NHTSA Complaint #10281648 — 2001 HONDA CIVIC

I OWN A 2001 HONDA CIVIC LX. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE OVERSEAS FROM A CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY. THIS PERSON HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. ON OR ABOUT 12 JULY 2009 MY WIFE AND I WERE IN THE VEHICLE WHEN I NOTICED THE DISTINCT ODOR OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE NEXT DAY, MY WIFE SAW PUFFS OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND A MUCH STRONGER ODOR ASSOCIATED WITH AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED BY A LOCAL GARAGE IN SCHERTZ, TX AND EXACTLY MATCHES THE SYMPTOMS OF THE FOLLOWING RECALL FEB 24, 2004 | RECALL ID# 75776. THE COMPLAINT GOES BEYOND THE INITIAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AS MY WIFE ATTEMPTED TO BRING THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF BOTH A LOCAL HONDA DEALER, GILMAN HONDA IN SELMA, TX AND TO HONDA.COM VIA THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE HOTLINE. BOTH ENTITIES STATED WORDS TO THE AFFECT OF "THAT VIN DOESN'T EXIST." THROUGH INVESTIGATION, WE DISCOVERED THAT HONDA DROPPED THE VIN ONCE THE VEHICLE SHIPPED OVERSEAS AS PART OF THE MILITARY NEW CAR SALES PROGRAM. NEITHER ENTITY, EITHER THE LOCAL DEALER OR HONDA USA MADE ANY ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE THIS VERY SERIOUS SAFETY MATTER. THIS IS A POTENTIAL PROBLEM FOR ANY MILITARY SERVICE MEMBER THAT PURCHASES AN AMERICAN CAR WHILE STATIONED OVERSEAS AND NEEDS SOME REGULATORY AGENCY TO MANDATE A FIX. *TR