2023 Honda Civic 2.0L Head Cover Oil Leak Investigation

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) has issued a PRIORITY/ACTION REQUIRED communication to its dealerships regarding an ongoing investigation into oil leaks affecting certain 2023 Honda Civic 2.0L vehicles. This initiative, identified by NHTSA ID 11011784, focuses on understanding the root cause of oil leaks observed from the head cover gasket.

AHM is actively searching for specific vehicles to collect parts and gather data. This is a critical step to better understand the condition before developing any repair procedures. Dealerships are instructed to handle this message accordingly and provide copies to their shop foremen and service advisors.

What's Being Investigated

AHM is investigating instances where 2023 Honda Civic 2.0L vehicles are experiencing an Honda Civic oil leak from the head cover gasket. This issue has been reported by customers or observed by dealers during routine maintenance. The goal is to collect specific components from affected vehicles to analyze the problem thoroughly.

Qualifying Conditions for Vehicle Submission

For a vehicle to be considered for this parts collection effort, it must meet several strict requirements. AHM is interested ONLY if the vehicle satisfies all the following criteria:

• Vehicle Model: It must be a 2023 Honda Civic 2.0L, specifically the LX or Sport trim.
• Manufacture Date: The vehicle's manufactured date, found on the driver's door jamb, must be AFTER 06/2023. Vehicles manufactured before June 2023 do not qualify for this program.
• Leak Confirmation: There must be a confirmed oil leak originating from the head cover area.
• Repair History: Previous repair attempts are acceptable only if the cylinder head cover or its gasket have not been replaced.
• Collision Status: The vehicle must not have been involved in a collision.

Reporting a Qualifying Vehicle

If a dealership encounters a vehicle that matches all the qualifying conditions for this Honda Civic oil leak, they are required to contact Technical Information & Support (TIS). This can be done by emailing [email protected] or by calling 800-880-1072, Monday through Friday, from 7 AM to 5 PM PST. TIS will then provide further instructions and record the necessary vehicle information.

Dealerships must include specific details in their email communication. The email title should contain the Model Year (e.g., 2024), Model Name (e.g., Accord), the Issue (e.g., Brake Judder), and the VIN. The email body should provide the Dealer Number, the sender's Name, the Best Phone Number to be reached, the Current Mileage, confirmation that the vehicle meets all four qualifiers, one wide-angle and one close-up photo of the leaking area, and the DPTS#.

Important Note for Owners

It is crucial for owners to understand that this communication is a request for information and parts collection, not a recall or a standard repair bulletin. If your 2023 Honda Civic 2.0L exhibits an Honda Civic oil leak from the head cover gasket and meets the specified qualifiers, your dealership will facilitate the reporting process to Honda. This effort is focused on diagnosing the problem's cause rather than immediate repair.

As a gesture of appreciation, Honda will provide a VISA gift card to dealership personnel who successfully identify and report a qualifying vehicle that is accepted as a candidate for parts collection and information gathering.

Source: NHTSA Manufacturer Communication 11011784