2017 SI stock with 61,000 mi Engine Failure!

Should I simply accept their offer to cover cost at 90% with 30K warrenty?


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BlownSI

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Hello,

So I purchased a 2017 Civic SI at the end of 2017 and have had no issues with it. Gets 35-38 average mpg and the engine was still as responsive as it was the day I purchased it. I have done zero modifications. No tunes and no performance parts or accessories. I dont race it. The most I do is the occasional speed up on the on ramp to the freeway. I have been up to date on my maintinance. It has 61,000 miles on it but I live in Tucson Arizona and I drive up to Phoenix Arizona alot to help my family. So most of my miles are highway miles.

Despite the smooth sailing, I was surprised out of the blue when my civic engine sputtered and shut down. This was also right after I did an oil change at the Honda dealer. Like an hour after. Towed it back to the dealer and they confirm the engine is shot. They have not yet explained why it failed, but claim it needs a new block, head, and other parts. Since I am just out of warrenty they are going to offer to replace the broken parts and labor and cover 90% of the cost. I am expected to pay $500 to $900.

Now this seems fair, except I have 2 complaints, and they are big ones:

1. The Honda reliablity has failed me. I come from humble beginnings and am a young professional in Engineering and needed a vehicle that would last at least 5 years, maybe 150,000 miles. I dont have a safety net of family to fall on and I am ready to start a family of my own. I have been let down by their engineering.

2. I doubt the future reliability of the 1.5L turbo engine, even after they fix it. The repiars come with a 30,000 mile warrenty, so I should be covered for a year or two, but what if it fails at 35,000 miles due to the same unkown issue?

So its a known fact now that this engine has issues in cold climates due to the direct injection which causes seeping of fuel past the pistons into the oil until the engine can warm up. Canada Honda for instance has extended the warrenty for 6 years to all new civic owners for this reason. I have also read that some owners in northern states in the US are also getting an extension on the warrenty. China wont even sell Hondas anymore.

Now Tucson/Phoenix are not cold climates, but it does get around 30 F in winter. I expressed my concerns about the engines reliability and the rep told me that my car is one of tens of thousands, we arent going to do a recall for one car. I asked if they would be willing to extend the warrenty and they told me I would have to go through Honda Customer Service.

Now I understand the practicallity on Hondas part to deal with the few premature engine failures that may happen, but this begs the following questions:

1. What is Honda doing to garentee their work for the few suckers who treat their Civic right and still have their engines blow?

2. How "few" of us are actually experiencing premature engine failures?

I know I racket up miles pretty quickly so I am not sure if other drivers are nearing the 60k warrenty, but if you are how confident are you that your civic will last you the next 60k. What about the 200k reputation Honda had? Is their reliability in the past?

What do you guys suggest I do?
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charleswrivers

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This was also right after I did an oil change at the Honda dealer. Like an hour after.
There have been a few instances of engine failures due to oil drain plugs not being installed properly... leading to all the oil being drained from the engine shortly after the change and engine failure.

If the change was done at the dealer and the cause of the failure was due to oil starvation from the oil draining... you should pay 0%. The service department broke your engine due to poor workmanship.

You're out of your powertrain warranty so they shouldn't offer anything unless it was their fault. If it's there fault.. you shouldn't be paying a cent.

Question: did you get a low oil pressure light at any point leading up to or during the failure?
 

ElementalHonda

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If all of your details in your post are accurate, with no mods and everything, seems the only people in the wrong here are Honda.

I'd go ahead and fight for 100% of cost to be covered. While Honda doesn't have a responsibility to repair because you're technically past the warranty period, they should because a grenaded engine doesn't look good for them.

I agree with @charleswrivers assessment as well. Quite odd that you went in for an oil change and suddenly your engine dies.
The dealer offering to cover 90% is also fishy, if they didn't have any guilt in the matter, they should've been able to comfortably tell you that you needed to cover 100% with no guilt. Just my 2 cents.
 
