NHTSA Complaint #11045051 — 2013 HONDA INSIGHT

WE PURCHASED A NEW 2013 HONDA INSIGHT.THE CAR HAD EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. IT REQUIRED ONE QUART OF OIL TO BE ADDED EVERY 2-3 WEEKS. WE REPEATEDLY VOICED OUR CONCERNS IN AT LEAST 5 OCCASIONS. EACH TIME WE WERE TOLD BY THE THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE OIL CONSUMPTION 'WAS NORMAL'. OUR COMPLAINTS WERE IGNORED, OUR CONCERNS DISMISSED.ON JANUARY 25, 2017, WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY I-78, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STARTED LOSING POWER AND COMPLETELY STALLED. LUCKILY, THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES BEHIND. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, IT WAS DISCOVERED THERE THAT A CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE HAD BROKEN OFF, CAUSING SEVERE AND IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO PISTONS AND THE CYLINDER HEAD. THE ENGINE WAS RENDERED USELESS. AMERICAN HONDA REJECTED TO COVER ANY OF THE EXPENSES. WE WERE TOLD TO PURCHASE A USED ENGINE, WHICH COST US $4,689.51 OUT OF OUR POCKET IN ENGINE, PARTS AND LABOR. AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE CAR CONTINUED HAVING EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. ON AUGUST 24, 2017, THE 2ND ENGINE ALSO BLEW UP, COINCIDENTALLY WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY I-78. THIS TIME, WE WERE INFORMED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL MEMO FROM AMERICAN HONDA, EXTENDING ENGINE WARRANTY TO 8 YEARS FOR INSIGHT MODELS 2012 AND 2013. AMERICAN HONDA KEEPS THIS WARRANTY EXTENSION QUIETLY. IT MIGHT APPEAR THAT THEY ARE JUST WAITING FOR ACCIDENTS AND/OR COMPLAINTS TO HAPPEN, AND ONLY THEN OFFER THE WARRANTY EXTENSION. I BELIEVE THIS IS A BIG SAFETY AND WARRANTY ISSUE. I FEAR FOR MY HUSBAND'S AND OTHER CONSUMERS' SAFETY. AMERICAN HONDA REJECTED HONORING THE WARRANTY COVERAGE, NOT TO REIMBURSE US FOR THE $4,689.51 WE PAID FOR THE FIRST TIME ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THIS REQUEST OF OURS WAS REJECTED FOR WITHOUT SUBSTANTIVE ARGUMENTS. WHILE AMERICAN HONDA FAILED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, ENGINES FOR THIS MODEL STARTED FAILING AT ABOUT THE 100K MILE MARK, SOMETHING THAT HAS HAPPENED TO MANY INSIGHT CAR OWNERS.