1998 Honda Civic Engine Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS SAFELY MANEUVERED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER WAITING SEVERAL MINUTES. THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED NORMALLY, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES AFTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND THEY TOLD ME THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS PART HAS CRACKED. I HAD IT REPLACED TWICE ALREADY AT THE DEALERSHIP- THEY DID NOT COVER THE PART UNDER WARRANTY AND I PAID $1000 EACH TIME TO HAVE IT REPLACED. I TRIED TO CONTACT AMERICAN HONDA AND THEY REFUSED TO COMPENSATE ME FOR IT. *TR

I HAVE A 98 HONDA CIVIC LX, IT SEEMS THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD ON THESE CARS ARE DEFECTIVE THEY CRACK AND THE GAS EMISSIONS ARE CIRCULATED TO THE CABIN OF THE AUTOMOBILE. THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD SHOULD NOT CRACK ON NORMAL USE. CARBON MONOXIDE CO COULD LEAK TO THE CABIN OF THE CAR, AND IS POISONOUS TO HUMANS AND CHILDREN. THERE ARE A LOT OF HONDA CIVICS OUT HERE WITH CRACK EXHAUST MANIFOLD, IT IS HARD TO FIND THE CULPRIT, BECAUSE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS COVERED WITH A METAL COVER, BUT YOU WILL NOTICE THE SMELL INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE CAR, WHEN THE CAR IS AT RUNNING. THE NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE ON THIS DEFECTIVE. *TR

WHEN MY 1998 HONDA CIVIC WAS AT 90,891 MILES, THE HONDA DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR WAS ABOUT $1000. ONLY 2 YEARS LATER, THEY TOLD ME THE NEW EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THIS REPLACEMENT PART SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER BUT HE WAS UNWILLING TO STAND BEHIND THIS REPAIR AND CHARGED ME ANOTHER $1000 TO REPAIR IT AGAIN. *TR

EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAVE A BIG CRACK CAUSING A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND EXHAUST FUMES TO MIGRATE TO THE CABIN SINCE IT IS IN FRONT OF THE CAR. HONDA HAVE AN EXISTING SERVICE BULLETIN 98-081 THAT ONLY COVERS 96-97 CIVICS AND NOT 1998 MODELS BUT THEY DID NOT DO THE RE-DESIGN UNTIL 99. IT IS A WELL KNOWN FLAW BUT HONDA DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL FOR IT. *TR

YEAR 2003: 1 O2 SENSOR REPLACED YEAR 2007: ENGINE LIGHT ON. WAS INFORMED DUE TO OXYGEN O2 SENSOR BAD AND ALSO A CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD. CAR ACTS LIKE IT WILL STALL WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT. I AM VERY CONCERNED. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP, ONLY SOME HONDA CIVICS WITH A PARTICULAR VIN # QUALIFY FOR REPLACEMENT OF OXYGEN/O2 SENSOR AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THEY STATED THAT MINE DID NOT (ONLY UP TO 1997 QUALIFY) AND THERE IS NO RECALL FOR 1998. ACCORDING TO THE INTERNET, THERE ARE OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR 1998 HONDA CIVICS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE . *TR

HAD TAKEN CAR TO GET INSPECTION. WOULD NOT PASS DUE TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAVING A CRACK IN. THIS CAR HAD 59827 MILES ON IT! NATURALLY I WAS VERY UPSET. THIS CAR WAS ONLY USED MINIMALLY AS WITNESSED BY THE YEAR VS MILES. HARDLY ANY HWY USE. CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY PUT UP THEIR HANDS. CAN'T FIX BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE $ 2,000. CAR WILL NOT PASS INSP. DUE TO STRICT CODES IN TEXAS. I NOW HAVE MY FIFTH HONDA. HONDA JUST DROPPED THE BIG ONE ON A LOYAL CUST.!!!!!!! *NM

O 2 SENSOR/ EXHAUST CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEM ON MY 1998 HONDA CIVIC LX. *TR

CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHICH LEADS TO EXHAUST GASES BEING BLOWN INTO THE CAR WHEN IN TRAFFIC OR AT IDLE. THESE GASES CREATE A DANGER OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA CIVIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND THEY NOTICED THAT THE MANIFOLD EXHAUST CRACKED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANIFOLD EXHAUST WAS REPLACED BEFORE AT 158,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 198,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000. UPDATED 10/30/07 *TR

I HAVE A 1998 HONDA SHADOW AERO (VT1100-C3) VIN[XXX] THAT HAS DEVELOPED AN OIL GUIDE PLUG LEAK. THIS LEAK RESULTS IN OIL BEING PUMPED OUT OF THE LOWER PORTION OF THE ENGINE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE REAR TIRE WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE. IT HAS BEEN A PROVEN INHERENT DESIGN PROBLEM IN MODEL YEARS 1998 THROUGH 2001. HONDA HAS ISSUED A WARNING AND THE REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS IN THEIR SEPTEMBER 1999 ISSUE OF THE HONDA WRENCH PUBLICATION. THE DEALERSHIPS THAT I HAVE CONTACTED DO NOT CLAIM KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM OR THE ARTICLE FROM HONDA. MY UNDERSTANDING IS HONDA STILL REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT. I STAY IN CONTACT WITH A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO OWN THIS SAME STYLE MOTORCYCLE VIA THE INTERNET AND THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD. I AM GOING TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM REPAIRED AT MY OWN EXPENSE AS I DO NOT CONSIDER THE MOTORCYCLE SAFE TO OPERATE IN IT'S CURRENT CONDITION. I WOULD LIKE TO GO ON RECORD AND FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT AND WILL ENCOURAGE FELLOW AERO OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM TO DO THE SAME. I WILL KEEP A FILE WITH MY REPAIR INFORMATION IN THE EVENT HONDA COMES FORWARD AND ACKNOWLEDGES THIS FLAW IN THEIR DESIGN AND ISSUES A RECALL. *JB *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

