NHTSA Complaint #10346948 — 2005 HONDA CIVIC

2005 HONDA CIVIC EX AUTOMATIC CHOKE COMES ON EVERY TIME YOU START THE CAR --EVEN IF YOU DON'T NEED IT. AFTER IT COMES ON, YOU CAN'T SHUT IT OFF MANUALLY. NOT ONLY DOES THE CHOKE NEEDLESSLY COME ON, BUT IT COMES ON AT AN RPM THAT IS TOO HIGH. IT NEEDLESSLY BURNS FUEL, BUT ALSO PRESENTS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND CAUSES YOU TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. HONDA IS REFUSING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE SOLUTION IS THAT THE CHOKE NEEDS TO BE MODIFIED IN THREE WAYS: 1) MANUALLY CHOKE SHUT OFF (WITH HANDLE, ACCELERATOR PEDAL, OR BUTTON), 2) 5TH GEAR DOESN'T DROP RPM SUFFICIENTLY AND CAR DOESN'T GET GOOD GAS MILEAGE, 3) VTECH ENGINE NEEDS TO BE MADE INTO A VTECH-E, SO THAT THE ENGINE GETS BETTER FUEL ECONOMY AT THE SLOWER SPEEDS AND MEET BOTH THE PUBLIC'S AND FEDERAL MILEAGE EXPECTATIONS. HONDA OFFERS VTECH-E, BUT THEY ONLY PROVIDE THIS ENGINE SERIES TO THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO BUY THE DOUBLE OVERHEAD CAM, SUCH AS THAT FOUND IN THE CIVIC SI OR IN SOME ACCORDS. THE SEATS IN THE 2005 HONDA CIVIC EX ARE DANGEROUSLY UNCOMFORTABLE AND POORLY DESIGNED. HONDA GIVES YOU NOTHING MORE THAN A BLOCK OF RUBBER TO SIT ON, WHICH CAUSES SKIN IRRITATION DUE TO A LACK OF HEAT DISSIPATION WITHIN 20 MINUTES OF DRIVING. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT SEATS ARE TOO FAR FORWARD AND SOMEONE OVER 5'9" IS GOING TO HAVE DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE CAR -- PARTICULARLY WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE LACK OF SPRINGS IN THE FRONT AND REAR SEATS POTENTIALLY CAUSES SPINAL INJURIES, DUE TO ROAD SHOCKS NOT BEING ABSORBED, FOR PEOPLE THAT DRIVE THE VEHICLE ON A DAILY BASIS. A CUSTOM UPHOLSTERY SHOP ADVISES ME THEY CAN'T UNBOLT THE SEATS BECAUSE THE AIRBAGS WILL GO OFF BECAUSE THE AIRBAGS HAVE DISTANCE SENSING. NOT ONLY IS THIS LUDICROUS, BUT OFFERS NO CONSUMER SAFETY. A QUICK REVIEW OF THE 2001 HONDA CIVIC EX WITH THE 2005 HONDA CIVIC EX SE REVEALS THAT THE 2001 IS SIGNIFICANTLY SAFER TO OPERATE THAN THE 2005 CIVIC . THE 2001 CIVIC HAS FOUR AIR BAGS IN THE FRONT, INCLUDING SIDE AIRBAGS IN BOTH DOORS. *TR