2022-2023 Honda Civic Rear Hatch Water Leak Investigation

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) has issued a manufacturer communication, identified as "Request for Visit: 2022-2023 Civic 5 Dr Hatch Water Leak (ACTION REQUIRED)", to its dealerships regarding an ongoing investigation into water leaks affecting certain 2022-2023 Honda Civic Hatchbacks. This communication, referenced by NHTSA ID 10240770, indicates a proactive effort by Honda to understand the root cause of this condition.

The primary goal of this initiative is to gather more information about the Honda Civic rear hatch water leak before any repair attempts are made by dealerships. Honda's Technical Information & Support Group is requesting that service managers and advisors identify and report vehicles that meet specific criteria for further inspection.

Symptoms of the Honda Civic Rear Hatch Water Leak

Owners of affected 2022-2023 Honda Civic Hatchbacks may observe distinct symptoms related to this water leak. The most common complaints include water presence in the cargo area. Additionally, some owners might notice an excessive amount of water pouring out from the sides of the vehicle when the rear hatch is opened. These signs indicate a potential Honda Civic rear hatch water leak that Honda is keen to investigate.

Honda's Investigation into the Water Leak

AHM is actively searching for vehicles that exhibit this specific water leak condition. The company's objective is to thoroughly inspect these vehicles to gain a deeper understanding of the underlying cause. This investigation is crucial for developing an effective and permanent solution for the Honda Civic rear hatch water leak issue.

Key Eligibility Requirements for Inspection

For a vehicle to be considered for this investigation, it must meet several strict qualifiers. Dealerships are instructed to only report vehicles that satisfy all the following conditions:

• The vehicle's manufactured date, found on the driver's door jamb, must be December 2021 (12/21) or later.
• The water leak issue must be reproducible or verifiable, with water present in the cargo area.
• The vehicle must not have been involved in any collision.
• Crucially, no repair attempt for this specific water leak issue should have been made previously.

Important Information for Owners

If your 2022-2023 Honda Civic Hatchback is experiencing a rear hatch water leak, it is important to be aware of Honda's specific request. AHM is explicitly asking to inspect vehicles prior to any repair attempts. This means that if you suspect your vehicle has a water leak from the rear hatch, you should not attempt to fix it yourself or have an independent shop perform repairs before contacting your Honda dealership. Making a repair attempt could disqualify your vehicle from being part of this important investigation.

How Dealerships Can Report Affected Vehicles

Dealerships with vehicles matching the qualifiers are instructed to contact Honda's Technical Information & Support (TIS). They can do so by emailing [email protected] or calling 800-880-1072. TIS is available Monday through Friday, from 7 AM to 5 PM PST. When contacting TIS, the dealership must provide specific vehicle and dealer information to facilitate the process and receive further instructions.

The email subject for reporting should include the Model Year (e.g., 2020), Model Name (e.g., Accord), the Issue (e.g., Brake Judder), and the VIN. The email body must contain the Dealer Number, the technician's Name, the Best Phone Number to be Reached, the Current Mileage, and the DPTS#.

Incentive for Participating Technicians

As a gesture of appreciation, Honda will provide a Visa gift card to dealer technicians who successfully identify and report a qualifying vehicle that is accepted as a candidate for inspection. This incentive encourages dealerships to actively participate in Honda's data collection efforts for the Honda Civic rear hatch water leak investigation.

Source: NHTSA ID 10240770