NHTSA Complaint #10690992 — 2009 ACURA MDX

VEHICLE WAS RUNNING NORMAL. AFTER SITTING OUTSIDE ON A VERY COLD DAY IN WISCONSIN, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. IT WAS TOWED TO BERGSTROM ACURA IN APPLETON, WI WHERE A NEW STARTER WAS INSTALLED AND IT STARTED. THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. INSPECTION INDICATED A LARGE PIECE OF THE #5 PISTON BROKE OFF DUE TO A LATENT MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND DESTROYED THE ENGINE. ALTHOUGH THIS FAILURE OCCURRED IN THE SHOP, THE PISTON COULD HAVE FAILED ON THE ROAD WHICH COULD HAVE SEIZED THE ENGINE AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. AN IDENTICAL FAILURE WAS ALSO FOUND IN CANADA ON VIN [XXX] THAT OCCURRED JAN 12, 2015. ACURA HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO CONSIDER THEM RELATED AND HAS NOT LOGGED THEM AS POTENTIAL SAFETY DEFECTS. PHOTOS OF THE FAILED PARTS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR