Canadian Honda Owners Sue Over Head Gasket Issues and Engine Failures
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating Honda’s V6 engines for failures, but the automaker is now facing a lawsuit in Canada for issues with its turbo-fours. The case was filed in the Superior Court of Quebec, accusing Honda of selling vehicles with an engine design that allows coolant leaks and sometimes complete engine failure.
The case’s lead plaintiff is the owner of a 2016 Civic, who said her car’s engine had head gasket problems, despite having regular service. The claims are almost exactly the same as those made by another Civic owner in British Columbia earlier this year. Canadian courts aren’t always the fastest to resolve these issues, but they have been increasingly kind to consumers in recent times.
The defect relates to the head gasket material and tolerances in the cooling system. In some situations, the system may allow coolant to enter the combustion chamber, causing significant problems. Many owners said they’d taken their vehicles in for repeated servicing, and others say the problems occurred just after the warranty expired.
Honda Canada hasn’t recalled the vehicles or issued a technical service bulletin to guide techs through repairs. The lawsuit alleges that Honda continued selling the vehicles, knowing the problem existed, and if it’s successful, it could force the automaker to pay for repairs and other expenses incurred due to the issue.
[Images: Honda]
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Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.
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Honda built two good models 39 years ago and you people act like they can do no wrong. 😉
I love head gaskets.
Honda prides itself [used to] on being an engine company. Single worst engine I ever had in a piece of power equipment (pressure washer) had a Honda badge. Sample size = 1.