NHTSA Complaint #10223391 — 2002 HONDA ODYSSEY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHEN APPYLING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CONTACT HEARD AND FELT A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. THE DEALER CHANGED THE BRAKE SHOES, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY TWO ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAINS AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM. ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE SLIDING DOOR WOULD SPONTANEOUSLY OPEN, ALLOWING HER CHILDREN TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THEY GREASED THE ROLLERS ON THE SLIDING DOOR, WHICH REMEDIED THE FAILURE. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED DIRECTLY IN THE CENTER OF THE VEHICLE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING 35 MPH. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE COTNACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). BECAUSE THERE WAS NO DISCOLORATION IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED UNTIL IT SHOWED SIGNS OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER WHEN SHE BEGAN EXPERIENCING FAILURES SHIFTING GEARS, AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER THE FREE REMDEY OUTLINED IN THE RECALL. THE DEALER REFUSED TO PROVIDE AN EXPLANATION. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND CURRENT MILEAEGE WAS 80,000. *UPDATED 10/20/08 *BF UPDATED 10/21/08. *JB