NHTSA Complaint #10070751 — 1997 HONDA ACCORD

ON 7/27/03, SUNDAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SHOWED UP, I DECIDED TO TAKE THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC RIGHT AWAY THE NEXT DAY, BUT ON MONDAY MORNING, I COULDN'T EVEN GET OUT TO THE MAIN ROAD FROM MY DEVELOPMENT AND THE CAR JUST LOST THE GEAR. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY WARNING SIGN, AND THE INCIDENT COULD HAVE TURNED FATAL AT HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AND SPEEDS. CAR JUST HAS 58K MILES AND HONDA REFUSES TO HELP IN ANY WAY, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE HISTORY OF SUCH PROBLEMS AND THEY EVEN HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRENTY FOR SUCH PROBLEMS ON NEWER HONDA AND ACURA BRANDED VEHICLES. THE REASON FOR REFUSAL IS THAT THEY DON'T PROVIDE GOODWILL ASSISTANCE TO VEHICLES MORE THAN 5 YEARS OLD. BUT THE BOTTOMLINE IS THAT I HAVE MAINTAINED THIS VEHICLE WELL AND GENERALLY THE USAGE HABITS AFFECT MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS NOT THE AUTOMATIC ONES. WE HAVE DRIVEN OTHER CARS TO DEATH AND NOTHING HAD HAPPENED TO THEIR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, SO THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THERE IS CERTAIN QUALITY AND DURABILITY THAT IS EXPECTED FROM ANY PRODUCT, AND THE MANUFECTURER SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR ANY PRODUCT THAT FAILS, EVEN IF IT HAPPENS OUTSIDE OF WARRENTY. THE FACT THAT THEY PROVIDE 7 YEARS/100000 MILES EXTENDED WARRENTY ON NEWER VEHICLES, SETS UP A PRECEDENT, THAT IS THEY EXPECT A DEFECT FREE TRANSMISSION TO LAST AT LEAST THAT LONG. HONDA JUST THINKS THAT THEY CAN GET AWAY WITHOUT FIXING OLDER CARS BECAUSE THEY THINK OWENERS WON'T PURSUE THEIR CASE IN THE COURT, BUT I AM GOING TO THE SMALL CLAIMS COURT FOR SURE ON THIS ONE.