NHTSA Complaint #10032574 — 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY

AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC. HONDA AUTOMOBILE CUSTOMER SERVICE 1919 TORRANCE BOULEVARD MAIL STOP: 500 - 2N - 7D TORRANCE, CA 90501-2746 CLAIM NUMBER: [XXX] DEAR HONDA, WE ARE WRITING TO YOU IN ORDER TO PUT YOU ON NOTICE OF A POTENTIAL VEHICLE DEFECT WITH MY NEW 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY, VIN: [XXX]. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE JUST 6 WEEKS THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: 1. BRAKES BEGAN TO GET SOFTER AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE TILL ALMOST TO THE FLOOR 2. WHILE WAITING AT A SIGNAL THE CAR ENGINE APPEARS TO BE REVVING UP AND SHAKING 3. RATTLING NOISE EMANATING FROM THE MUFFLER LINKAGE 4. LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT COMES ON WHEN GAGE IS STILL AT TANK. OF GRAVE CONCERN IS AN INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED LAST FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 2003 WHILE MY WIFE WAS TAKING MY SON TO CELEBRATE HIS 6TH BIRTHDAY AT SUMMER CAMP. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED: AFTER MAKING A TURN ON A STEEP HILL MY WIFE PROCEEDED DOWN THE HILL. WHILE GOING DOWN THE HILL THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED TO OPERATE AND THE FOLLOWING LIGHTS ILLUMINATE ON THE DASH , BATTERY, OIL, DOOR OPEN WARNING LIGHTS. THE ENGINE WAS STILL ON AND SHE HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE THAT THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT GOING FAST AND WE WERE ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. MY WIFE WAS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENED AND UPSET BY THE INCIDENT. SHE WAS ALMOST IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT! WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO BEAVERTON HONDA WHO ADVISES US THUS FAR THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEMS. YOU CAN SURELY UNDERSTAND OUR CONCERNS WITH THIS VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY IF THERE APPEARS TO BE NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. WE WOULD LIKE HONDA OF AMERICA TO TAKE THE FOLLOWING STEPS TO PROTECT OUR FAMILY AND IT'S BRAND: 1. PROVIDE US WITH A LOANER ODYSSEY UNTIL& (2) 2. EXCHANGE OUR ODYSSEY WITH THE SAME EXACT VEHICLE FROM A DIFFERENT FACTORY OR FULLY REFUND OUR PURCHASE. *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR