NHTSA Complaint #11300222 — 2010 HONDA CIVIC

MY 2010 MODEL YEAR HONDA CIVIC WITH THE 1.8L R18A1 4-CYL ENGINE WILL NOT MAINTAIN ITS NORMAL ENGINE OPERATING TEMPERATURE DURING THE COLD WINTER MONTHS. THE ENGINE TAKES A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO WARM UP, WHETHER IT IS IDLING IN THE DRIVEWAY OR BEING DRIVEN IN THE CITY/HIGHWAY. THIS PROBLEM IS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WHEN USING THE HEAT TO WARM UP THE CAR. IF I TRY TO USE THE DEFROST SETTING, THE CAR WILL NOT REACH ITS NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE AND THE AIR BEING BLOW OUT IS LUKEWARM. EVEN IF I WAIT UNTIL THE CAR IS FULLY WARMED UP, IF I ATTEMPT TO USE THE DEFROST, THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE WILL DROP. IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE ENGINE'S TEMPERATURE, I MUST KEEP THE DEFROST SET BETWEEN THE HOT AND COLD INDICATORS ON THE CLIMATE CONTROL KNOB. THIS POSES AS A PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE AIR BEING BLOWN OUT DOES NOT EFFECTIVELY DEFROST MY WINDOWS. I ALSO DO NOT WANT TO DAMAGE MY ENGINE AND HAVE IT RUN TOO COLD. ANY OUTSIDE TEMPERATE BELOW 30 F IS WHEN THE ENGINE SEEMS TO STRUGGLE WITH KEEPING A NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATE.