NHTSA Complaint #11684116 — 2017 HONDA RIDGELINE

My engine started making a knocking/sparking noise while I was driving on the interstate (with two children) in Utah, had to pull over to a gas station, barely made it there before the engine stalled. Had a mechanic come and affirm the engine was out, truck was towed to Ken Graf Honda in Riverdale where I was told it would be pointless to replace the engine since it would cost over $14k. Was compelled by circumstance (being stranded) to buy a new 2019 Honda Ridgeline for $8000 more in cumulative payments, even after trade in allowance. Salesmen were extremely condescending and suggested the engine failure was my fault because I had a small pallet of ceramic molds in the back of the truck when it failed. Dealership gave us $6k worth of trade in value for 2017 and immediately replaced the engine at no cost (they sent me the invoice of repairs by accident) and will no doubt put it out on the lot for sale. Contacted the Idaho Falls dealership where we had purchased the car 1.5 years earlier and were told we were a month past our warranty and they “could not” contribute to a resolution.