NHTSA Complaint #10241391 — 2008 HONDA ACCORD

MY 2008 ACCORDS CONSISTENTLY FLASH/DIM EVERY 30 SECONDS WHEN THE AUTO CLIMATE CONTROL MODE IS ON. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN DRIVING ON A DARK ROAD AT NIGHT AS ONE'S EYES NATURALLY LOOK AWAY FROM THE ROAD FOR ABOUT A SECOND-- ENOUGH TIME TO BE DANGEROUS. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID ALL VEHICLES DO THIS. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANY VEHICLE DOING THIS. I ASKED WHEN THE SERVICE BULLETIN WOULD BE COMING OUT, ASSUMING THERE IS ONE IN THE WORKS GIVEN THE WIDESPREAD ISSUE, BUT THE SERVICE WRITER IGNORED MY COMMENT. I HAD TO LITERALLY DEMAND THAT THE DEALER WRITE MY COMPLAINT ON THE REPAIR ORDER, AND AT THE END, WITH MY REPAIR ORDER, THE CLERK HANDED ME AN ARTICLE TRYING TO EXPLAIN AWAY THE ISSUE OR PACIFY ME. (IT WAS A HONDA ARTICLE, WHICH LOOKED LIKE IT WAS FROM A REPAIR MANUAL OR BROCHURE, WHICH STATED THAT BASICALLY, IF THE CUSTOMER COMPLAINED TO TELL THEM ITS NORMAL.) IN "AUTO" CLIMATE MODE, THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR/FAN KICKS ON EVERY 30 SECONDS (EVEN IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER) AND THE LIGHTS SEEM TO FLASH AT THAT TIME. ALSO,THE STEERING PUMP MAKES A VERY LOUD WHINING/MOANING NOISE AT 1500-2000 RPMS, AND THE STEERING IN THE VEHICLE HAS A SHUTTLING/SLIPPING SENSATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL UPON TURNING. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THE STEERING ISSUE AND HAS ORDERED A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP WHICH WILL HOPEFULLY REMEDY THE ISSUE. FINALLY, THE DRIVER'S DOOR HANDLE, INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR, DOES NOT OPEN THE DOOR ON OCCASION. THIS IS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE AS BEING ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN EMERGENCY IS CRITICAL. FOR SUCH A HIGHLY TOUTED VEHICLE MANUFACTURER, HONDA NEEDS TO WORK ON FIXING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR CARS ON THE ROAD AND FINDING A RESOLUTION, NOT JUST THEIR REPUTATION AND/OR THEIR BOTTOM LINE. ALSO, HONDA NEEDS TO INSTRUCT ITS DEALERS TO TAKE ITS CUSTOMER'S COMPLAINT'S SERIOUSLY, NOT SIMPLY ATTEMPT TO DIMINISH THE COMPLAINT (I.E. HEADLIGHTS FLASHING) BECAUSE IT IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE. I AM DISAPPOINTED WITH HONDA'S HANDLING OF THE DEFECTS. *TR