NHTSA Complaint #10297162 — 2002 HONDA ACCORD

A STEERING STUCK INCIDENT WHICH COULD HAVE BECOME A MAJOR ACCIDENT IF IT HAD HAPPENED ON A BUSY ROAD! WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY AROUND 20MPH IN A 30 MPH SPEED ZONE AND TRYING TO TURN RIGHT, THE STEERING WAS STUCK AND COULD NOT TURN RIGHT. AFTER PROCEEDING STRAIGHT, TURNED RIGHT WITH A GREAT MANUAL EFFORT IN STEERING BY MAKING A VERY WIDE RIGHT TURN AT THE NEXT SIGNAL (ALMOST ENDANGERING CARS IN THE OTHER LANE WAITING AT THE SIGNAL) THEN MOVED INTO A PARKING LOT WHERE I FOUND THE STEERING COULD BE NEITHER TURNED RIGHT OR LEFT. AN EMERGENCY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS SUMMONED AND HE TIGHTENED SOME LOOSE NUT (WHICH HAD RESULTED IN THE BELT BECOMING LOOSE). REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO (1-800-999-1009) ON 12/28/09 AFTER THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS. HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED AT MCDAVID HONDA OF IRVING. IF THIS INCIDENT HAD HAPPENED ON THE MAJOR HIGHWAY, IT COULD HAVE LED TO AN ACCIDENT. DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY A CAR BEING REGULARLY SERVICED AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER COULD HAVE A STEERING FAILURE? *TR