NHTSA Complaint #10150650 — 1999 HONDA ODYSSEY

MY HONDA ODYSSEY WAS PURCHASED ON APR. 1999. ON 5/7/2004, I HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR AT NARDY HONDA AS THE VEHICLE WON'T CHARGE. ON 8/2/04, THE CAR BROKE DOWN AND LATER FOUND OUT THE ALTERNATOR BRACKET BROKE (SHEARED IN HALF). HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE LATER PAID FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BRACKET. ON 8/27/05, THE BRACKET BROKE AGAIN IN HIGH WAY. HONDA AGAIN PAID FOR THE REPAIR AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP (LUNDGREN IN MA SINCE WE WERE TRAVELING OUTSIDE NY). I COMPLAINED BOTH TIME AND THIS TIME QUESTIONED IF THE DESIGN OR PART IS AT FAULT. HONDA TOLD ME THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT THE TORQUE OF THE SCREWS FOR THIS BRACKET SO I ASKED IT TO BE DOUBLE CHECKED. THE CAR WAS THEN CHECKED AT NARDY HONDA IN OCT. 05 (PAID FOR BY HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE AGAIN). ON 2/4/06, THE CAR BROKE DOWN AGAIN AND THIS TIME IT IS THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE ALTERNATOR TO THE BRACKET. I HAVE THE BROKEN BOLT AND BRACKET FROM THE 2ND TIME. I HAVE CALLED HONDA SERVICE AGAIN AND QUESTIONED THE DESIGN, PART, AND OR SERVICE PROCEDURE TO BE AT FAULT SINCE I BELIEVE THE ASSEMBLY SEEMS TO FAIL INSTANTLY UNDER HIGH STRESSES CAUSED BY EITHER THE TENSION OF THE BELT ENGAGEMENT OR CONSTANT TENSION. THE BOLT WAS SHEARED OFF AS WELL. BOTH FAILURES INDICATE HIGH STRESSES. HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN OR WILL DO FOR ME THIS TIME. NOW, I AM REALLY WORRIED THAT THE CAR CAN BREAK DOWN ANY TIME AND CAN CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS IF THE DRIVER OTHER THAN ME (MY WIFE OR MY SON) DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THE SUDDEN BREAK DOWN. I ALSO NOW QUESTION IF THE INITIAL REPAIR WAS NOT CAUSED BY BAD ALTERNATOR BUT WAS THE FACT THAT THE BRACKET WAS ALSO BROKEN SO THE ALTERNATOR WON'T CHARGE AS THE BELT WAS STUCK. *NM