2001 Honda Accord engine problems

ENGINE

the engibe over heats above 230 the car has for the 4th time broke down on major highway endangering the kids and in insecure area of the road where you can get murdered the dealer says this is normal defect of the coolant system i don't think buying a 2024 with known defects normal the dealer says there are so many thermostats on order across the US that it will take 1 to 4 months to get the part then here is the best comment it will happen again so this is normal condition of a $70000 car what do you think please advise and by the way they told me to fix the problem i should trade in my car i don't have a lot of money and struggling to buy food fir my kids HELP

NHTSA complaint #11619425 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

The contact owns a 2001 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, there was a delay while shifting gears. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the failure was due to the transmission. The contact was informed that the check engine light would remain illuminated until the repair was completed. The manufacturer was contacted but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA complaint #11483705 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

I AM WRITING TO YOU IN REGARDS TO A SAFETY CONCERN WITH MY 2001 HONDA ACCORD. THE ENGINE SUBFRAME OF MY 2001 HONDA ACCORD LX HAS 1/4 ENGINE CONNECTIONS ROTTED THROUGH. THIS IS LOCATED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE NEAR THE STRUT ASSEMBLY, BENEATH THE AIR CONDITIONER DRAIN, AS NOTED BY OTHERS ON POSTING ON THE INTERNET. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION OTHERWISE, ESPECIALLY WITH VERY LOW MILES (156,000) THERE IS VERY LITTLE RUST ON THE VEHICLE CONSIDERING IT'S AGE. MY MECHANIC SAYS IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HE WRITES: 'DURING DEGREASING (AND REPAIR OF RADIATOR) FOUND ENGINE SUB-FRAME RUSTING OUT AND COMING APART. ADVISED CLIENT THE VEHICLE IS A SAFETY RISK TO DRIVE IN THIS CONDITION'. IT APPEARS TO BE THE RESULT OF A DESIGN FLAW RELATING TO THE LOCATION OF THE AIR CONDITIONER DRAIN. HONDA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DESIGN FLAW AND HONDA SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO REPAIR THIS UNSAFE SITUATION. I AM SHOCKED THIS CATASTROPHIC SAFETY CONDITION WAS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE WITHOUT WARNING BY HONDA AND/OR THE NHTSA!!

NHTSA complaint #11416646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT START AND THE OVERHEATING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000.

NHTSA complaint #11254758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND DRIVING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL RATTLING NOISE. ADDITIONALLY, THE PASSENGER SIDE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS RUSTED AND THE SERVICE/MAINTENANCE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,875.

NHTSA complaint #11208599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

THE ENGINE IS KNOCKING

NHTSA complaint #11061648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

UPON A STANDARD OIL CHANGE AT 160,000 MILES, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT SUB FRAME HAD RUSTED THROUGH ON THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE. I WAS TOLD TO TALK TO A BODY SHOP IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE THE CAR WASN'T "ROAD SAFE". LOOKED INTO THIS A BIT AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ACCORDS FROM THIS TIME PERIOD DUE TO THE PLACEMENT OF THE AIR CONDITIONING DRAINPIPE (WHICH EMPTIES RIGHT ONTO THE SUBFRAME) . THE CAR FOR THE MOST PART IS RELIABLE, MINUS THE TRANSMISSION THAT FAILED AT 130,000 MILES. BUT A FRAME SHOULDN'T BE "RUSTED THROUGH" AFTER 15 YEARS! SOUNDS UNSAFE, CONSIDERING THE AMOUNT OF THESE CARS THAT ARE STILL ON THE ROAD. CALLED HONDA TODAY AND WAS INFORMED THE REPAIR WOULD COST OVER $1200 WITH NO GOODWILL ON THEIR END. FIGURED THIS WAS THE BEST ALTERNATIVE TO THE SITUATION.

NHTSA complaint #10946561 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

HELLO THE VEHICLE STOPS AND STALLS WHILE DRIVING AND THERE IS A STRONG POSSIBILITY OF CRASHING THIS VEHICLE IF THIS IS NOT RESOLVED. THIS HAS OCCURRED TWICE AND IT'S VERY SCARY WHILE DRIVING. I SAW A SIMILAR RECALL FOR 2010 HONDAS THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. PLEASE HELP!

NHTSA complaint #10939145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FRAME WAS CORRODED. WHILE DRIVING, A NOISE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHOM PERFORMED AND INSPECTION THAT LOCATED A DEFECTIVE AIR CONDITIONING TUBE THAT CAUSED FLUID TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE FRAME. THE ENGINE FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA complaint #10876097 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

DEAR SIR OR MADAM: I TOOK MY 2001 HONDA ACCORD V6 TO HONDA DEALER ([XXX] OF FRISCO, TX) FOR AIRBAG RECALL ON OCT 27, 2014. I WAS ALSO GETTING ENGINE WARNING SIGN ON MY DASH BOARD. AFTER AIRBAG REPAIR I RETURNED HOME AND FOUND FOLLOWING COMMENT ON MY INVOICE : "REDESIGNED AIRBAG INFLATORS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR INSTALLATION AT THIS TIME." NEXT DAY I CALLED THE DEALER AND AMERICAN HONDA. DEALER HAS NOT RESPONDED TO MY VOICEMAIL AND AMERICAN HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID THEY WILL RESPOND WITHIN 24-48 HOURS. SO FAR NO ONE HAS REACHED OUT TO ME. MY QUESTION TO THEM WAS IF YOU DID NOT HAVE THE REDESIGNED AIRBAG INFLATORS THEN HOW HAVE YOU FIXED THE AIRBAG RECALL ISSUE. REGARDING DASHBOARD ENGINE WARNING SIGN DEALER SAID I NEED TO INSTALL EGA PIPE KIT TO AVOID CLOGGING OF EGA PORT. HONDA IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AS PER THEIR SERVICE BULLETIN 99-085 AND WERE SUPPOSED TO INSTALL THE EGA PIPE KIT FREE OF COST. HONDA NEVER SENT ME ANY COMMUNICATION NOR ANY OF PAST HONDA DEALERS INFORMED ME ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER ASKED ME $650 TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND EVEN CHARGED ME $107 FOR DIAGNOSIS OF THIS PROBLEM WHICH WAS DIAGNOSED EARLIER BY AUTOZONE TECHNICIAN IN JUST 1 MINUTE FOR FREE. HONDA DEALER EVEN REFUSED TO DO STATE INSPECTION SAYING MY CAR WILL FAIL THE INSPECTION IF THIS KIT IS NOT INSTALLED. I ASKED BOTH AMERICAN HONDA AND DEALER TO INSTALL EGR KIT FOR FREE SINCE IT'S A DESIGN ISSUE WITH THEIR ENGINE BUT SO FAR BOTH OF THEM HAVE REFUSED TO INSTALL IT FOR FREE. I WOULD REQUEST YOU TO TAKE THESE ISSUES WITH HONDA ESPECIALLY THE AIRBAG, EGR PORT ISSUE AND LACK OF COMMUNICATION REGARDING PROBLEMS IN THEIR CARS. NO WONDER HONDA COMES AT TOP IN QUALITY SURVEYS SINCE THEY ARE NOT TRANSPARENT ENOUGH TO COMMUNICATE PROBLEMS WITH NHTSA OR CUSTOMERS. I AM WORRIED ABOUT ME AND MY FAMILY'S SAFETY WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR. THANKS.

NHTSA complaint #10651466 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

AS I PUSHED DOWN ON GAS THE CAR HESITATED TO GO AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT POPS ON. I TOOK MY CAR TO ADVANCED AUTO PARTS TO CHECK IT AND IT READ TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER.

