NHTSA Complaint #10956940 — 2006 HONDA CIVIC

WAS DRIVING MY 2006 HONDA CIVIC HOME FROM SCHOOL AND SUDDENLY NOTICED COOLANT LEAK/SMOKE. TOOK TO HONDA DEALER WHO TOLD ME THERE WAS RECALL FOR CRACKED ENGINE BLOCK BUT HAS SINCE EXPIRED AND NOW WANT $4500 TO REPAIR - MORE THAN THE VALUE OF THE CAR! I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE'S EVER AN EXPIRATION ON A RECALL. HONDA REALLY WANTS UNSUSPECTING PEOPLE OUT DRIVING WITH A KNOWN PROBLEM? THERE WAS NO WAY FOR ME TO HAVE KNOWN THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM SINCE WHEN I CHECKED MY VIN #, NO OPEN RECALLS SHOWED UP (I GUESS SINCE IT WAS ALREADY EXPIRED WHEN I PURCHASED IT - JULY 2016 FROM USED CAR LOT). PRETTY DISAPPOINTING THAT A DEALERSHIP COULD SELL ME A CAR WITH A KNOWN RECALL. PLEASE HELP ME. I'M JUST 17 YEAR OLD STUDENT/ATHLETE, HARD- WORKING AND BOUGHT THE CAR WITH MY OWN $ AND NOW FEEL RIPPED OFF AND HELPLESS. I'VE TAKEN EXCELLENT CARE AND PRIDE IN MY CAR SO THIS ISSUE IS DEVASTATING TO ME.