NHTSA Complaint #11692528 — 2018 HONDA ACCORD

I own a 2018 Honda Accord with approximately 131,000 miles. The vehicle suffered a blown head gasket that my mechanic identified as originating from a known design or manufacturing defect in Honda’s 1.5-liter turbocharged engine. They diagnosed the problem before they had my vehicle in their possession because they have already seen this so many times in other 2018 Honda Accords. The engine began showing symptoms such as coolant loss, rough idle, "Christmas tree" engine lights, and an overheating warning light. There was no sign of external coolant leakage. A professional inspection confirmed head-gasket failure. I have maintained the vehicle according to Honda’s recommended service schedule and have documentation for all maintenance. I contacted my local Honda dealership and Honda’s customer service department seeking goodwill or warranty assistance. Despite multiple attempts and escalation to a “warranty specialist,” Honda denied coverage and refused to contribute to repairs. The repair estimate exceeds $5,700, which is unacceptable for a vehicle with regular maintenance and a known pattern of premature engine failures. Online owner forums and public databases show many other reports of the same issue. I believe this defect poses a safety concern, as overheating or sudden engine failure can occur while driving, creating risk of loss of power, stalling, or fire. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate the widespread head-gasket and engine failures on late-model Honda vehicles equipped with this engine to determine whether a recall or manufacturer accountability action is warranted.