NHTSA Complaint #10070539 — 1998 HONDA ACCORD

PROBLEMS BEGAN WHEN I TOOK MY 1998 ACCORD EX IN TO HAVE THE 30,000 MILE SERVICE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAD THEM REPLACED AND WENT IN FOR ANOTHER MAJOR SERVICE CHECK A YEAR LATER AND WAS TOLD THE CAR NEEDED NEW BRAKE PADS AGAIN, THAT'S ONLY 18,000 MILES LATER. THE HONDA DEALERSHIP MECHANIC TOLD ME REPLACING THE PADS EVERY 20,000 MILES IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR THESE CARS. I, THEN, TOOK THE CAR TO A NON-HONDA REPAIR SHOP WHO REPLACED THE PADS AND GUARANTEED THEM FOR 48,000 MILES. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR THE SECOND MAJOR SERVICE CHECK MY CAR HORN WAS WORKING. AFTER LEAVING HONDA'S SERVICE SHOP THE HORN HAS NOT WORKED PROPERLY AGAIN. WHEN I TURN THE ENGINE ON THE HORN TURNS OFF. AS LONG AS THE ENGINE'S OFF THE HORN WORKS WITHOUT A PROBLEM. I TOOK IT BACK TO HONDA WHO TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM IS PROBABLY RELATED TO A CABLE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND WOULD COST ME OVER $200 TO REPAIR. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT IT COULD BE THE KEY SWITCH AND THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THE SWITCH BUT MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED. AGAIN THEY ESTIMATE $200 TO REPAIR. THIS CAR HAS NOT HAD EXCESSIVE WEAR, IT IS A 1998 AND HAS LESS THAN 48,000 MILES ON IT TODAY. I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN WHAT THEY ARE TELLING ME AND AM VERY DISPLEASED WITH MY HONDA AND THE SERVICE THAT I AM GETTING.