NHTSA Complaint #10167043 — 2003 HONDA TRX650

THIS INVOLVES A 2003 HONDA TRX350 RANCHER ATV. MY WIFE WAS RIDING DOWN A TRAIL AND BOTH FRONT SHOCKS BROKE CAUSING HER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE . SHE WENT OFF OF THE ROAD AND DOWN A SLIGHT EMBANKMENT CAUSING BUMPS AND BRUISES. FORTUNATELY SHE WAS NOT TRAVELING FASTER OR DOWN A STEEPER ROAD OR IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. AFTER RETRIEVING THE VEHICLE WE ORDERED NEW SHOCKS AT THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER AND HE TOLD ME IT WAS A FLUKE THAT THE SHOCK BROKE. WHEN I GOT HOME I CHECKED THE SHOCKS ON MY SONS 4-WHEELER WHICH IS ALSO A 2003 HONDA 350 RANCHER AND FOUND THAT ONE OF THOSE SHOCKS WERE BROKEN ALSO. I HAVE JUST ORDERED A NEW SHOCK FOR IT ALSO . I ALSO CUT THE SHOCK OPEN TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS FIGURING THAT IS WAS PROBABLY METALS FATIGUE, BUT TO MY AMAZEMENT I SAW THAT THE NUT THAT HOLDS THE PISTON ON INSIDE HAD COME UNSCREWED. THESE ARE NORMALLY SPOT WELDED OR RIVETED TO HELP KEEP THEM IN PLACE, MINE HAD BROKEN. I AM WRITING BECAUSE I FEEL THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION AND IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED AT A HIGHER SPEED MY WIFE OR SON COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. *JB