1994 HONDA ACCORD Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A SEAL THAT HOLDS OIL IN CAR, SEAL MAY POP AND COME OUT, CAUSING ALL OIL TO COME OUT AT ONE TIME. CONSUMER FEEL THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IF ALL OF THE OIL COMES OUT AT ONCE, VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN, COULD BE ON A HIGHWAY, OR BUSY STREET COULD CAUSE AND ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

BALANCER SHAFT OIL SEAL POPPED OUT DUMPING THE ENTIRE ENGINE'S OIL ONTO MY DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO NEWPORT, RI ($80) THEN THERE WERE EXTENSIVE DAMAGES INCURRED BY THE LEAKING OIL WHICH RESULTED IN SEVERAL BELTS BECOMING CONTAMINATED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ($574 TOTAL REPAIR COST). I JUST RECENTLY (11/27/02) RECEIVED NOTIFICATION REGARDING THE RECALL OF THIS PART AND AM FURIOUS THAT HONDA'S NEGLIGENCE RESULTED IN A LARGE REPAIR BILL AND THANK GOODENSS THAT MY ENGINE DIDN'T SEIZE BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING IT WHEN IT HAPPENED.*AK

MY BALANCER SHAFT OIL SEAL FAILED, AND PUMPED OUT ALL THE OIL IN MY ENGINE. I FOUND OUT THAT THIS WAS PART OF AN ON GOING PRODUCT UPDATE. HONDA AMERICA AGREED THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR TO THE SEAL, BUT THE TIMING BELT ALSO NEEDS REPLACEMENT DUE TO OIL SATURATION FROM THE FAILED OIL SEAL. THEY STATE THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THIS, AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $410 FOR THIS REPAIR! IN THE HONDA CAMPAIN, IT MANDATES A CHANGE OF THE TIMING BELT. I WILL NOT PAY FOR THIS, AND IF THE TIMING BELT FAILS DUE TO THE OIL, WILL HONDA BE LIABLE FOR ANY ACCIDENTS, DAMAGE, OR INJURY THIS MAY CAUSE? IF THE TIMING BELT SNAPS, I BELIEVE THAT I WOULD LOSE ANY POWER STEERING AND BRAKES BECAUSE THE ENGINE WOULD DIE.*AK

11-7-2000 INCURRED AN EXPENSE OF $827.93 RESULTING FROM A BLOWN OUT BALANCE SHAFT SEAL. 11-29-2000 MAILED TO HONDA A REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT WITH: THE PROCARE INVOICE FOR 827.93, COPY OF THE RECEIPT, AND CENTURY HONDA INVOICE CONFIRMING INSPECTION OF BALANCE SHAFT SEAL CORRECTION. 1-13-2001 RECEIVED POSTCARD FROM HONDA CONFIRMING RECEIPT OF CLAIM. THEY CLAIMED THE DID NOT RECEIVE THE CENTURY HONDA INVOICE. 1-23-2001 AFTER DAYS, YES DAYS, OF BUSY SIGNALS I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO FAX THE INVOICE THEY SAID THEY DID NOT RECEIVE. ALL PHONE CALLS IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS OF THIS ORDEAL HAVE RESULTED IN BUSY SIGNALS OR BEING PUT ON HOLD. I HAVE PUT THE PHONE ON SPEAKER AT WORK AND WAITED AS LONG AS AN HOUR BEFORE GIVING UP. HONDA HAS BASICALLY MADE THEIRSELVES INACCESIBLE. 3-2-2001 TO DATE NO RESPONSE FROM HONDA EXCEPT PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED POSTCARD.HAVE

OIL PAN GASKET SUDDENLY BLEW, SPRAYING HOT OIL ALL OVER ENGINE, DESTROYING NEW TIMING BELT, ALL OTHER ENGINE BELTS AND HOSES. *AK

