NHTSA Complaint #10355424 — 2001 HONDA PASSPORT

2001 HONDA PASSPORT 4 DR 4WD EXL VIN#[XXX] ORIGINAL OWNER - PURCHASED FROM DANBURY FAIR HONDA, DANBURY, CT ON 1/10/2001 METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED - ALL SERVICE RECORDS INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR(EXCL FRAME) EXCELLENT CONDITION CURRENT MILEAGE +/- 100,000 DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT: WHILE DRIVING MY HONDA PASSPORT ON SEPT. 11, 2010 I WAS TURNING ONTO A SIDE ST WHEN WITHOUT WARNING I HEARD A NOISE COME FROM WHAT SOUNDED LIKE THE LEFT REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO "FLOAT" OR SWAY OUT OF MY CTRL. WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF MY FIANCE I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO REST ON THE SHOULDER OF THE RD. THE FRAME WAS SO SEVERELY RUSTED OUT THAT IT COULDN'T BE TOWED IN THE TRADITIONAL MANNER AND WAS REMOVED ON A FLATBED. THIS IS A CRITICAL AND SEVERE DEFECT THAT IN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS AND FATAL. I WAS TOLD BY 3 HIGHLY REGARDED MECHANICS THAT IF IT HAD IT HAPPENED THE DAY BEFORE WHEN WE WERE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE WE WOULD PROBABLY NOT HAVE LIVED TO FILE A COMPLAINT. ADDITIONALLY, THE DEFECT WOULD LIKELY HAVE CAUSE A ROLLOVER OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED OTHER ACCIDENTS AND/OR FATALITIES. THIS DEFECT IS A SILENT KILLER WAITING TO HAPPEN. ALL THESE CARS APPEAR TO BE IN MINT CONDITION. A REASONABLE PERSON WOULD EXPECT SOME COSMETIC SIGN IN THE EXTERIOR OF THE CAR TO REFLECT SUCH A SIGNIFICANT DEGREE OF DETERIORATION IF IT WAS "NORMAL OR EXPECTED" WEAR AND TEAR. IT WAS NOT NORMAL AND THERE ARE NO WARNING SIGNS OF THE IMPENDING DANGER. I TAKE EXCELLENT CAR OF MY VEHICLES AND HAVE ALWAYS GARAGED THEM. I AM SHOCKED AND CONCERNED THAT THIS IS AND HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE YET STILL NO ONE IS BEING WARNED OF THE POTENTIAL DANGER OR ADVISED TO HAVE THE FRAME INSPECTED. I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER OUR COMPLAINTS AND ISSUE A RECALL. THE LUCKY ONES HAVE A USELESS PASSPORT OR RODEO WITH A FRAME RUSTED BEYOND RECOGNITION AND NO RESALE VALUE. THE OTHERS MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR