NHTSA Complaint #10269674 — 2009 HONDA CR-V

I PURCHASED A 2009 HONDA CRV IN FEB. I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE REAR/SIDE VISIBILITY DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE AND VOICED MY CONCERN TO THE SALESWOMAN. SHE ASSURED ME THAT I "WOULD GET USED TO IT." WELL, I HAVEN'T! I HAVE SERIOUS VISIBILITY PROBLEMS WHEN BACKING UP AND CHANGING LANES IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. (I AM A VERY SAFE DRIVER AND HAVE NEVER BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY TRAFFIC VIOLATION OTHER THAN 1 SPEEDING TICKET OVER 30 YEARS AGO AND 1 PARKING TICKET THAT COULD NOT BE AVOIDED.) I BACKED INTO A SIGN POLE IN A PARKING LOT IN MID APRIL, DAMAGING THE REAR RIGHT CORNER OF THE VEHICLE-IN THE BLIND SPOT. TWO DAYS AGO, WHILE I WAS VERY SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, I CAME VERY CLOSE TO A WOMAN PUSHING A BABY IN A CART. I WAS HORRIFIED AND IMMEDIATELY ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE DEALER WHO SOLD ME THE CAR AND AMERICAN HONDA-BOTH UNSUCCESSFULLY. I SPENT HOURS E-MAILING AND TALKING ON THE PHONE, ASKING FOR A SOLUTION FOR THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM FROM BOTH THE DEALER AND AMERICAN HONDA. A MAN THAT I SPOKE WITH AT AMERICAN HONDA TOLD ME THAT THE DESIGN OF THE '09 CRV IS THE SAME AS THE '07 CRV WHICH HE OWNS. HE STATED THAT HE HAD PARTIALLY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM BY ADDING SMALL ROUND CONCAVE MIRRORS LIKE THOSE USED FOR TRAILERS/RV'S, BUT DID NOT DOCUMENT THAT HE HAD SAID THIS. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT I OWN A NEW, BUT DAMAGED, VEHICLE THAT HAS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW WHICH CAUSES MAJOR BLIND ZONES. I FEAR THAT IF SOMETHING IS NOT DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM ON ALL OF THESE CRV'S DRIVING AROUND, MORE PEOPLE WILL BE INJURED OR KILLED. I FEEL THAT AMERICAN HONDA NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DESIGN FLAW. FINALLY, TODAY THE ASSIST. MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED THAT I HAVE SENSORS PUT ON THE VEHICLE AT MY OWN EXPENSE AND REMARKED: "THEY'RE NOT CHEAP." UNACCEPTABLE. *TR