NHTSA Complaint #10312695 — 2001 HONDA ACCORD

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BACKLIGHTING FAILS INTERMITTENTLY FOR DAYS AT A TIME. WHEN IT'S OUT, I CANNOT SEE THE SPEEDOMETER OR ANY GAUGES ON THE DASH AT NIGHT. I HAVE TO USE A FLASHLIGHT OR OTHER EXTERNAL LIGHTING TO SEE THE GAUGES. THE BACKLIGHTING NEVER FLICKERS -- IT'S EITHER ON OR IT'S OFF. I AM UNABLE TO DISCERN ANY PATTERN OR ACTION THAT CAUSES THE BACKLIGHTING TO GO OUT OR TO BEGIN WORKING AGAIN. THE DASH INDICATOR LIGHTS STILL WORK. MY 2001 HONDA ACCORD EX-V6 SEDAN WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 04V256000. MY DIMMER CONTROL WORKS WHEN THE BACKLIGHTING IS WORKING (AND STILL DIMS THE RADIO AND CLIMATE CONTROLS EVEN WHEN THE BACKLIGHTING IS NOT WORKING). I REPLACED THE MULTIPLEX CONTROL UNIT AT MY OWN EXPENSE IN SEPT. 2009, BUT IT HAS HAD NO EFFECT ON THE PROBLEM. *TR