NHTSA Complaint #10660258 — 1999 HONDA CIVIC

AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR AN EXTENDED TIME (GREATER THAN 30 MINUTES) IN HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES (100 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT OR GREATER) THE VEHICLE EMITS A STRONG AND STRANGE SMELL, WHICH APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE SMELL GENERALLY DOES NOT PENETRATE INTO THE VEHICLE'S INTERIOR, BUT IT IS STRONG ENOUGH THAT THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE PARKED IN A COVERED GARAGE BECAUSE THE SMELL WILL OVERWHELM THE ENCLOSED GARAGE WHEN THE GARAGE DOOR IS DOWN. OCCASIONALLY THE SMELL CAN PENETRATE BOTH THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE HOUSE. THE SMELL CAN BE INTENSE ENOUGH TO CAUSE HEADACHES, AND IT IS A POSSIBLE HEALTH HAZARD. THE SMELL DOES NOT AFFECT THE VEHICLE'S PERFORMANCE. THIS SMELL IS NOT A ROTTEN SULPHUR SMELL FROM THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, NOR THE SWEET ODOR OF ETHYLENE GLYCOL FROM THE COOLANT. IT ALSO IS NOT THAT OF BURNING OIL OR OVERHEATED BRAKES. NO VISIBLE EMISSIONS ARE EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. PERHAPS THE SMELL IS EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE'S EMISSION CONTROLS (GASOLINE VAPOR RECOVERY SYSTEM?). THE SMELL IS STRONG AND SHARP WITH A "CHEMICAL" ODOR (PERHAPS BENZENE?). *TR