NHTSA Complaint #10104451 — 2000 HONDA INSIGHT

THE REAR HATCH WINDOW OF THE INSIGHT "SELF-DESTRUCTED" WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT. THE WEATHER HAD BEEN EXTREMELY COLD (IN THE TEENS), THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED OUTSIDE ALL DAY WHILE AT WORK, AND THE REAR DEFROSTER HAD BEEN USED ON THE COMMUTE HOME. THE FOLLOWING MORNING, THE WINDOW WAS FOUND STILL BE IN PLACE BUT WAS BROKEN AROUND THE ENTIRE PERIMETER AND THE WINDOW ITSELF WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED BEING HELD IN PLACE BY THE LAMINATE. THROUGH SOME ONLINE RESEARCH, I TRACKED DOWN ANOTHER INSIGHT OWNER WHO HAD REPORTED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM ON "YAHOO! GROUPS" TWO WEEKS EARLIER. I CONTACTED HIM AND FOUND THAT HIS WINDOW HAD "SELF-DESTRUCTED" IN THE EXACT SAME MANNER AFTER BEING PARKED OUTSIDE IN COLD WEATHER. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP ALONG WITH THE RESULTS OF MY RESEARCH AND THEY CONTACTED HONDA AMERICA. HONDA AMERICA TOLD THE DEALER THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDOW THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF AND THAT THEY CONSIDER IT NORMAL DAMAGE THAT WILL HAVE TO BE PAID FOR (MY INSURANCE IS COVERING IT). AS THE INSIGHT IS A RATHER LIMITED PRODUCTION VEHICLE, THE REPAIR PARTS WILL TAKE A FEW DAYS TO OBTAIN. FOR THIS REASON, THE CURRENT DAMAGED PART (WINDOW) IS STILL AVAILABLE SHOULD AN INVESTIGATION BE WARRANTED. I CONSIDER THIS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE AS THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY FOR THE WINDOW TO SPONTANEOUSLY BREAK WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN. LUCKILY MYSELF AND THE OTHER OWNER HAD OUR VEHICLES PARKED AT THE TIME SO WE DID NOT HAVE ANY MOVING VEHICLE ISSUES. THIS WOULD APPEAR TO BE A CONCERN FOR PEOPLE WITH INSIGHT'S IN COLD WEATHER CLIMATES.*AK