NHTSA Complaint #741297 — 1996 HONDA ACCORD

WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFICE LIGHT, THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED INTO THE NEAREST BUSINESS I THOUGHT WOULD HAVE A MECHANIC, WHICH WAS A QUICK OIL CHANGE TYPE PLACE. OIL WAS POURING FROM MY ENGINE. SEALS AND BELTS HAD TO BE REPLACED, INCLUDING THE TIMING BELT SO THE REPAIR WAS OVER $500. HOWEVER, MY CAR WAS STILL LEAKING OIL (WHICH IT HAD NEVER DONE BEFORE). SOON AFTER I RECEIVED HONDA'S BALANCER SHAFT SEAL RECALL INFO IN THE MAIL. THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED SEEMED TO BE PRECISELY WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. I TOOK MY CAR TO AN AUTHORIZED HONDA DEALER TO HAVE THE REPAIR INSPECTED AND TO HAVE THE OIL LEAK CHECKED OUT. I LEFT WITH ANOTHER $250 BILL AND THE MECHANIC FELT THAT MY PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN THE BALANCER SHAFT SEAL BECAUSE THE MECHANIC AT THE QUICK CHANGE PLACE INCORRECTLY LISTED A PART REPLACED AS AN OIL SEAL ON THE INVOICE. THE MECHANIC WHO DID THE ORIGINAL REPAIR TOLD ME THAT IT WAS DEFINITELY THE BAL SHAFT SEAL THAT HE HAD REPLACED AND OFFERED TO CONSULT WITH THE HONDA TECH. HONDA TECH WAS UNRESPONSIVE AND UNINTERESTED IN HEARING FROM THE MECHANIC. AFTER I SENT IN ALL THE DOCUMENTATION AND REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT I RECENTLY RECEIVED MORE INFO FROM HONDA, WHICH INSTRUCTED ME TO AGAIN HAVE MY REPAIR INSPECTED BY A HONDA DEALER. AGAIN I LEFT WITH A $450 BILL IN ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO FIX THE PERSISTENT OIL LEAK. I HAVE SUBMITTED ALL THE INFO AND INVOICES TO HONDA AND AM WAITING ON REIMBURSEMENT.