NHTSA Complaint #10349740 — 2002 HONDA ODYSSEY

I WAS ON 128 N IN MASS. AT 5:15PM IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE 2ND LANE FROM THE RIGHT NEAR EXIT 35. A SEDAN ON THE RIGHT-HAND LANE CAME TOO CLOSE TO MY 2002 HONDA ODYSSEY AND I SWERVED SLIGHTLY TO AVOID IT, WHILE STILL STAYING ON MY LANE. AFTER THAT, THE WHEEL WOULD NOT STRAIGHTEN AND THE CAR STARTED WEAVING. I SIGNALED AND WENT OVER TO THE BREAK DOWN LANE AND TRIED TO STOP THE CAR, BUT IT WENT TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL, ROLLED OVER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND CAME TO A STOP AFTER HITTING THE GUARDRAIL. THANKFULLY, MY TWO PASSENGERS AND I WERE UNHURT, BUT THE VAN WAS TOTALED. THE CARS BEHIND ME HAD SEEN THE VAN WEAVING AND SLOWED DOWN AND IT WAS A MIRACLE THAT THE ODYSSEY DID NOT HIT ANY OTHER CAR. WE SPOKE TO OUR LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP WHO COULD GIVE NO SATISFACTORY EXPLANATION ABOUT THE CAR'S SUDDEN FAILURE. THE VAN HAD 102,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE, HAD RECENTLY PASSED INSPECTION, HAD NEW TIRES AND HAD AN UP-TO-DATE SERVICE RECORD. WHILE WE WERE FORTUNATE TO BE PHYSICALLY UNHARMED, THE SHOCK AND TRAUMA STAYED FOR A LONG TIME AND I CAN ONLY BRING MYSELF TO TALK ABOUT IT AFTER MANY MONTHS. I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE LACK OF RESPONSE FROM OUR DEALERSHIP IN BURLINGTON, MA, WHERE I HAD REGULARLY TAKEN THE CAR SINCE IT WAS BOUGHT IN 2002. *TR