NHTSA Complaint #11143916 — 2018 HONDA CR-V

I PURCHASED MY 2018 HONDA CR-V EX-L IN DECEMBER OF 2017. I NOTICED WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS THAT THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS EXTREMELY SLOW TO CLIMB, AND OFTENTIMES WOULD "LOSE" TEMPERATURE ON COLDER DAYS. I SPENT TIME TESTING THE CONDITIONS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD FLUCTUATE SO I WOULD HAVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO PROVIDE THE DEALERSHIP. I WOULD DRIVE BOTH STOP-AND-GO, AS WELL AS ON THE HIGHWAY FOR 15-30 MINUTES AT A TIME TO GET THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE NORMAL, AND THEN PULL INTO A PARKING LOT WITH THE ENGINE STILL RUNNING. AFTER ABOUT 2-5 MINUTES, THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE WOULD START TO DROP, EVENTUALLY DROPPING TO 1-2 INDICATOR MARKS ON THE GAUGE. I WOULD ALSO NO LONGER HAVE ANY HEAT AT THAT POINT (THE HVAC SYSTEM WOULD BLOW COLD). I WENT THROUGH 2 SEPARATE DEALERS TROUBLESHOOTING THIS ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM HAD IT IN SERVICE THE LONGEST. AFTER MULTIPLE DAYS IN THE SHOP WITH NO UPDATE, I FELT THEY WERE NOT MAKING ANY PROGRESS ON THE ISSUE SO I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH HONDA OF AMERICA. THEY ASSIGNED THE ISSUE TO ONE OF THEIR CUSTOMER ADVOCATES TO OVERSEE THIS SERVICE ISSUE WITH THE CAR. I WAS TOLD BY HONDA OF AMERICA THAT THE ISSUE WAS REFERRED TO THE REGIONAL MANAGER OF SUPPORT FOR HONDA IN MY AREA. AFTER SOME ADDITIONAL TIME IN SERVICE, I WAS TOLD THE ISSUE WAS REVIEWED W/ HONDA'S TECHNICAL / ENGINEERING TEAM WHO DEEMED THIS AS "NORMAL". LAST MONTH I CAME ACROSS MULTIPLE ARTICLES RELATED TO A GASOLINE OIL DILUTION PROBLEM IN 2017/2018 CR-V'S, AND A "SIDE EFFECT" OF THAT PROBLEM BEING LOW ENGINE TEMPERATURE / LOSS OF ENGINE TEMPERATURE. I CHECKED THE OIL DIPSTICK ON THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE.