NHTSA Complaint #10039619 — 1994 HONDA ACCORD

AFTER PURCHASING OUR NEW HONDA ACCORD WAGON ON 4/10/94 WE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES DID NOT FEEL AS THOUGH THEY WERE OPERATING CORRECTLY. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALER ON 7/19/96 TO HAVE THE BRAKES SERVICED BECAUSE THE REAR BRAKES WERE WORN OUT AFTER 18261 MILES. WE ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER IF THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES DUE TO THE PREMATURE WEARING OUT OF THE REAR BRAKES. WE WERE SIMPLY TOLD THAT THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THIS CAR WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. WE NEEDED TO HAVE THE CAR SERVICED AGAIN FOR AN UNRELATED PROBLEM ON 11/26/97 AND WE AGAIN TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE BRAKES WERE NOT FUNCTIONING RIGHT AND WE WERE AGAIN TOLD THAT THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THIS CAR. ON 9/13/03 WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON THE 880 FREWAY I APPLIED THE BRAKES AS I WAS ABOUT TO EXIT AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY PUMP THE BRAKES FAST ENOUGH TO GET THE CAR TO COME TO A STOP WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A NEARBY MIDAS REPAIR FACILITY AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THERE WERE QUITE A FEW SERVICE BULLETINS COVERING THE PROBLEMS THAT I HAD EXPERIENCED WITH MY VEHICLE AND THAT THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE DEALT WITH THEM BEFORE THIS FAILURE. I WAS FORCED TO PAY OVER $1400.00 FOR REPAIRS TO MY VEHICLE THAT WERE THE DIRECT RESULT OF THE HONDA DEALERSHIP'S FAILURE TO LOOK INTO MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE BRAKE PROBLEMS AND LOOK UP THE SERVICE BULLETINS ON FILE. THEY PUT ME, MY WIFE AND MY SON'S LIFE IN DANGER BY NOT DOING THEIR JOB.