NHTSA Complaint #10283421 — 2004 HONDA ACCORD

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED TO OPERATE ON 2004 HONDA ACCORD WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH MY TWO CHILDREN DURING A RAIN STORM. SHE PULLED OFF TO SAFETY, UNTIL THE RAIN PASSED, AND PROCEEDED TO A SAFE LOCATION. THE VEHICLE HAS 85,000 ODOMETER MILES, AND IS BEYOND THE 3 YEAR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY. I NOTICED THE 2003 HONDA ACCORD HAD A RECALL RELATING TO THE WIPER MOTOR FAILING DUE TO CORROSION. I CALLED AMERICAN HONDA AUGUST 28, 2009 REGARDING THE PROBLEM I WAS EXPERIENCING WITH THE 2004 ACCORD AND THEY ADVISED ME TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER TO DIAGNOSE, AND IF IN FACT THE PART NUMBER AND CONDITION WERE THE SAME AS THEY WERE EXPERIENCING WITH THE 2003 THEY WOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND TAKE CARE OF IT. I WAS ASSIGNED A CASE NUMBER N012009-082801597. ON SEPT 9, 2009 I WAS ABLE TO GET AN APPOINTMENT WITH PERFORMANCE HONDA DEALERSHIP TO DIAGNOSE AND FIX THE PROBLEM. TOM RILEY FROM THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT (MANAGER) TRIED TO CONTACT AMERICAN HONDA REGARDING THE PROBLEM AND THEY DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY, ALTHOUGH IT WAS THE EXACT SAME PART NUMBER (76505-SDA) THAT IS FAILING IN THE 2003 MODEL AND THE EXACT SAME CONDITION OF FAILURE THEY HAVE SEEN IN THE 2003 MODELS. PERFORMANCE HONDA REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AT A COST OF $239.67. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ITEM, AND REALIZING THE 2008 RECALL OF THE SAME ISSUE, SAME PART IN THE 2003 MODEL, I SUGGEST THAT THE RECALL BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE MORE VIN'S BEFORE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OCCURS AS A RESULT. I AM APPALLED THAT AMERICAN HONDA KNOWS THEY HAVE A SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THIS COMPONENT, BUT IS FAILING TO DO ANYTHING TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. AS A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER, I FEEL COMPELLED TO REPORT THIS CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE. *TR STEVE O'HARA