NHTSA Complaint #10146006 — 2001 HONDA ODYSSEY

EARLY IN 2002 I BEGIN HAVING DIFFICULTIES OPENING THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR ON MY HONDA ODYSSEY. I TOOK THE VAN TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD I MUST NOT BE CLOSING THE DOOR CORRECTLY. IN JUNE 2003, I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP- AT THAT TIME THEY REPLACED THE RUBBER SEAL AROUND THE DOOR, ADMITTING OTHER VEHICLES WERE HAVING THAT PROBLEM. JULY 2005 THE DOOR AGAIN BECAME DIFFICULT TO OPEN, THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP APPLIED A SPRAY "THAT SHOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM". BY OCTOBER 2005 SOME DAYS THE DOOR WOULD OPEN, SOME DAYS IT WOULD NOT. DEC. 4, 2005, I WAS TRAVELING HOME, ALONE, FROM CHURCH ABOUT 8:45 PM WHEN ALL OF THE INTERIOR LIGHTS CAME ON. I SAW THE DOOR OPEN SIGNAL FOR THE PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR WAS ON. IT WAS DARK, AT A SECTION OF THE COUNTY THAT I WAS NOT COMFORTABLE STOPPING AT, SO I DROVE FOR APPROX. 2 MILES TO REACH AN AREA WHERE I FELT SAFE TO STOP, GET OUT, GO AROUND THE CAR AND CLOSE THE DOOR. I CONTACTED HONDA ON MONDAY - IF I WANT TO PAY FOR IT, THEY WILL REPLACE THE SEAL AGAIN. I HAVE CALLED THE HONDA 800 NUMBER THEY GAVE ME AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO LOOK AT IT. BECAUSE I REFUSED TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSIS (THE INDIVIDUAL ON THE 800 NUMBER SAID NOTHING ABOUT THAT DURING THE FIRST CALL) HONDA WILL DO NOTHING. THIS DOOR HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM THE FIRST, I FEEL HONDA HAS NEVER CORRECTED THE PROBLEM, JUST MADE IT BEARABLE FOR A WHILE. IT IS UNSAFE. *NM