NHTSA Complaint #10320180 — 2005 HONDA ELEMENT

STEERING AND/OR VSA SYSTEM I BOUGHT A NEW HONDA ELEMENT FEBRUARY 12TH, 2005. BETWEEN THEN AND NEAR THE END OF 2006, I EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING ON AT LEAST 8 OCCASIONS. THE CAR WOULD CONTINUE IN THE DIRECTION THAT IT WAS HEADED. THERE WAS NO STEERING AT ALL. THE OCCURRENCES ONLY LASTED FOR SECONDS BUT FELT LIKE MINUTES. THIS OCCURRED MOST OFTEN IN THE EARLY MORNINGS (6-7AM) AND BETWEEN 15 AND 20 MINUTES AFTER LEAVING HOME. THERE WAS ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING DURING THE SAME PERIOD OF TIME. IN SPECIFIC SITUATIONS, IT WAS HARD TO CONTROL AND FELT AS THOUGH THE REAL TIME FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WOULD KICK-IN. THIS HAPPENED MOSTLY BEHIND SEMI-TRUCKS. AFTER THE LAST OCCURRENCE OVER THREE YEARS AGO WHEN THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL HEADED ME IN THE DIRECTION OF THE MEDIAN AND ONCOMING TRAFFIC, I BECAME SO FEARFUL OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE THAT I PARKED IT IN MY GARAGE. AFTER TAKING IN THE ELEMENT ON 8 OCCASIONS AND NOT HAVING BEEN SATISFIED WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF ROEBUCK HONDA, I BEGAN TO EXPLORE SOLUTIONS WITH OTHER LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIPS AND WITH AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR COMPANY. THE DEALERSHIPS' SERVICE CENTERS COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE STEERING FAILURE. I HAVE BEEN TO DEALERSHIPS' OVER 11 TIMES WITH THIS PROBLEM WITH NO SOLUTION. AMERICAN HONDA WOULD NOT TAKE ACTIONS TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE FOUND OTHER REPORTS ON STEERING ISSUES WITH THE ELEMENT. FRIENDS AND RELATIVES HAVE SUGGESTED THAT I TRADE THE CAR IN, BUT I CANNOT IN CLEAR CONSCIENCE DO THIS. I COULD NOT LIVE WITH MYSELF KNOWING I HAD PUT AN UNSAFE VEHICLE IN SOMEONE ELSE'S HANDS. HOWEVER, I CAN NOT AFFORD THIS. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR