NHTSA Complaint #10935464 — 2012 HONDA INSIGHT

WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD I NOTICED THAT CAR IS CONSUMING UNUSUAL QUANTITY OF OIL (AROUND 58,000 MILES). A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON 'CHECK EMISSION SYSTEM'. I PULLED THE DIPSTICK AND THERE WAS BARELY ANY OIL ON THE TIP. I PUT 2 QUARTS OF OIL INTO THE ENGINE AND IT STILL DID NOT REACH THE TOP FILL LINE. THE CAR ONLY HOLDS 3.5 QUARTS. THE 'LOW OIL LIGHT' NEVER CAME ON, HOW MUCH OIL HAS TO DISAPPEAR BEFORE THE OIL LIGHT COMES ON? THERE ARE NO OIL LEAKS FROM THE CAR. I NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND OPENED A CASE. THEY ADVISED TO GO TO DEALER TO HAVE 4 'OIL CONSUMPTION TESTS' PERFORMED ' ONE EVERY THOUSAND MILES. I COMPLETED ALL 4 TEST IN AROUND 3 MONTHS, THE TEST VERIFIED THAT THE CAR BURNS UP TO 1.0 QTS/1000 MILES. I NOTIFIED MY REP (AMBER) AT THE MANUFACTURER OF THE RESULTS OF TESTING. I WAS INFORMED THAT MY 'CASE WAS CLOSED' ' MANUFACTURER DID NOT EVEN BOTHER TO FIND OUT WHAT THE RESULTS WERE, THEY JUST 'CLOSED' MY CASE. I REQUESTED AMBER RE-OPEN CASE AND TAKE DOWN THE RESULTS. AMBER CONTACTED THE DEALER TO VERIFY THE CONSUMPTION DATA I PROVIDED. SHE THEN STATED 'OUR ENGINEERS HAVE DETERMINED THAT 1.0 TO 1.5 QTS CONSUMED PER 1000 MILES IS NORMAL FOR THIS VEHICLE.' I RESPONDED THAT THIS IS 'EXCESSIVE' CONSUMPTION THAT IS NOT NORMAL FOR ANY VEHICLE TO CONSUME THIS MUCH OIL, AND THAT I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW AND IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED AT THE DEALER AT THE REQUIRED SERVICE INTERVALS. AMBER REFUSED TO OFFER ANY SOLUTION OR PROVIDE ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TOWARDS CORRECTING WHAT IS IN MY OPINION AN ENGINE DEFECT. IT APPEARED THAT SHE WAS BASICALLY READING OFF A PREPARED STATEMENT. I NOW HAVE TO ADD ABOUT A QUART EVERY 2 FILL UPS (AROUND 960 MILES). THE OIL COSTS AROUND $10/ QT BUT I FOUND THAT WALMART SELLS A 5 QUART JUG THAT LOWERS THE COST TO $5/QT. I ADD OIL SO FREQUENTLY THAT I LIKELY NEVER HAVE TO 'CHANGE' THE OIL, ALTHOUGH THE FILTER DOES