NHTSA Complaint #10681766 — 2012 HONDA CIVIC

WHILE DRIVING ON HILLY CITY STREETS DURING A SNOW STORM, THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL AND ABS SYSTEMS ENGAGED, FOLLOWED SHORTLY BY WARNING LIGHTS AND MESSAGES THAT THESE SYSTEMS NEEDED ATTENTION. DESPITE PARKING THE CAR AND TURNING OFF THE ENGINE, A SMALL MOTOR WITHIN THE "ABS MODULATOR CONTROL UNIT" CONTINUED TO OPERATE AND WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. THE MODULATOR/CONTROL UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH A USED UNIT COSTING $280, NOT COUNTING DIAGNOSTIC AND LABOR CHARGES. (TOTAL REPAIR COST: $602.) A NEW UNIT WOULD HAVE COST OVER $1000. THE USED PART CAME WITH A "LIFETIME WARRANTEE." IT SEEMS THAT THE ORIGINAL DEVICE SHOULD HAVE BEEN WARRANTEED BEYOND THE STANDARD 3YR/30,000 MILE LIMIT AS IT IS AN IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURE. DESPITE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS POSTED ON VARIOUS WEBSITES, THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED WITH A RECALL. *JS