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BlownSI

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There have been a few instances of engine failures due to oil drain plugs not being installed properly... leading to all the oil being drained from the engine shortly after the change and engine failure.

If the change was done at the dealer and the cause of the failure was due to oil starvation from the oil draining... you should pay 0%. The service department broke your engine due to poor workmanship.

You're out of your powertrain warranty so they shouldn't offer anything unless it was their fault. If it's there fault.. you shouldn't be paying a cent.

Question: did you get a low oil pressure light at any point leading up to or during the failure?
No, I dont recall the oil light coming on. Even if it is due to their fault, they arent admitting to it. I cant prove it.
 
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BlownSI

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One thing I am concerned with is that if I try to fight it they may retaliate and recline the offer. I cant afford a 8k bill right now.

Its freaky but the same week my mom got T boned in a car I bought her and is in the hospital.

When it rains it pours.
 


gtman

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Hey OP, good luck.

But, why the heck did you choose that as your member name? :confused:
 

NoelPR

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I wonder what they did at the dealership. Too suspicious.
Typically if you are out of warranty dealers will make you pay no matter what.
They are hiding something.
 

ElementalHonda

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One thing I am concerned with is that if I try to fight it they may retaliate and recline the offer. I cant afford a 8k bill right now.

Its freaky but the same week my mom got T boned in a car I bought her and is in the hospital.

When it rains it pours.
Nothing wrong with going to the dealer or Honda of America and asking.
If you'd rather eat the 500 and have less hassle, go ahead and take their offer and never go back to the stealership again.

If you'd rather fight it, and if they take away the offer, tell them you plan on lawyering up and going after the 100% repair you deserve.

I doubt you'd lose. I've never seen a dealer agree to eat 90% of a blown engine unless they had some part in the reason why it blew. I think thats evidence enough.
Also, it would be in the interest of the dealer and Honda to avoid a lengthy legal battle over $500 to $900, time they spend fighting you and money spent on legal fees is going to make that battle really dumb on their part.
 


gtman

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bugboy32337

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There have been a few instances of engine failures due to oil drain plugs not being installed properly... leading to all the oil being drained from the engine shortly after the change and engine failure.

If the change was done at the dealer and the cause of the failure was due to oil starvation from the oil draining... you should pay 0%. The service department broke your engine due to poor workmanship.

You're out of your powertrain warranty so they shouldn't offer anything unless it was their fault. If it's there fault.. you shouldn't be paying a cent.

Question: did you get a low oil pressure light at any point leading up to or during the failure?
:agree:
 

bugboy32337

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The fact that it happened after an oil change, and that they aren't telling you why it failed already makes it seem like they know it's their fault and that they're just hoping that since you're out of warranty, their offer will be enough for you to not question it.
:agree:
 
OP
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BlownSI

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Nothing wrong with going to the dealer or Honda of America and asking.
If you'd rather eat the 500 and have less hassle, go ahead and take their offer and never go back to the stealership again.

If you'd rather fight it, and if they take away the offer, tell them you plan on lawyering up and going after the 100% repair you deserve.

I doubt you'd lose. I've never seen a dealer agree to eat 90% of a blown engine unless they had some part in the reason why it blew. I think thats evidence enough.
Also, it would be in the interest of the dealer and Honda to avoid a lengthy legal battle over $500 to $900, time they spend fighting you and money spent on legal fees is going to make that battle really dumb on their part.
1. On what ground could I sue? Suspicion that the oil job was the cause? The same mechanics whonworked on it are the ones looking into the problem, they could cover up the cause since they have my car in posession.

2. I dont even mind the 500, I mind not knowing if the engine will last another 60k. I want a better warrenty. 3 years would do it.
 

Drake

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Finding out why it broke is in the interest of everyone on this forum with a 1.5L. However, it's your car, money, and time, so we don't really have a right to tell you what to do, but I agree with the others that the dealer's 90% offer is suspicious enough.
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