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Honda CR-V Fires: Another View

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Matt of Columbus OH (10/22/04):
I searched for information on Honda SUV fires after witnessing a bizarre sight on the freeway on October 20, 2004 regarding a Honda CRV SUV. Imagine my surprise when multiple articles were revealed in my internet search! In morning daylight, 8:30 AM, 50 degree temperature in Columbus Ohio, I was astonished to see a Honda CRV travelling at 65 mph beside me on the freeway with its exhaust system glowing so brightly I first mistook it for an orange neon lighting system.

Honda CR-V Fires • Honda Recalls Cars to Fix Fire Hazard • Suit Charges Honda Conceals Fire Risk in CR-V, Element Models • Has the Real Cause Been Found? • Honda Addresses CR-V Engine Fires • Feds Re-Open Honda Fire Probe • Oil Filter Blamed for CR-V Fires • Other Honda Fires

I was so shocked at the sight that I mentioned it to others in an import-car chat board later that day. The first thing that came to mind was "this poor guy's car is going to catch on fire". From what I saw, a potential cause of Honda SUVs fires is incredibly high Exhaust Gas Temperatures that result in the collector and exhaust pipe of the car to glow cherry red at highway speeds.

Something in the engine management system must be amiss causing either incredibly lean mixtures that raise exhaust gas temps, or overly retarded timing that is letting excess fuel burn in exhaust system instead of the engine. Either way, it is a potentially disasterous problem based on what I saw. I am troubled by what I viewed from both your own, and NHTSA reports (i.e Action number EA04027, PE04018) as identifying "Oil Change" service issues as a leading cause of the fires.

While a leaking oil problem may contribute to the fire, it is not the core cause. Oil on a normal temperature exhaust manifold or low on an exhaust system should not catch fire. With the temps I witnessed on the CRV above, I was worried about interior components or wiring near the exhaust system catching on fire as a direct result of the heat being generated by the components.

Having extensive experience in EGT issues (owner and operator of an SCCA race team), I understand the ramifications of high EGTs, and this CRV that I witnessed was off the charts.

Rob of Bartlesville OK (7/15/04):
I have worked as a general automotive technician in a nearby Honda dealership. Honda designs the engine with the oil filter in a very ungodly place: between the block and the firewall. They even have special "shields" sent to the dealership, so that when an oil change is done, the technician can put that on the exhaust, because the filter is also located directly above the hottest part of the exhaust, and oil will get on the exhaust during an oil change.

I used to cringe when I saw a new Honda SUV coming in for service because I did my job correctly, and made sure the filters were tight. But doing so means getting burns from the exhaust, which I still have scars from a year later. To fully understand its positioning, you really need to get a new honda SUV on the lift, and look at the beast from below. I don't know WHAT they were thinking when they designed it this way. It's like, here's the oil filter, now, lets make an SUV around it.

Rick of Kalispell, MT November 11, 2008

My honda crv caught fire in my driveway , with in minutes , after getting out of it . In 3 minutes or less this car burned up completely. I always pull in my garage . but i did not this day. good thing , it would have burned my house down.. firemen said it look like the fire started in a gas line toward the front left side of engine compartment.

a total lost of the crv, asphalt in driveway , burn black into my cedar fence, melted a crash can,

Remy of Las Vegas, NV November 11, 2008

I purchased a 2006 Honda CRV SE in August 2006. On Halloween of this year, on my way to work at 6am as I was driving, I saw smoke and flames coming out of the hood on the right side. I tried to pull over to the right, but the car just died. I tried to remove the key from the ignition, however it would not budge. People passing by stopped to help me and they called 911. Construction workers near by saw what had happened, and they came to put out the fire before the fire department and police officers arrived.

Since then, I have talked with my insurance and they will be investigating. I have since called American Honda, and they have made a case for me. However, I have not yet heard from anyone of these companies on the status of what they will do to fix this big problem. This was my first purchase of a brand new car, thinking that Honda is a world wide known company that is supposed to be reliable.

However, this is an experience that I hope no one else has to go through. After reading other consumers posts, I see that I am not alone.

I have missed a couple days of work, as for it was my only transportation. I currently have a rental car at my expense, but it does not make up for what had happened to me. I am a mother of 3, and a grandmother of 10. I'm glad I was not hurt. I couldn't imagine what I would have done if any of my children or grandchildren were with me at that time. That was the most frightening experince I ever went through.

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