Honda has announced a new extended warranty for the gas tanks on approximately 80,000 Civic Hybrids due to an issue with the vehicle's gas tanks.
According to The New York Times, cracks may develop on the tops of tanks in the hybrid versions of 2006-2011 Civics, which could potentially lead to a fuel leak. In many cases, a fuel leak is a cause for a full recall, but Honda has instead opted to go with the less-costly extended warranty coverage for owners. The reason is that the company says there's no safety hazard due to the leak since an ignition source is not located near the tank.
Ultimately, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has the power to force a recall if the situation is dangerous enough, but the agency says it is not taking any action at this time. The NHTSA will continue to monitor the situation and listen to consumers.
In the meantime, owners of Civic Hybrids will be covered for 10 years or 120,000 miles on issues related to their tanks. This means they can have the car repairs taken care of free of charge if they so choose, but unlike a recall it's not mandatory.