NHTSA Complaint #733683 — 1996 HONDA ACCORD

WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, MY OIL LIGHT CAME ON. THANKFULLY I WAS JUST REACHING MY DESTINATION. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND SAW THAT OIL WAS POURING OUT OF IT! HAD I DRIVEN THIS WAY, ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC, MY ENGINE WOULD HAVE BEEN DESTROYED. I HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF THE OIL-SOAKED BELTS, ETC DUE TO THIS PART FAILURE. I HAVE SEEN SPOKEN TO SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM (ONE OF WHOSE CAR'S ENGINE DID "BLOW UP"). THE LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMONLY KNOWN DEFECT IN THE SEAL. THIS PARTICULAR SEAL IS GENERALLY CHANGED AT AROUND 90,000 MILES WHEN THE TIMING BELT IS REPLACED. UNFORTUNATELY, THE DEALERSHIP SAYS, MANY SEALS BREAK 15-20 THOUSAND MILES PREMATURELY CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS PARTICULAR PART MAY BE RECALLED IN THE NEAR FUTURE; I FEEL THIS WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE ACTION FOR THIS SITUATION.