NHTSA complaint #10554270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

MY TRANSMISSION STARTED SHOWING SIGNS OF SLIPPAGE THAT CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT TO BLINK AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO GO ON AFTER HEADING DOWN A SIDE STREET LEAVING MY OFFICE FOR THE DAY. THE NEXT MORNING I DROVE TO SERVICE CENTER AND THEY SAID TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. THIS IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS (AND APPARENT LAW SUIT FROM 2006) INVOLVING 2001 ACCORDS. HONDA WILL NOT HONOR PARTICIPATING IN THE COST TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION DUE TO CONSTRAINTS OF LAWSUIT EVEN THOUGH THERE IS PRECEDENT OF GOODWILL REPAIR GESTURES THAT HAVE EXTENDED BEYOND THE SUIT (TO WHICH I DID NOT OPT IN TO PARTICIPATE). I HAVE NOT OPTED TO REPAIR THE CAR AS OF YET DUE TO THE COST.

NHTSA complaint #10531644 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY HONDA ACCORD 2001 HAS BEEN FAULTY FOR AT LEAST 2 YEARS NOW. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION BUT THE RECALL EXPIRED ACCORDING TO HONDA. THERE IS NO OPTION BUT TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION IF IT BLOWS AND THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT I'M WAITING FOR. HONDA HAS NOT GUARANTEED THAT IF THE TRANSMISSION IS FIXED, IT WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. I TOOK MY CAR INTO A HONDA DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR AIRBAG RECALLS AND MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS STILL LIT ON MY DASHBOARD. OVERALL, I FEEL AS IF THESE ISSUES ARE SAFETY HAZARDS AND I FEEL STUCK IN A HORRIBLE SITUATION WITH NO HELP FROM THE MANUFACTURE.

NHTSA complaint #10521974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW IN NOVEMBER 2001. I NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND READ SOME COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. THE PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED SINCE AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE AS IT GETS OLDER. PLEASE ADVISE OF ANY KIND OF RECOURSE I MAY HAVE SHOULD A TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT BE NECESSARY. I DID HAVE ONE SOLENOID ON THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED A YEAR OR SO AGO AS WELL AS A MOTOR MOUNT.

NHTSA complaint #10470293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW IN 2001 FROM A HONDA DEALERSHIP. A COUPLE OF YEARS LATER, THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. I CALLED THE HONDA DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD BOUGHT THE CAR AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS GENERATION HAD A KNOWN TRANSMISSION DEFECT. THEY REPAIRED MY CAR FOR FREE BECAUSE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AT THE TIME AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION NOW HAD AN EXTENDED 7YEAR/109,000MILE WARRANTY. ON JULY 15TH, 2012, I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 101S AT 65MPH WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SUDDENLY CAME ON. I NOTICED A SLIGHT LOSS IN POWER, BUT MY CAR DID NOT DIE OUT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. THE NEXT DAY, I DECIDED TO TEST DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN TO SEE IF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS A ONE TIME OCCURRENCE. I STARTED UP THE CAR, PUT IT IN REVERSE, AND THEN TO DRIVE. THERE WAS A SUDDEN DELAYED JERK FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. I MANAGED TO PLUG IN A CODE READER INTO THE CAR'S COMPUTER PORT AND PULLED UP TWO CODES: P0700 AND P0740. BOTH OF THESE CODES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRANSMISSION. NOT AGAIN?!?! MY CAR HAS NOW EXCEEDED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND I AM AFRAID THAT HONDA WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIRS. I READ ON SEVERAL FORUMS THAT THIS HAS ALSO OCCURRED TO HONDA OWNERS WHERE THE DEALERSHIP HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE EXPIRED EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE.

NHTSA complaint #10468114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHEN CAR TURNED ON, RPM NEEDLE ZOOMED UP TO 4 AND WOULD NOT GO DOWN. TOWED CAR AND FIXED TRANSMISSION FOR $2000. JUST A LITTLE OVER A YEAR LATER, DELAY IN SHIFTING. ELECTRONICS OF TRANSMISSION WERE FIXED. ONE MONTH LATER, RPM NEEDLE JERKING AND HOPPING, CAR NOT RESPONDING WELL TO GAS INPUT. THANK GOODNESS ALL THESE INCIDENTS WERE ON LOCAL ROADS AND LOTS BY MY HOME. IMAGINE ON THE FREEWAY OR BUSY ROADS WITH MY 6 YEAR OLD IN THE BACK. TIME FOR A RECALL!

