NHTSA Complaint #10735896 — 2008 HONDA CIVIC

I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN LEAVING MY PLACE OF WORK. THE CAR MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED (POWER STEERING WENT) AND A/C STOPPED WORKING. I IMMEDIATELY PARKED THE CAR AND THE NEXT DAY HAD IT TOWED TO A HONDA DEALERSHIP. UPON INSPECTION, THE WATER PUMP SEIZED UP. THE PULLEY AND LOCK BOLT HOLDING THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD PRACTICALLY FALLEN OFF. THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY A HONDA DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN. THE CAR HAS LOW MILEAGE, I AM THE FIRST OWNER, AND THE CAR HAS ONLY BEEN SERVICED AT A HONDA DEALERSHIP. I WILL ALSO REFERENCE A SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED ON 2006 HONDA CIVICS. THERE IS NO RECALL ON 2008'S EVEN THOUGH IT CONTAINS THE SAME R18 ENGINE (ENGINE BLOCK CRACKING PROBLEMS) AS THE 2006 AND 2007. SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: 08-038 NHTSA ID #: 10026085 BULLETIN DATE: FRI, 08/01/2008 FAILING COMPONENT(S): 062000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM SUMMARY: HONDA: PRODUCT UPDATE: WATER PUMP PULLEY FLANGE CRACKS. A CRACK PULLEY FLANGE MAY CREATE A PULLEY NOISE, CAUSE THE WATER PUMP TO FAIL, AND CAUSE THE DRIVE BELT TO BREAK. *PE UPDATED 12/19/08. CSC LETTER WAS RECEIVED. *PE