NHTSA Complaint #10294441 — 2002 HONDA CIVIC

I KNOW THIS IS NOT SOMETHING LISTED AS A "SAFETY" HAZARD, BUT JUST BECAUSE A CAR DOESN'T EXPLODE, IGNITE, OR SHATTER DOESN'T MEAN A DEFECT CANNOT LEAD TO SAFETY HAZARDS (I.E., BEING STRANDED ON HIGHWAYS, IN TRAFFIC, OR ON RURAL BACKROADS). I JUST PURCHASED A USED 2002 HONDA CIVIC WITH JUST OVER 43,000 MILES. I DID NOTICE WHEN SHIFTING GEARS, THERE WAS A TINNY, BUZZING SOUND. I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP (PURCHASED FROM A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP), AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THEM TO LOOK AT IT. DAYS BEFORE THAT APPOINTMENT, I WAS HEADING UP A STEEP AND NARROW GRAVEL ROAD TO WORK, AND THE GEARS STOPPED ENGAGING ALTOGETHER. I HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND BACK DOWN THE HILL, HOPEFUL THAT A CAR WOULD NOT COME AROUND THE BLIND CORNER I WAS BACKING TOWARD. I HAD TO CALL MY BOSS TO COME AND RESCUE ME, AND A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. IN THE RESEARCH I'VE DONE SINCE, IT APPEARS HONDA WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL BECAUSE IT'S NOT A "SAFETY" CONCERN. AND PERHAPS THE MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME ISSUE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE, BUT I'D SAY IT'S A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS HAPPENS TO SOMEONE ON A BUSY HIGHWAY, AND THEY'RE NOT SO FORTUNATE. ANY CONSIDERATION YOU COULD GIVE THIS CASE WOULD BE APPRECIATED, AS I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON TO HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT AGAINST HONDA FOR FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS ON THE 02 CIVIC MODEL. I WOULD SUPPLY A VIN NUMBER BUT I AM AWAY FROM PAPERWORK, AND MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP (AND HAS BEEN FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS NOW!). *TR