Here is how I think I would feel if I owned a 2003-2004 Honda CR-V:

First, I wouldn't trust Honda Customer Service to know what they're talking
about on this point. Seems to me before any defect is fully known, Customer
Services everywhere, with any product, will deny any defects exist.

Second, the report at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov (Make: HONDA Model: CR-V
Year: 2003 NHTSA Action Number: PE04018) suggests to me that maybe more of
these particular Hondas are having oil filter leakage-onto-exhaust-and-fire
problems than the average car. Maybe not. The report doesn't give a baseline for
all cars.

Third, I do care about the baseline for all cars. My very first vehicle (a
Toyota pickup truck) had its first oil change at Sears in the early 1980s. A few
miles down the road the low oil pressure light came on. I pulled over
immediately. Looked underneath and saw oil on the ground. I walked to a payphone
and called Sears. Sears sent a tow truck and towed my car back. They find the
kid mechanic did not scrape off the old gasket. It was double-gasketed, just as
the report above identifies for a number of the cars with fires.

Fourth, so how often does such an error like Sears' *also* result in a fire? Do
Hondas have a poorer record on this count? One can only guess, no thanks to the
government report, and no thanks to Honda.

I'd find out where my Honda CR-V's oil filter is and try to inspect it,
especially for dripping oil, after every oil change. I think I might say
something to the service advisor at every oil change, too, about the report
above, and ask that he/she have the work double checked. Maybe bring a copy of
the report with me. The service advisor might start thinking me anal, but oh
well. I personally would just not be comfortable right now with the information
available on this.

Based on my and I'm sure others' many experiences with improperly installed oil
filters, anyone with any car should get to know where the oil filter is and know
where to look for leakage. Also, be cautious for the first couple of hours of
driving after any oil change.

As for never buying from Honda again: Many (all?) car makers have had serious,
life-threatening defects at some point in their life. Have they learned from
this? I think so. I can't think of a car maker that has erred so badly re
serious defects that I would not buy from them just because of its serious
defect record.

I'd keep an eye peeled for further studies of this problem, but I wouldn't
reject Honda outright in the future.

"Andre" <ofc2003@yahoo.com> wrote
> I called Honda 800 999-1009 after reading reports of CRVs burning and
> exploding; I recently purchased a 2004 model. I was told by Honda
> customer service that nothing is wrong with the vehicle and no recall
> is planned. The fires are due to improperly installed oil filters.
> Am I wrong to think that this is not good enough?
>
> Another post in this newsgroup states that the oil filter is closer to
> the CRV's hot engine manifold than in other cars. Would not a simple
> splash guard prevent oil from leaking onto hot engine parts to prevent
> fires and explosions in the case of improperly installed or leaking
> oil filters?
>
> I have owned enough vehicles to realize oil may sometimes leak from a
> filter during or after installation, but this leak doesn't result in
> catastrophe, except in the CRV. While looking up Honda's contact
> information on the Web, I saw much information touting Honda safety
> records and standards and awards, yet they are completely ignoring
> this problem. Since safety is a main concern in choosing a car for me
> and my family, I really feel that I probably will not buy a car again
> from Honda in the future. Maybe I am overreacting to this. Andre