NHTSA Complaint #10240890 — 2006 HONDA CIVIC

ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2008, I BEGAN MY DRIVE TO WORK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED ON ME (NO MOVEMENT WHATSOEVER) WHILE I WAS DRIVING 35 MPH! LUCKILY, I WAS ON A SIDE STREET AND ABLE TO STOP THE CAR EVEN THOUGH I COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS ABOUT TO TURN ONTO A HIGHWAY! MY CAR IS A 2006 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A HONDA DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR THE STEERING WHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO ORDER THE PART. WHAT SCARES ME IS THE THOUGHT OF WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED. TO ME, THIS SITUATION HAS THE POTENTIAL OF BEING ON PAR WITH THE DANGER AND FATALITIES INCURRED BY OWNERS OF FORD EXPLORERS SOME YEARS AGO (E.G., TIRES). I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY IMPORTANT TO SEE IF OTHER OWNERS OF 2006 HONDA CIVIC HYBRIDS HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR STEERING WHEELS LOCKING UP WHILE DRIVING AND WHETHER THERE HAVE BEEN MAJOR FATALITIES/ACCIDENTS AS A RESULT. IF THERE IS A PROBLEM, THEM HONDA SHOULD ISSUE A MAJOR RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR