NHTSA Complaint #10126477 — 2000 HONDA TRX350

VEHICLE STARTS IN GEAR WITH NEUTRAL LIGHT ON CAUSING VEHICLE TO JUMP/MOVE ABRUPTLY FORWARD AS ENGINE STARTS WITH CHOKE ENGAGED (CHOKE ENGAGED CAUSES HIGHER RPM UPON START). NO UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR WAS NOTED PRIOR TO EVENT. AFTER INITIAL EVENT NOTED THAT NEUTRAL LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED IN FORWARD GEAR POSITION. APPEARS SOMEWHAT RANDOM. E.G. LIGHT OFF IN GEAR 2 BUT ON IN GEAR 3 BUT THEN DIFFERENT GEAR COMBINATION. VERIFIED THAT LIGHT IS OFF IN NEUTRAL SETTING - SO APPEARS TO OPERATOR TO BE IN GEAR CAUSING OPERATOR TO MOVE SHIFT TO NEUTRAL ILLUMINATED BUT NOW "IN GEAR" POSITION PRIOR TO START. IN MY OPINION THIS POSES AN EXTREME DANGER, ESPECIALLY TO INEXPERIENCED OPERATORS WHO USE THROTTLE AND REV ENGINE DURING NORMAL COLD START. CONSEQUENCES COULD INCLUDE PROPERTY DAMAGE, INJURY TO OPERATOR, INJURY TO OTHERS NEAR VEHICLE. AFTER INITIAL RESEARCH OF OWNERS MANUAL, CONTACTED BEN IN SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT CEDAR CREEK MOTOR SPORTS CEDARBURG WI ON JUNE 24, 2005 TO INQUIRE WHETHER THERE WERE ANY "STARTS IN GEAR" RECALLS FOR MODEL HONDA RANCHER ATV TRX350FM YEAR=2000. HE REPORTED THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS RELATED TO THIS SYMPTOM. HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED INFORMATION ON HOW TO CORRECT THE FAILURE.