SINCE THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN THEY HAD SENT OUT TO GARAGES, WHY I HAD TO PAY A FEE? SHE SAID THAT WAS PROTOCOL. I ASKED THAT IF IT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS ON THE SERVICE BULLETIN IF I WOULD BE REIMBURSED. SHE WOULD NOT SAY YES, ONLY SAYING, "POSSIBLY." I DECIDED NOT TO GO THAT ROUTE. MY FRIEND'S HUSBAND TOLD ME TO BRING MY CAR IN AND THEY WOULD LOOK AT THE MOUNTING BOLTS TO SEE IF THEY WERE TORQUED CORRECTLY (FOR FREE). THIS WAS THE SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUE, AND SOUNDED LIKE THE PROBLEM I WAS HAVING. HE INSPECTED IT AND SAID THEY WERE TORQUED CORRECTLY, BUT IT IS STILL MAKING THE NOISE A YEAR LATER. IT IS USUALLY WHEN I TURN SHARPLY LEFT OR RIGHT. MY CONCERN I EXPRESSED TO MY FRIEND'S HUSBAND WHO LOOKED AT MY CAR WAS THAT I DIDN'T WANT THE PROBLEM TO BE TEARING SOMETHING ELSE UP, AND I DIDN'T WANT SOMETHING TO FALL OUT AS I WAS GOING DOWN THE ROAD, OR FOR MY STEERING MECHANISM TO FAIL AS I WAS DRIVING. HE ASSURED ME ALL OF THIS WAS OK, BUT I STILL WONDER?? SHOULDN'T HONDA REPAIR ISSUES FREE OF CHARGE, THAT THEY PUT ON SERVICE BULLETINS? THIS IS A DEFECT IN HONDA'S MANUFACTURING, NOT THROUGH ANYTHING I HAVE DONE. I FEEL THAT HONDA SHOULD INSPECT MY VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE AND IF THIS SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUE IS THE PROBLEM, THEN THEY SHOULD REPAIR IT FREE OF CHARGE AS WELL. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN GIVE ME ON THIS MATTER. *TR