2022-2023 Honda Civic Head Cover Oil Leak Investigation

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) has issued a "PRIORITY/ACTION REQUIRED" communication to dealerships regarding an investigation into oil leaks originating from the head cover gasket on certain 2022-2023 Honda Civic models. This effort, identified as NHTSA ID 11007645 and titled "Request for Parts: 2022-2023 Civic 1.5T & 2023 Civic 2.0L Head Cover Leak (ACTION REQUIRED)", aims to better understand the underlying cause of the Honda Civic head cover leak condition.

To achieve this, AHM is requesting the collection of specific parts from qualifying vehicles. Dealerships are instructed to identify and report vehicles that meet defined criteria, with an emphasis on collecting parts before any repair attempts are made. This communication is specifically directed to Honda dealership personnel, including Service Managers and Advisors.

Symptoms of a Head Cover Leak

Owners or technicians may notice an oil leak from the head cover gasket area. This condition might be observed during routine maintenance or when a customer reports an active oil leak. The communication specifies that example photos are available to help confirm the leak location for both 1.5L and 2.0L engines.

Qualifying Conditions for Parts Collection

AHM is interested in collecting parts only from vehicles that meet all of the following requirements:

• Engine Type and Manufacturing Date:
  • For 2022-2023 Civic 1.5L Turbo (EX, Touring, Si) models, the vehicle's manufacturing date on the driver's door jamb must be after April 2022.
  • For 2023 Civic 2.0L (LX & Sport) models, the vehicle's manufacturing date on the driver's door jamb must be after June 2023.
• Confirmed Oil Leak: There must be a confirmed oil leak from the head cover area. Visual confirmation, potentially aided by example photos provided by Honda, is necessary.
• Previous Repairs: Any prior repair attempts are acceptable, provided the cylinder head cover or gasket has not been replaced.
• No Collision History: The vehicle must not have been involved in a collision.

Important Warning for Dealerships and Owners

It is critical that for any qualifying vehicle exhibiting a Honda Civic head cover leak, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) wants to collect specific parts prior to any repair attempt. This means dealerships should not attempt to fix the leak or replace the cylinder head cover or gasket before contacting Honda's Technical Information & Support (TIS) team and receiving further instructions.

Reporting Process for Dealerships

If a vehicle matching the specified qualifiers comes into a dealership, personnel must contact Technical Information & Support (TIS) either via email at [email protected] or by phone at 800-880-1072 (Monday-Friday, 7am-5pm PST). TIS will need to record specific vehicle information and provide further instructions. The email to TIS should include:

E-mail Title:

1. Model Year (e.g., 2024)
2. Model Name (e.g., Accord)
3. Issue (e.g., Brake Judder)
4. VIN

E-mail Body:

1. Dealer Number
2. Your Name
3. Best Phone Number to be reached
4. Current Mileage
5. Confirmation that the vehicle meets qualifiers #1-#5 listed above
6. One wide-angle and one close-up photo of the leaking area
7. DPTS#

Incentive for Participation

As a gesture of appreciation, Honda will provide a VISA gift card to dealer personnel who identify and report a qualifying vehicle that is accepted as a candidate for parts collection. Technical Information & Support (TIS) will provide additional information regarding this incentive program.

What Owners Should Know

If your 2022-2023 Honda Civic exhibits a Honda Civic head cover leak and you believe it meets the qualifying conditions, it is important to inform your dealership. Your dealership will then follow the specific