NHTSA Complaint #10682782 — 2002 HONDA ACCORD

MY HONDA WAS IDLING AS I WAS CLEARING THE SNOW OFF OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I GOT INTO MY CAR, I COULD SMELL EXHAUST FUMES, I ASSUMED IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS IDLING. AS I DROVE HOME, THE SMELL FADED, SO I DID NOT PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO IT. ON 1/31/15 I HAD MY CAR INSPECTED & THE OIL CHANGED. ASIDE FROM HAVING THE BRAKES & ROTORS REPLACED, ALL WAS WELL & THE CAR PASSED INSPECTION. ON 2/8/15 I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE GROCERY STORE. SUDDENLY MY OIL LIGHT STARTS TO BLINK & THE SMELL OF EXHAUST FUMES BECOMES OVER WHELMING. I OPENED MY WINDOWS & CONTINUED HOME. I PULLED THE CAR INTO THE GARAGE & NOTICED A TRAIL OF OIL. I BACKED THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE & THERE WAS A POOL OF OIL ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. MY HUSBAND & I CHECKED TO BE SURE THE DRAIN PLUG & FILTER WERE INTACT, THEN WE CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL AND IT WAS EMPTY! WE WERE LUCKY THE ENGINE DID NOT SEIZE UP! WE TOOK THE CAR TO OUR NON-HONDA MECHANIC WHO INFORMED US THAT THE BALANCE SEAL HAD BLOWN OUT. AS A RESULT OIL SPRAYED ALL OVER THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE.THIS IS WHAT WAS CAUSING THE EXHAUST FUME SMELL PERMEATING THE CABIN. HE TOLD ME THAT HE CAN REPLACE THE SEAL, BUT THAT HE WOULD ALSO HAVE TO REPLACE THE TIMING BELT, WATER PUMP, PULLEYS, TENSIONER, CAM & CRANK. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT HONDA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM & THAT THE BALANCE SEALS NOW COME WITH A BRACKET TO HOLD THEM IN PLACE. I ASKED HIM IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE BALANCE SEALS & HE TOLD ME NO, MOST LIKELY DUE TO THE COST OF THE REPAIR. I HAD TO PAY $848 TO REPAIR MY CAR DUE TO A BLOWN SEAL THAT HONDA IS AWARE OF. HONDA SHOULD MOST DEFINITELY RECALL THIS MODEL OF ACCORDS & FIX THE BALANCE SEAL ISSUE; FOR NO OTHER REASON OTHER THAN THE DANGEROUS FUMES THAT FILLED THE INTERIOR OF MY CAR. I'D LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF THIS REPAIR. IF YOU SUDDENLY SMELL EXHAUST FUMES, GET THE BALANCE SEAL CHECKED IMMEDIATELY AS IT IS A WARNING! *TR