NHTSA Complaint #10638599 — 2006 HONDA CIVIC

I WAS ON HWY 18 JUST BEFORE LAKE ARROWHEAD, CA WHEN I LOST THE POWER STEERING AND ALMOST WENT OFF THE CLIFF. UPON INSPECTION, I FOUND THAT THE BELT TENSIONER BRACKET'S PIVOT BOLT HAD SHEERED OFF THE ENGINE BLOCK CAUSING THE BELT TENSIONER TO COME LOOSE. THIS, IN TURN CAUSED LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THERE WAS A TSB (09-007) ISSUED BY HONDA FOR A LIMITED NUMBER OF VIN NUMBERS. THIS TSB CALLED FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE PIVOT BOLT AND THE DRIVE BELT. THE TSB EXPIRED ON JANUARY 30, 2012, HOWEVER, IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE AND HONDA SHOULD RECALL ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES TO CORRECT THE DEFECT. I ALSO CONTACTED A SMALL LOCAL HONDA DEALER AND INQUIRED ABOUT THE NUMBER OF THIS PIVOT BOLTS THEY HAVE SOLD IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. THIS DEALERSHIP ALONE SOLD OVER TEN BOLTS. IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD ISSUE THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION BEFORE INJURIES OCCUR OR WORSE, LIVES ARE LOST. *TR