NHTSA Complaint #10871146 — 2014 ACURA MDX

THE VEHICLE THAT I USE FOR DAILY COMMUTE, ACURA MDX, HAD A BREAK DOWN ON 5/16/16. IT WAS LATER TOWED TO THE ACURA DEALERSHIP ( SUBURBAN ACURA ). THE CAUSE OF THE BREAKDOWN WAS DIAGNOSED AS OVERHEATING OF THE ENGINE DUE TO TAMPERING. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP ON 4/23/16 WHEN NO PROBLEM WAS NOTICED. MY VEHICLE IS ALWAYS PARKED IN A SECURE LOCATION AT WORK ( MONITORED BY VETERANS POLICE AT THE VA HOSPITAL ) AND AT HOME IN A SECURE GARAGE. I ASKED THE VA POLICE IF THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF TAMPERING AT WORK AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY WOULD HAVE NOTICED IT SINCE THE AREA IS UNDER VIDEO SURVEILLANCE. I STRONGLY SUSPECT THAT THE SUV WAS COMPROMISED ( TAMPERED / DAMAGED ) DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHEN IT WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP PRIOR TO THE BREAKDOWN AND THE DEALER IS TRYING TO DEFLECT THE ISSUE BY CITING TAMPERING AS THE CAUSE. WHEN ASKED IF THIS WAS POSSIBLE, ACURA CUSTOMER SERVICE ( MRS APRIL AT 800-382-2238 EXT 115239 ) & THE DEALERSHIP ( SUBURBAN ACURA, FARMINGTON HILLS, MI )DENY THIS BY VERBALLY STATING THAT " ENGINE HEATING DUE TO THIS KIND OF TAMPERING WOULD RESULT WITHIN LESS THAN 5 MILES OF DRIVING AND I WOULD HAVE NOTICED IT ON THE DAY THE SUV LEFT THE DEALERSHIP WHEN IT WENT FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE" I FAIL TO UNDERSTAND HOW I COULD DRIVE MORE THAN 20 MILES TO WORK OR BACK HOME IF TAMPERING DID HAPPEN AT EITHER WORK OR AT HOME. TAMPERING OF THIS KIND APPARENTLY IS ONLY POSSIBLE WITH SPECIAL INSTRUMENTATION AND I FAIL TO UNDERSTAND WHY ANYONE WOULD DO THIS. THE OTHER ISSUE WE SUSPECT IS IF THERE IS A DEFECTIVE PART ( FROM ACURA ) AND THEY ARE UNWILLING TO ADMIT IT TO AVOID LIABILITY.