NHTSA complaint #10452331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AT 34,000 AND NOW AGAIN AT 120,000. THIS CAR WILL BE ON IT'S 3RD TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #10439095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA ACCORD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND THE TECHNICIAN DETECTED A POROUS ENGINE BLOCK. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000.

NHTSA complaint #10379713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

HONDA 2001 ACCORD V6 HAS STUTTERING START PROBLEM , OCCASIONALLY ENGINE STOPS AFTER STARTING. I CONTACTED HONDA USA WHO SAID THAT THERE WAS AN ADVISORY ABOUT IT BUT REFUSED TO COMPENSATE ME FOR REPLACING THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM). I WENT AHEAD AND HAD THE ECM FIXED AS I WAS CONCERNED THAT THE CAR WOULD "DIE" ON THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING. I NOW READ THAT OTHER MANUFACTURERS ARE REPLACING THE ECM AS PART OF A RECALL BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY IMPLICATION OF THIS ISSUE. THE DATE OF THE INCIDENT IS AN APPROXIMATE DATE INSERTED FOR YOUR ADVISORY COMPLETION. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND THE PROBLEM OCCURS IN SPRING AND FALL DUE TO GAS FORMULATION CHANGES.

NHTSA complaint #10355105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

MY CAR SUDDENLY STARTED TO STOP SHIFTING INTO GEAR. DRIVING, IT WOULD SLIP OUT OF GEAR AND I WOULD HAVE TO SHIFT IT INTO ANOTHER GEAR TO GET IT TO MOVE. THIS WOULD FAIL AND I WOULD SHIFT IT INTO ANOTHER GEAR. STARTING FROM RED LIGHT--10 TO 15 SECONDS WITH NO RESPONSE FROM CAR--VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO BE IN. TOOK TO HONDA DEALER--NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION--COST $3,400. RIDICULOUS. CAR HAS ONLY 58,000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA complaint #10353729 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WAS 97,000.

NHTSA complaint #10334456 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 10 MPH, THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING AN UNUSUAL NOISE. AS THE CONTACT INCREASED SPEED, THE NOISE BECAME LOUDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,655 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,000. UPDATED 6/3/10 *CN UPDATED 07/2710

NHTSA complaint #10320521 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

HONDA ACCORD 2001 TRANSMISSION AND COOLANT SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #10237036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE MOUNTS HAVE FAILED PREMATURELY DURING NORMAL DRIVING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE REPAIR WOULD COST $580. ANOTHER MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON AMONG HONDA VEHICLES. THE CONTACT DRIVES AT MODERATE SPEEDS AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 7/3/08 *CN UPDATED 07/03/08

NHTSA complaint #10229754 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

IN APRIL 2001, I PURCHASED NEW HONDA ACCORD EX FROM ITS DEALER, PLANETHONDA IN UNION, NJ. THE CAR HAD BEEN SORE FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS. THE CAR WAS RECALLED BECAUSE OF FAULTY TRANSMISSION. THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION AFFECTED THE ENGINE AND BRAKES. NOT ONLY, HONDA SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION, BUT ALSO THE ENGINE SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION MADE THE CAR RUN IN THE LOW GEAR, DAMAGED THE ENGINE. MY CAR ENGINE IS BURNING MORE MOTOR OIL AND I HAVE TO ADD ONE QUART OF OIL FOR EVERY 700-800 MILES. I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES, ROTOR/DRUM,BRAKE SHOE PADS EVERY 6-8 MONTHS BECAUSE OF FAULTY TRANSMISSION. MY CAR HAS THE SIDE AIR BAG AND ABS LIGHTS ON SINCE 30000 MILES. I WAS ADVISED BY NHTSA TO SEND THE COMPLAINT TO NHTSA. PLEASE FORWARD THE COPY OF THE COMPLAINT TO THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENT, SO THAT THEY CAN LOOK INTO THE MATTER. THANKS....... ASHOK KUMAR

