NHTSA Complaint #10152122 — 2003 HONDA ACCORD

OVER THE COURSE OF 3 YEARS, WITH LESS THAN 27,000 MILES, WE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE BRAKES ON THIS CAR TOO MANY TIMES TO REMEMBER. WE FIRST NOTICED A SQUEAKING SOUND AT 4,000 MILES WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH THE CAR AT A COMPLETE STOP. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED. THEY SAID THE BRAKES WERE COLD AND THE NOISE WAS NORMAL. THIS NOISE CONTINUED AND A SECOND NOISE, MUCH LOUDER AND RESEMBLING A "STICKING CALIPER" BEGAN TO OCCUR WHEN TURNING AND APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE DEALER AGAIN DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THIS WAS AT 11,000 MILES. LATER, ANOTHER MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS A "HOT" SPOT ON THE ROTOR FROM BRAKING TOO HARD AND THIS WAS CAUSING THE NOISE, THOUGH NO REMEDY HAS BEEN FOUND. THE BRAKES HAVE ALWAYS FELT SOFT AND THE NOISES CONTINUE, THOUGH I DO NOT BELIEVE THE DEALER EVER CHECKED THE ROTORS OR DID A PROPER INSPECTION. NOW AT 26,400 MILES THE PEDAL FEELS LIKE A SPONGE AND I AM GOING TO HAVE TO PAY SOMEONE ELSE TO CHECK THE BRAKES AGAIN. SOMETIMES THE BRAKES GRAB VERY HARD, SOMETIMES THEY SEEM NOT TO GRAB AT ALL. HONDA NEEDS TO RECALL THE CARS OR PROVIDE FREE BRAKE INSPECTIONS TO INSURE THE CAR WILL STOP AS EXPECTED. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN AND OTHERS HAVE ALSO COMPLAINED OF THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE BRAKES HAVE NOT COMPLETELY FAILED, BUT WE HAVE HAD TO ASSUME THEY WILL NOT STOP THE CAR AS THEY WERE ADVERTISED, IN A REASONABLE DISTANCE RELATIVE TO SPEED. NO PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED OR CORRECTIVE MEASURE COMPLETED DESPITE SEVERAL REQUESTS TO THE DEALER (MOST WHILE THE CAR WAS SUPPOSED TO BE UNDER WARRANTY). *NM