NHTSA Complaint #10280150 — 2002 HONDA ACCORD

ON AUGUST 1, 2009, OUR PARKED 2002 HONDA ACCORD LX ROLLED OFF THE PARKING LOT AND STRUCK A VEHICLE PARKED ON THE OTHER SIDE BEFORE BEING STOPPED BY THE CURB. THERE WAS AN APPARENT FAILURE OF THE IGNITION PARK SWITCH INTERLOCK THAT ALLOWED THE IGNITION KEY TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTED TO PARK. THE TRANSMISSION WAS FOUND TO BE IN NEUTRAL AFTER THE CRASH. AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH, THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF OUR VEHICLE AND LESSER DAMAGE TO THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE TOTAL COST TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS $2609. THE VEHICLE THAT WAS STRUCK ALSO NEEDED REPAIR. IT SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE REAR BUMPER AND TAIL LIGHTS. UPON LEARNING OF OTHER HONDAS HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND BEING RECALLED, I CONTACTED HONDA MANUFACTURER WHOSE REPRESENTATIVE CHECKED THE VIN NUMBER OF OUR VEHICLE AND INFORMED ME THE RECALL DIDN'T APPLY TO 2002 HONDA ACCORDS. I THEN SPOKE TO A NHTSA REPRESENTATIVE WHO INFORMED ME THE RECALL DID APPLY TO SOME 2002 HONDA ACCORDS BUT THAT IT WAS VIN-SPECIFIC. I THEN SPOKE TO A SECOND HONDA REPRESENTATIVE WHO AGREED IT APPLIED TO SOME 2002 HONDA ACCORDS BUT THAT IT WAS VIN-SPECIFIC AND IT DIDN'T APPLY TO OUR CAR. I AM PERPLEXED THAT MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS OTHER HONDA ACCORDS THAT WERE RECALLED. THE IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET AND IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. *TR