WHILE INTERSTATE DRIVING, CAR (ENGINE) SUDDENLY SHUTS DOWN . NOTICED RPM DROPS TO 0 AT THE INSTANT OF THE SHUTDOWN. LOST STEERING CAPABILITY (STEERING WHEEL HARD TO TURN IN ANY DIRECTION), LOST ACCELERATION POWER. HAD TO DRIFT OFF TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY. LUCKILY NO TRAFFIC IMMEDIATELY BEHIND. CAR TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER DETERMINED IGNITOR COIL, IGNITOR U AND ENGINE OIL SEAL ALL FAILED. LOST ALL OIL FROM ENGINE. DEALER REPLACED COIL IGNITOR, IGNITOR U, T-BELTS, OIL SEALS, WATER PUMP, COOLANT AND RUBBER, ACCORDING TO PARTS LISTING ON INVOICE. DAMAGE AMOUNTED TO $837.33. HONDA NOW RECALLING AND REPAIRING OIL SEAL BUT WILL NOT REIMBURSE FOR WATER PUMP, EXTERIOR BELTS OR THE TWO IGNITION/IGNITOR PARTS REPLACED. THIS WAS A MAJOR FAILURE THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN DEATH ON THE INTERSTATE. IF HONDA RECOMMENDS REPLACEMENT OF A PART TO PREVENT FUTURE FAILURE AS IN THE CASE OF THE WATER PUMP, THEN HONDA SHOULD...

BALANCER SHAFT SEAL POPPED OUT. ALL ENGINE OIL QUICKLY LOST. CAMSHAFT FROZE IN HEAD. CRANKSHAFT CONTINUED TO TURN, STRIPPING TEETH OFF OF TIMING BELT. OIL SOAKED BRAKE PADS, TIRES AND BELTS. MECHANIC SAID ENGINE NEEDS REPLACEMENT, DAMAGE IRREPAIRABLE. HEAD, CRANKSHAFT, AND PISTONS DAMAGED. REPAIR COSTS $2000 -$4000. CAR LOST ALL POWER AND WAS STRANDED IN THE ROAD, COULD HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENT. IF I HAD TO STOP IN A HURRY, COULD HAVE CRASHED DUE TO OIL SOAKED BRAKES. WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL ON THIS ENGINE. I SEE NUMEROUS COMPLANTS ON THIS SAME FAULTY OIL SEAL. *AK

BALANCER SEAL FAILED, ENGINE LOST OIL NOW ENGINE BLOCK IS CRACKED. *AK

BALANCE SHAFT SEAL FELL OUT CAUSING A MAJOR LOSS OF OIL. *SLC

BALANCE SHAFT SEAL FELL OUT CAUSING A MAJOR LOSS OF OIL. *SLC

VEHICLE BEGAN POURING OUT OIL FROM WITHIN THE TIMING COVER. ENDED UP REPLACING ALL BELTS INCLUDING TIMING BELT DUE TO OIL HAVING COVERED EVERYTHING. ALSO REPLACED WATER PUMP WHILE UNIT WAS OPEN. MECHANIC SAID BALANCE SHAFT SEAL WAS CAUSE OF PROBLEM - SAID IT WAS THE 4TH HE HAD SEEN IN ABOUT THE LAST WEEK THAT INVOLVED AN ACCORD. RESEARCHED RECALL INFO ON INTERNET AND DISCOVERED IN USA TODAY SEPT 19,2000 THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN OHIO MANUFACTERED CARS AND THOSE WERE BEING RECALLED FOR WHAT APPEARS AS THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN JAPAN HOWEVER. MADE A CALL TO HONDA MOTOR CO., SAID THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE IN PARTICULAR BUT THAT THEY RECEIVED THEIR INFO FROM NHTSA AND COULD NOT HELP ME SINCE THERE WAS NO EXISTING RECALL. SEEMS A HONDA SHOULD GO MORE THAT 50,000 WITHOUT MAJOR ENGINE REPAIR WORK. THANKS...

ENGINE SEAL CAME OUT, CAUSING MAJOR OIL LEAK WHILE ON THE PARKWAY, ALL BELTS INCLUDING TIMING BELT HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

FUEL IS LEAKING FROM ENGINE HEAD GASKETS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHIILE TRAVELING NOTICED OIL INDICATOR LIGHT. DEALER STATED VEHICLE HAS A BAD OIL SEAL. *AK OIL SEAL POPPED OUT. THE VEHICLE HAS DEFECTIVE WIRING IN AUDIO EQUIPMENT. *YH

OIL IS LEAKING FROM THE OIL SEALS AND SPILLING ONTO GROUND. DEALER HAS REPLACED TIMING BELT/BALANCE SHAFT BELT AND WATER PUMP. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

ENGINE LEAKED OIL CONSTANLY. CONSUMER HAD CONTACTED A TECHNICIAN. TECHNICIAN SAID THAT POT SEAL POPPED OUT, CAUSING LEAKEAGE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHERE ENGINE RAN OUT OF OIL. THEN ,VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED, AND TECHNICIAN STATED THAT IT WAS A BALANCE SHAFT SEAL PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ALONG OIL LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP/GARAGE. VEHICLE LOST ALL OIL BECAUSE THE BALANCER SEAL BLEW. SEAL HAS BEEN REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

COMPLETE LOSS OF OIL WHILE ON HIGHWAY - I LATER FOUND OUT THIS WAS THE FAILURE OF THE BALANCE SHAFT, WHICH HAD BEEN A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL SINCE 1996. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST REPAIR SHOP (THE DEALER WAS TOO FAR AWAY TO HAVE IT TOWED THERE). THEY DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED THE PROBLEM (ALL MY BELTS AND HOSES HAD TO BE REPLACED INCLDING TEH TIMING BELT) TO THE TUNE OF $565.45. SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR (NEW) I HAD IT FAITHFULLY SERVICED AT THE DEALER. SINCE THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND I REGULARLY HAD MY CAR SERVICED WITH THIS HONDA DEALER, WHY DIDN'T THEY ALERT ME AND HAVE THE RESTAINING CLIP INSTALLED? THIS COST ME $565.45 AND PUT ME IN A VERY DANGEROUS POSITION ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD (TO AVOID BLOWING OUT THE ENGINE). NEEDLESS TO SAY I...

TIMING BELT FAILED. NLM

THE TIMIMG CHAIN BROKE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

THE GASKETS WORE OUT CAUSING THE CRANK AND BALANCE SHAFTS TO BLOW OUT RESULTING IN OIL SPILL FROM THE ENGINE. YH

TIMING AND BALANCE SHAFT BELTS FAILED. YH

THIS CRACK HAS NOW COMPLETELY CIRCLED THE THE BOLT AND THE BOLT BROKE OFF, LEAVING A HOLE IN THE BLOCK. PLEASE INFORM ME OF MY RIGHTS REGARDING THIS MY CAR HAS A LOT MORE MILES AND THE DEALER WILL NOT HONOR THIS REPAIR WITHOUT CHARGE TO ME.

BALANCER SEAL FAILER CAUSED OIL LOSS SOAKING TIMING BELT AND BALANCER BELT MUST ALL BE REPLACED AT OWNERS EXPENSE. *AK

ENGINE BALANCE SHAFT SEAL CAME OUT CAUSING MAJOR OIL LEAK. ENGINE WAS SHUT DOWN TO AVOID ENGINE DAMAGE, BUT TIMING BELTS AND WATER PUMP THAT WERE REPLACED FEB.99, HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.

A SEAL ON A SHAFT NEAR THE TIMING BELT CAME OFF CREATING A MASSIVE OIL LEAK. ALL BELTS AND PARTS WERE SOAKED WITH OIL. I HAD TO HAVE A COMPLETE TIMIMG BELT REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE. I HAD JUST HAD THIS PROCEDURE AT APPROXIMATELY 90,000 MILES AS RECOMMENDED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PROBLEM MAY NOW BE RECOGNIZED BY HONDA AS THEY HAVE ISSUED A SEAL RETAINER TO HOLD THE SEAL IN PLACE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE BALANCER SHAFT SEAL BROKE AND ALL THE OIL LEAKED OUT OF THE ENGINE. THIS CAUSED THE CAMSHAFT TO CRACK, RESULTING IN MY HAVING TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. HONDA AGREED TO SPLIT THE COST OF THE ENGINE 50/50, BUT I FEEL THEY SHOULD HAVE PAID THE TOTAL BILL, DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM, AND HAVE SINCE UPDATED THE SEAL, AND ARE NOW PUTTING A GUARD/PLATE ON THE SEAL TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. PLEASE INFORM AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM PUT MY LIFE IN DANGER AS I WAS ON INTERSTATE 95 IN NEW JERSEY, AND LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY AFTER LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE CAM BROKE. THIS COULD HAPPEN TO ANYONE, AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *AK

MY VEHICLE HAD THE OIL PUMP SEAL "FALL OUT," CAUSING A LARGE VOLUME OF OIL TO BE PUMPED OUT OF THE ENGINE. FORTUNATELY THE ENGINE WAS NOT DAMAGED AS THE VEHICLE WAS BEING USED FOR A TRIP OF ABOUT THREE MILES, AND WAS TURNED OFF BEFORE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED. MY AUTO TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT THIS SEAL WAS LAYING INSIDE THE TIMING BELT COVER. HE TOLD ME THAT HE HAS REPAIRED A NUMBER OF VEHICLES WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. HE ALSO TOLD ME HONDA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND HAS DESIGNED A RETAINER TO INSTALL TO KEEP THE SEAL FROM FALLING OUT. THIS RETAINER WAS INSTALLED BY HIM, PLUS A BUNCH OF OTHER BELTS THAT HAD BEEN SOAKED BY OIL AND RENDERED UNUSABLE. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER, BUT MY TECHNICIAN HAS TOLD ME THAT HONDA IS NOT OFFERING ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN COVERING THIS...

WHILE DRIVING ALL THE OIL LEAKED OUT AT ONCE, AND THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER HAD TO PUT IN NEW BALANCER SHAFT SEAL. *AK

TIMING BELT HAD BEEN REPLACED AT NORMAL 90,000 MILE CHECKUP. THE BALANCE SHAFT SEAL BROKE WHILE CAR IN DRIVEWAY, ALL OF THE ENGINE OIL WAS DISCHARGED. CAR WAS TOWED TO A HONDA DEALER, WHERE THE SEAL AND ALL TIMING BELTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. DEALER DENIED THAT THE "BLOWING" OF COUNTER SHAFT SEALS IS A PROBLEM WITH ACCORDS. ACCORDING TO COMPLAINTS TO YOUR DEPARTMENT, IT APPEARS THAT ESPECIALLY IN 1999 THERE HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS (POSSIBLY A CONNECTION WITH THE CHANGING OF TIMING BELTS?). THIS IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM THAT THERE IS EVEN A "FIX" USED BY SOME (BUT NOT ALL) HONDA DEALERS [SURE SEAL COUNTER BALANCE SHAFT SEAL SHIELD]. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET THE LOCAL DEALER TO FULLY REIMBURSE ME FOR THE FULL COST OF THIS REPAIR, AND I AM SEEKING YOUR ASSISTANCE. GIVEN YOUR RESEARCH, HOW EXTENSIVE IS...

BALANCE SHAFT SEAL FAILURE LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC OIL LOSS FROM TIMING BELT COVER HOUSING. MAY BE DESIGN DEFECT IN ORIGINAL SEAL BECAUSE DEALER FIXING CAR SAID REPLACEMENT PART WAS 'LARGER' AND HE DID A STEADY BUSINESS IN REPAIRING HONDAS WITH FAILED BALANCE SHAFT SEALS. THE DEALER HAD NOT SEEN ANY FAILURES OF THE DIFFERENTLY DESIGNED REPLACEMENT PART BALANCE SHAFT SEAL. (THIS DEALER WAS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE WHERE THE SEAL FAILED.) FIXING A SHAFT SEAL FAILURE REQUIRES NEW BALANCE BELT AND NEW TIMING BELT IN ADDITION TO NEW SEAL. IF ENGINE DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED DUE TO THE SUDDEN OIL LOSS, YOU MIGHT AS WELL GIVE UP. APPARENTLY THE SEAL FAILS WITHOUT WARNING (OUR SEAL FAILED WITHIN TWO WEEKS AND 700 MILES OF A VERY MAJOR SERVICING BY THE DEALER).

DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH DRIVER SAW THE OIL LIGHT WAS ON AND SHE STOPPED. OIL WAS COMING OUT, CONSUMER SAID THE PROBLEM WAS THE BALANCE SHAFT SEAL THAT BECAME DISLODGED AND COULDN'T HOLD THE OIL. *AK

BALANCER OIL SEAL FAILED AND ALL OIL GUSHED OUT, CAUSING SATURATION OF THE TIMING BELT, BALANCING BELT AND DRIVE BELT, THE WATER PUMP AND ALL THREE OILS SEALS. HONDA DEALER REQUIRED THAT ALL THESE PARTS BE REPLACED, RESULTING IN A BILL OF $809.57. THE NHTSA CONSUMER COMPLAINT DATABASE LISTS OVER 7 RELATED COMPLAINTS FOR THE FAILURE OF OILS SEALS. I HAVE REQUESTED FROM THE DEALER THE DAMAGED PARTS, BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED THEM. THE DEALER WAS UNAWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH THERE APPEARS TO BE A RELATED NHTSA SERVICE BULLETIN, NUMBER 961001B. THE SEAL COSTS ABOUT $12 TO $13, BUT ITS FAILURE CAN CAUSE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AND SAFETY PROBLEMS.

FRONT BALANCER SEAL/ OIL SHAFT BLEW OUT, CAUSING ALL OIL TO LEAK FROM CAR AND SOAK ALL BELTS. DEALER NOT AWARE OF PROBLEM. REPAIRWORK BEING DONE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN A CRASH. ALSO PROBLEMS WITH THE OIL PUMP WHICH LEAKS OIL, AND MAY RESULT A FIRE. OIL PUMP HA S BEEN REPLACED TWICE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#.*AK

AN ENGINE SEAL , WHICH WAS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED, CAUSED AN OIL LEAK WHICH MAY HAVE STARTED A FIRE AND RUINED THE TIMING BELTS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

I PURCHASED A USED HONDA FROM THE ABOVE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. IT HAD A PENDING OIL LEAK AND A DEAD BATTERY. OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS I HAD TO RETURN TO HAVE THE LEAK FIXED. FOR UNDER MY PURCHASE CONTRACT THE LEAK WOULD BE REPAIRED. AFTER THE FOURTH TIME RETURNING FOR AN OIL LEAK, THE DEALERSHIP(FINDLAY TOYOTA) SAID I HAD A CRACKED ENGINE BLOCK. UPON REQUEST OF WHAT WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO AND WOULD THEY HELP ME AND WOULD MY 2 YEAR WARRANTY PAY FOR IT? NO WAS THEIR REPLY. I TOOK IT TO A HONDA DEALERSHIP AND WAS ABLE TO HAVE IT EXPOSED,(YEH, RIGHT!) AND PAID FOR THAT REPAIR. THE HONDA DEALERSHIP ALSO FOUND SOME OTHER FAULTS WITH THE CAR THAT IN MY MIND SHOULD HAVE BEEN HANDLED IN "TOYOTAS POINT INSPECTION BEFORE SOLD TO THE PUBLIC." WHAT ARE MY RIGHTS? DO I NOW OWN A LEMONCAR? ITS VALUE...

BALANCER SHAFT SEAL DISLODGED, *AK

FORWARD BALANCER SHAFT OIL SEAL BLEWOUT, CAUSING OIL SATURATION OF TIMING BELT, BALANCER BELTS, ACCESSORY BELTS, AND LEFT FORWARD BRAKE ASSEMBLY. *AK

OIL LEAK DUE TO CRACKED ENGINE SEALS AROUND THE ENGINE OIL PAN. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

VEHICLE LOSS ALL OIL DUE TO CAM SEAL MALFUNCTION.

A LEAK IN THE ENGINE CAUSED VEHICLE TO RUN OUT OF OIL AND CUT OFF WHILE GOING 60MPH. DEALER SAID IT WAS PART OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR BECAUSE OF MILEAGE. *AK

ENGINE CYLINDERS NOT FIRING.

WHEN SITTING AT A LIGHT CAR SHAKES. TT

NOISY ENGINE, REPLACED ENGINE SHORT BLOCK/CYLINDER HEAD. *AK