NHTSA Complaint #10276787 — 2005 HONDA ODYSSEY

THIS IS TO FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT AND REQUEST HONDA. I PURCHASED A 2005 HONDA ODYSSEY COUNTING ON ITS QUALITY AND RELIABILITY AND UNFORTUNATELY HAVE BEEN DISAPPOINTED. THE AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED WORKING AFTER ONLY 3 YEARS AND I HAD TO REPLACE THE CONDENSER JUST AT 37,000 MILES. BETTER YET I WAS TOLD BY HONDA DEALERSHIP THAT IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN COVERED BY WARRANTY ANYWAY BECAUSE IT WAS CAUSED BY 'SOME ROAD DEBRIS HITTING THE CONDENSER'. WHAT IS THE ODD THAT HUNDREDS OF HONDA CUSTOMERS HAVE RUN INTO THE SAME ISSUE (EVIDENCED BY THE DISCUSSION FORUM THREADS ON MANY THAT'S OUT THERE ON THE INTERNET). HONDA'S OFFICIAL SITE STATES: 'CAUTION: RADIATOR AND CONDENSER FINS ARE VERY THIN AND EASILY DAMAGED. DO NOT BEND THEM WITH HIGH WATER PRESSURE OR BRUSH'. SO WHY THEN DID HONDA PUT THE A/C CONDENSER COMPLETELY EXPOSED ON THE FRONT OF A VEHICLE THAT CAN LEGALLY TRAVEL AT SPEEDS UP TO 75 MPH? OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT HONDA SHOULD HAVE RECALLED, OR AT LEAST INSTALL A PROTECTIVE GRILLE BEFORE CUSTOMERS ARE HIT WITH EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. 2008 AND NEWER HONDA VANS NOW COME WITH STANDARD PROTECTION GUARDS ON THE FRONT BUT IT IS NOT FAIR FOR ALL YOUR LOYALTY CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE PURCHASED A 2007 OR EARLIER ODYSSEY. AS A REPUTABLE AUTO COMPANY, HONDA SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THIS OUTRIGHT FAULTY DESIGN. *TR