NHTSA Complaint #10658894 — 2013 HONDA CR-V

DURING WINTER MONTHS AT FREEZING AND BELOW PART # 110153 VARIABLE TIMING CONTROL, VTC ACTUATOR MALFUNCTIONS. AT THE FIRST START UP THE VEHICLE MAKES A GRINDING NOISE (METAL UPON METAL). THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY THE ORIGINATING DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THAT EVEN THOUGH THIS HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY IN CRV-S WHEN THE TEMPERATURE FALLS AT OR FREEZING THAT THERE IS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. THE ENGINE WON'T FREEZE UP NOR WILL THERE BE ANY DAMAGE TO THE POWER TRAIN? THE PART IN QUESTION IS UNABLE (AT LOW TEMPERATURES) TO PUSH OIL UP INTO THE ENGINE UPON INITIAL COLD START-UP IN THE MORNINGS . THIS WAS HOW IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME BY THE DEALER. WHEN I ASKED TO SPEAK TO THE HONDA REPRESENTATIVE WHO WAS AT THE STORE WHEN THE DEALER REPLACED THE PART ON 11 NOVEMBER, 2014 (AND WITHIN LESS THAN 24 HOURS IT FAILED) I WAS NEVER ALLOWED TO DO SO. I LIVED WITH THIS ALL OF LAST WINTER AND NOW THIS WINTER AS WELL OR SO IT APPEARS. I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THIS WAS AN ISSUE ON SEVERAL 2013 HONDA CR-V'S SOLD IN STATES WHERE THE CLIMATE IS FREEZING OR BELOW. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT A FIX WAS IN THE WORKS BY HONDA. WELL A FIX HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS NOW SINCE AT LEAST FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR 2014 AND NOTHING HAS BEEN ACHIEVED. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER TO CALL HONDA CUSTOMER RELATIONS. THE DEALER WIPED THEIR HANDS OF THE SITUATION. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE WILL NOT BE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE ( AND POSSIBLY CAUSE IT TO FREEZE UP WHILE ON THE ROAD) POTENTIALLY CAUSING A SERIOUS HAZARD/ACCIDENT. LAST, (AND LEAST OF ALL) WHEN I WANT TO SELL AND/OR TRADE IN THIS VEHICLE IT'S VALUE WILL BE SUBSTANTIALLY DIMINISHED BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT THAT I AM (BY LAW) REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE. FUNNY HOW THE DEALER KNEW THIS WHEN THEY SOLD ME THE CAR BUT NEVER DISCLOSED THE DEFECT TO ME! *TR