NHTSA Complaint #10949587 — 2006 HONDA CIVIC

ENGINE BLOCK CRACKED AND IS LEAKING COOLANT, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE WHOLE ENGINE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE COVERED IN HONDA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 10-048, BUT THAT ONLY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS. MY CAR WAS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN JULY 2006, SO THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 7 MONTHS PAST THAT 10-YEAR CUTOFF. I'VE BEEN QUOTED $5800 FOR A NEW ENGINE, WHICH IS MORE THAN THE CAR'S VALUE. THERE ARE MANY OTHER OWNERS OF 2006 MODELS IN THE SAME SITUATION ALREADY, AND THERE WILL BE EVEN MORE AS EACH SUBSEQUENT MODEL YEAR UP TO 2009 HITS THE 10-YEAR MARK. LUCKILY I CAUGHT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE IT BECAME A MAJOR HAZARD. FIRST THE CAR'S HEATER QUIT BLOWING WARM AIR, THEN A FEW DAYS LATER I NOTICED COOLANT LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH ANY TIME I PARKED. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO FOUND THE CRACK IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. IF I HADN'T NOTICED THE LEAK AND THE COOLANT HAD BEEN COMPLETELY DEPLETED, THE ENGINE COULD HAVE OVERHEATED AND POSSIBLY FAILED ALTOGETHER WHILE DRIVING.