1998 HONDA CRV, WITH ABOUT 100,000 MILAGE,ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. REPAIRED THE DISTRIBUTOR SENSOR. TOOK IT BACK FOUR MORE TIMES AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUE TO STAY ON. A WEEK LATER, TOOK IT IN TO DEALE FOR A DIAGNOSTIC, VALVE #3 & 4, NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THEY RECOMMENDED A NEW CYLINDER HEAD. NOTIFIED HONDA MANUFACTURER AND THEY DECIDED TO PAY HALF OF THE COST. I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN GOOD CARE OF MY CAR, AND HAVE THE INVOICES TO PROOF IT. I THINK HONDA KNOWS THERE IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COMPLETE REPAIR COST. I AM STILL PAYING ON MY CAR AND THIS IS A FINANCIAL BURDEN FOR ME AND MY FAMILY.*AK

CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT EXHAUST MANIFOLD PIPE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL, AND THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR PARTS AND LABOR. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE WANTED TO CANCEL HIS COMPLAINT. HE WAS ADVISED BY HONDA SERVICE MANAGER TO TAKE HIS VEHICLE TO ANY DEALERSHIP FOR AN INSPECTION. DEFECTIVE PART IMMEDIATELY REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. *TC

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. HAS CRACK IN MANIFOLD FOR UNKNOW REASON!. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE TIMING BELT NEEDED REPLACING WHICH WAS NOT MOUNTED PROPERLY. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

10 MONTHS AGO I BECAME AWARE OF EXHAUST SMELL INSIDE MY 98 HONDA CIVIC LX VIN-[XXX]. THE PROBLEM WAS WORSE WHEN I IDLED THE CAR FOR A QUICK WARM UP BEFORE DRIVING. *LA THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE AND I WAS GETTING HEADACHES EACH DAY AFTER MY COMMUTE TO WORK. COMPLAINED OF I REMOVED THE HEAT SHIELD FROM THE ENGINE TO INVESTIGATE THE SOURCE OF THE EXHAUST LEAK. I FOUND THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAD SPLIT APPROX. ON EACH SIDE OF THE "Y" FOR A TOTAL CRACK OF 6 INCHES. THIS WAS ALLOWING LARGE AMOUNTS OF EXHAUST GAS TO ENTER THE CABIN WHEN USING THE HEATER OR A/C. I WAS INFORMED BY FOUR HONDA DEALERS LOCALLY THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WELL KNOWN AND ALL 7 LOCAL DEALERS HAD MANY MANIFOLDS IN STOCK IN THEIR PARTS DEPARTMENT. THIS WAS AN INDICATION TO ME THAT MANY OF THESE WERE BREAKING AND I WAS FAR FROM ALONE ON THIS ISSUE. THE REPLACEMENT MANIFOLD PART NUMBER IS- 18160-P2E-A12. AT KEN GARFF HONDA IN OGDEN UTAH, I WAS TOLD THAT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS IN EFFECT FOR THE PROBLEM FOR 8 YEARS OR 80K MILES. (MY CIVIC HAS 93,000 MILES) THEY STATED THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR 96,97 AND 98 HONDA CIVICS TO HAVE. MY CONCERN IS IF I HAD SUFFICIENT EXHAUST GAS IN MY CABIN TO MAKE ME ILL AND THE PROBLEM WAS WIDESPREAD THAT THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY / HEALTH ISSUE. A PERSON SITTING IN THEIR CLOSED, IDLING CAR WITH THE AC/HEATER ON THEY COULD POTENTIALLY SUCCUMB TO CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. WITH THE ABOVE IN MIND, I CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 800-999-1009 TO RELAY MY INFORMATION AND DISCUSS THE ISSUE. I SPOKE WITH A WOMAN NAMED [XXX] WHO TOLD ME SHE WOULD RECORD MY CONCERN. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT WERE NO SYMPTOMS TO ALERT ME TO THE PROBLEM OTHER THAN ODOR. A NON "AUTO SAVVY" PERSON COULD EASILY OVERLOOK THE GRADUALLY WORSENING PROBLEM JUST LIKE I DID UNTIL THEY DIED. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE SCOPE OF THIS ISSUE FURTHER AND I AM CONVINCED THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE DUE TO THE FEEDBACK I GOT. THANK YOU. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

DISTRIBUTOR FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE ENGINE POWER. I COASTED TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. *NM

DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH UNDER RECALL. ALSO THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED . BUT THE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM TO START THE VEHICLE CONTINUED. *AK THERE WAS INTERMITTENT GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. SINCE THE NOISE DIDN'T OCCUR WHEN THE CONSUMER BOUGHT IT TO THE DEALER, THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *PH ALSO THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS REPLACED. *JB

MULTIPLE CRACKS IN EXHAUST MANIFOLD RADIATING FROM OXYGEN SENSOR. *LA