NHTSA Complaint #10296666 — 2006 HONDA RIDGELINE

ON 5 NOV 09, I ATTENDED A BUSINESS MEETING IN DEERFIELD BEACH. WHEN I WAS READY TO RETURN TO WEST PALM BEACH, I TURNED ON THE TRUCK IGNITION TO START IT AND IT MADE A COUPLE OF CLICKS AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I AUTOMATICALLY ASSUMED IT WAS THE BATTERY SINCE IT WAS OVER FOUR YEARS OLD AND THE HOT WEATHER IN FLORIDA TAKES ITS TOLL ON BATTERIES. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DID NOT LIGHT UP WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START IT BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. I CALLED AAA AND THEY ARRIVED AN HOUR LATER AND JUMP STARTED THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE TURNED OVER SEVERAL TIMES LIKE IT WASN'T GETTING ENOUGH FUEL BUT THEN STARTED ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT. THE AAA REPRESENTATIVE AGREED THAT HE THOUGHT THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AND NEEDED REPLACED. I STARTED TO LEAVE AND NOTICED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STILL DID NOT LIGHT UP EXCEPT FOR THE BATTERY DISPLAY, THE VTM DISPLAY AND ONE OTHER DISPLAY I CANNOT REMEMBER. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND AFTER SIGNIFICANT TROUBLESHOOTING IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SOMEHOW SHORTED OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $900+. *TR