NHTSA complaint #10211175 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

ENGINE HESITATES IN APPROXIMATELY THE 1500-2000 RPM RANGE. FURTHER DEPRESSION OF THE ACCELERATOR CAUSES RAPID, UNEXPECTED AND DIFFICULT TO CONTROL ACCELERATION. RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR THEN CAUSES THE ENGINE TO STALL. CAR HAS BEEN LEFT WITH A DEALER TWICE WITHOUT RESOLUTION. ENGINE CODE INDICATES EGR SYSTEM. PROBLEM PERSISTS.

NHTSA complaint #10160368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

REGARDING OIL FIRE DANGER IN HONDA CRVS AND ACCORDS. I OWNED A 2001 HONDA ACCORD COUPE THAT HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM TO THE PROBLEM DISCOVERED IN HONDA CRVS. THIS AFFECTS MILLIONS OF HONDAS AND IS A FUNDAMENTAL DESIGN FLAW. *AK THE OIL FILTER IS LOCATED DIRECTLY OVER A FLEXIBLE, WOVEN-METAL HOSE THAT IS PART OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE HOSE IS POROUS. WHEN THE FILTER IS CHANGED, THE HOSE -- WHICH IS OFTEN EXTREMELY HOT WHEN ONE PULLS INTO A SERVICE STATION FOR AN OIL CHANGE -- MUST BE COVERED WITH A LEAK-PROOF MATERIAL SO THAT OIL DOESN'T DRIP ONTO THE FLEXIBLE HOSE. IF OIL GETS INTO THE WOVEN METAL OF THE HOSE, IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GET OUT -- THE ONLY PRACTICAL OPTION IS TO LET IT BURN/BAKE OUT. MANY NEW HONDA OWNERS EXPERIENCE A STRONG OIL ODOR AFTER GETTING THEIR OIL CHANGED FOR THE FIRST TIME -- THIS IS THE SYMPTOM OF THE PROBLEM. ANYONE EXPERIENCING SUCH AN ODOR IS AT RISK OF FIRE, DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH OIL DRIPPED ONTO THAT HOSE. MY MECHANIC CLEANED OFF THE EXCESS OIL WITH A RAG, BUT SOME ODOR OF BURNING OIL REMAINED FOR MORE THAN 1,000 MILES. HONDA KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND ADVISES ITS SERVICE TECHS TO COVER THE HOSE WHEN THEY CHANGE THE FILTER. BUT THIS IS NOT KNOWN OUTSIDE OF THE HONDA COMMUNITY, SO PEOPLE WHO CHANGE THEIR OWN OIL, OIL-CHANGER CHAINS AND LOCAL GARAGES GENERALLY DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. (CONSUMERS THEN THINK THAT THEY GOT POOR SERVICE FROM THE NON-HONDA GARAGE, WHICH ENCOURAGES THEM TO BRING THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP THE NEXT TIME AND PAY HIGH RATES FOR OIL CHANGES.) HONDA OWNERS WHOSE CARS HAVE THIS DESIGN CAN AVOID THE PROBLEM BY HAVING THE PIPE COVERED DURING THE OIL CHANGE -- BUT IT IS DIFFICULT TO ACCESS THE AREA WHEN CHANGING YOUR OWN OIL. HONDA COULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM BY INSTALLING AN ALUMINUM SHEATH OVER THE FLEXIBLE PIPE TO PROTECT IT AGAINST DRIPPING OIL. IF OIL FELL ON THE SHEATH, IT COULD STILL SMELL FOR A WHILE, BUT THE RISK OF FIRE WOULD BE GREATLY REDUCED. THANK YOU

NHTSA complaint #10080676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.