NHTSA Complaint #11679515 — 2018 HONDA ACCORD

On the morning of July 26, 2025, while returning home from a grocery shopping trip, my vehicle experienced a sudden and severe loss of power while traveling on an interstate highway with a posted speed limit of 65 mph. Without warning, the car ceased to accelerate and began to decelerate rapidly. I immediately activated my hazard lights and attempted to locate a safe area to stop. Vehicles traveling behind and alongside me were forced to brake abruptly to avoid a collision. Fortunately, no accident occurred, though the situation clearly presented a significant risk of one. After pulling onto the shoulder, I turned the vehicle off and restarted it. It initially appeared to operate normally, allowing me to resume driving. However, within a few minutes, the loss-of-power incident occurred again. I managed to pull over a second time, restart the vehicle, and continue the approximately 10-minute drive home without further incident. Upon taking the car to my mechanic, I was informed that coolant was present in one of the cylinders, indicating a failed head gasket. The mechanic advised that I bring the vehicle to an authorized Honda dealership for repair. The Honda service department performed diagnostics and confirmed the head gasket failure. The repair cost was $3,758, which I paid in full. Subsequent research revealed that this appears to be a widespread issue affecting certain Honda models manufactured between 2018 and 2022. I discovered numerous consumer complaints online and learned that a class action lawsuit has been filed regarding this exact defect. Based on my understanding, head gasket failures are uncommon—particularly in vehicles with relatively low mileage. My vehicle has approximately 83,000 miles on it. While I am dissatisfied with the substantial financial burden of this repair, my greater concern lies with the serious safety risk posed by the sudden loss of power at highway speeds. I respectfully request that this matter be reviewed.