NHTSA Complaint #10270134 — 2001 HONDA ODYSSEY

ON THE MORNING OF FEBRUARY 26, AS I WAS APPROACHING MY COMPANY PARKING LOT, I HEARD A CRUNCHING NOISE FROM FRONT END. AFTER PARKED VEHICLE I FOUND ICE/SNOW BETWEEN THE WHEEL AND FENDER SKIRT. I THOUGHT NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE ACCUMULATED ICE/SNOW, SO I REMOVE IT FROM VEHICLE. WHEN I LEFT AFTER WORK, THE NOISE WAS STILL PRESENT. I TURNED INTO A NEARBY PARKING LOT AND DISCOVERED THE RIGHT SIDE FRONT SPRING WAS BROKEN AT THE LAST COIL AT BOTTOM OF THE SPRING. BROKEN SPRING ONLY HAD ABOUT 1 TO 2 INCHES IN THE LOWER SPRING SEAT TO SUPPORT VEHICLE'S WEIGHT. THE BROKEN PORTION WAS HANGED ON THE BROKEN SPRING. THE NOISE WAS FROM THE BROKEN PORTION TOUCHING ROLLING WHEEL. THE BROKEN SECTION WAS VERY SHARP WHICH POSED GREAT DANGER OF PIERCING, OR PUNCTURING THE TIRE. WHEN I ASKED THE HONDA DEALER TO REPLACE THE SPRING, I WAS TOLD THE SHOCK ABSORBER WAS DAMAGED BY THE BROKEN SPRING. CONSEQUENTLY THE STRUT HAD TO BE REPLACED. FORTUNATELY I DROVE ON A LOCAL STREET AT A LOW SPEED THAT DAY. HAD THE SPRING BROKEN WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, AT POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 70 MPH, I COULD HAVE LOST CONTROL, WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR HIGHWAY ACCIDENT, WITH POTENTIAL FOR FATALITIES. A METALLURGIST TOOK A LOOK AT THE SPRING AND TOLD ME THE CAUSE WAS DUE TO CORROSION ACCELERATED PREMATURE FATIGUE FAILURE. THE METALLURGIST ALSO INFORMED ME THAT HONDA HAS CHANGED SPRING DESIGN AFTER 2001 MODEL. I CALLED HONDA NORTH AMERICA AND INFORMED THEM OF THE INCIDENT AND DEFECTIVE SPRING. I BELIEVE THIS DEFECT THAT COULD GREATLY IMPAIR THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, IF IN FACT A TIRE IS PUNCTURED, OR STEERING IS IMPAIRED, DUE TO A BROKEN SPRING. HONDA REFUSED TO ANALYZE THE FAILURE AND TOLD ME TO SCRAP, OR TO THROW AWAY, THE BROKEN SPRING. I KEEP THE BROKEN SPRING IN MY POSSESSION. IF NHTSA WOULD LIKE EXAMINE AND ANALYZE THE BROKEN SPRING, IN ORDER TO DETERMINE IF AN INVESTIGATION IS WARRANTED, I WILL SEND IT TO YOU UPON YOUR REQUEST. *TR