2008 Honda Civic

The contact owns a 2008 Honda Civic Si Coupe. The contact stated while driving approximately 65mph when the dashboard began to emit smoke. The contact was able to pull over and shut off the vehicle. Upon inspection, the contact stated that the wiring harness beneath the steering wheel was melted. The vehicle was towed to an insurance lot and is awaiting diagnosis. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with, NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V535000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) however the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was informed of failure and told the contact that they were unable to assist. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL WAS SLOWLY LEAKING OUT OF THE TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,990 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A SQUIRREL CHEWED A HOLE THROUGH THE FUEL LINES. THE CONTACT SMELLED FUMES AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO REPAIRED THE FUEL LINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON HIS VEHICLE (RECALL INFORMATION WAS UNAVAILABLE). THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER FOR THE RECALL AND AFTER THE COMPONENT WAS REPAIRED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN GETTING LESS MPG THAN WHAT IT WAS PRIOR TO THE RECALL REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,200.

THIS IS NOW THE 2ND OCCASION IN WHICH I OWN A HONDA THAT HAS A LEAKY GAS TANK. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN 2007 WITH MY 2004 HONDA ODYSSEY THAT BEGAN SPONTANEOUSLY LEAKING GAS FROM A VALVE IN THE GAS TANK. IT WAS REPAIRED. LAST WEEK ON 09/09/10 I FILLED MY 2008 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID UP WITH GAS AS NORMAL AND BY SUNDAY AFTERNOON IT WAS LEAKING ENOUGH GAS TO MAKE THE SMELL IN THE GARAGE UNBEARABLE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE LINE FROM WHERE THE GAS IS PUT IN BY THE USER AND WHERE IT MEETS THE GAS TANK IS DEFECTIVE AND HAS BEGUN LEAKING. BECAUSE THIS HOSE IS INTEGRATED IN TO THE GAS TANK - HONDA IS REPLACING THE ENTIRE GAS TANK. I AM CURRENTLY WAITING FOR THIS REPAIR TO BE COMPLETED - BUT BECAUSE IT HAS NOW HAPPENED TO ME IN TWO SEPARATE HONDA VEHICLES I HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE GAS TANKS IN THE HONDA VEHICLES. *TR

IN AUGUST 2010 I TOOK MY 2008 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE DEALER PERFORMED A PURPORTED SOFTWARE UPDATE ON THE BATTERY SYSTEM WITHOUT NOTIFYING ME UNTIL AFTERWARDS. IMMEDIATELY UPON LEAVING THE DEALER, I NOTICED A PROFOUND REDUCTION IN POWER AND ACCELERATION. ON THE FREEWAY PORTION OF THE DRIVE HOME, I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED TWICE AS I DROVE IN THE SLOW LANE UP A MINOR GRADE WHERE THE VEHICLE COULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 40 MILES PER HOUR (WITH THE PEDAL FULLY DEPRESSED IN THE PASSING GEAR)-- PRIOR TO THIS DATE I HAD DRIVEN MY VEHICLE FOR ITS PRIOR 20 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP UP THAT SAME GRADE AT 70MPH. ADDITIONALLY, PRIOR TO THIS DATE I HAD NEVER EVEN UTILIZED THE "S" GEAR ON MY TRANSMISSION. EVER SINCE HONDA'S SOFTWARE UPDATE MY CAR HAS BECOME A SEVERELY UNDERPOWERED ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. I AM REDUCED TO DRIVING IN THE SLOW LANE ON THE FREEWAY WITH VEHICLES FLASHING ME AS THEY APPROACH A 40-45 MPH VEHICLE AT 60-70 MPH FROM BEHIND. I HAVE CALLED THE HONDA SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AT SEVERAL LOCAL DEALERS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, AND GET A UNIVERSAL RESPONSE- "WAIT FOR YOUR SYSTEM TO ADJUST TO THE SOFTWARE UPDATE" OR "YOU NEED TO ADJUST YOUR DRIVING". WHAT THE HECK DOES THIS MEAN? I DROVE THE VEHICLE FINE FOR 20 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE SOFTWARE UPDATE AND NOW IT DRIVES LIKE A 20 YEAR OLD 4 CYLINDER ENGINE WITH 2 BAD PISTONS. THE DECREASED POWER AND ACCELERATION ARE A DANGEROUS ACCIDENT IN THE MAKING. I AM FEARFUL OF BEING REAR ENDED. THIS IS AN EVERY DAY PROBLEM THAT WAS CAUSED BY THIS "SOFTWARE UPDATE" AND I SUSPECT THAT IT IS HAPPENING TO EVERY 2006-2008 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID THAT GOES TO THE DEALER FOR THIS SOFTWARE UPDATE. AN ADDITIONAL CONSEQUENCE OF THIS ALLEGED "SOFTWARE UPDATE" IS A PROFOUND DROP IN GAS MILEAGE FROM APPROXIMATELY 37 COMBINED MPG PRIOR TO "UPDATE" TO 29-30 POST "UPDATE". I HAVE NEVER LODGED A COMPLAINT WITH ANY ORGANIZATION BEFORE, BUT LIKE I'VE PREVIOUSLY STATED, THIS "UPDATE" IS A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC. *TR

ON JANUARY 23, 2010, I WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT, ON HIGHWAY 111, IN INDIAN WELLS, CA. ROADS WERE WET THAT DAY. I RECALL MY VEHICLE HYDRO-PLANING AND SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL. THAT IS THE LAST I RECALL, AS I BELIEVE I WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS, I AWOKE MINUTES LATER TO FIND MYSELF STILL IN THE DRIVERS SEAT, TO FIND MY BACK SEAT ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I MANAGED TO FREE MYSELF FROM MY SEAT BELT AND GET OUT THROUGH THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW. AS MANAGED TO GET ON MY FEET I WALKED AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE JUST IN TIME FOR IT TO EXPLODE.. O MY NEXT CONCERN IS AS DOING SOME RESEARCH AFTER THE ACCIDENT, I CAME ACROSS SOME INTERESTING INFORMATION REGARDING A RECALL ON THAT TYPE OF VEHICLE. I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN JUNE 2008, AND RECALL LETTERS WERE SENT OUT ON OCTOBER 2008. I NEVER RECEIVED SUCH A LETTER. I AM CONCERNED TO WHAT CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE AND EXPLODE. I CONTACTED A HONDA MTG. COMPANY, AND SPOKE TO A CASE MANAGER AND OPENED A CLAIM. ON MARCH 31, 2010, I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM HIM, AND HE SAID THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON SUCH VEHICLE. MY PERSONAL OPINION, HE CAME TO THAT CONCLUSION BASED ON A LIST OF VIN NUMBERS., NO INVESTIGATION WAS DONE AS FAR AS CHECKING THE VEHICLE OR TAKING THE TIME TO FIND OUT IF MY VEHICLE WAS JUST ONE THAT WAS BYPASSED AND NOT PUT ON THE VIN LIST. I PERSONALLY DO NOT FEEL THAT THEY PUT MUCH EFFORT IN FINDING OUT WHY MY VEHICLE EXPLODED. I AM NOW STUCK WITH A BALANCE, MEDICAL BILLS, AND NO VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP ME IN THIS MATTER, FOR I FEEL THIS MATTER WAS NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY. *TR