NHTSA Complaint #10360769 — 2001 HONDA CIVIC

LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE, I DIDN'T HAVE A BIG ISSUE. AFTER STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, THE CAR WOULD INITIALLY HESITATE A LITTLE WHEN BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE, BUT BESIDES THAT, THERE WERE NO OTHER SYMPTOMS. THE FAILURE EFFECTS THE 3RD AND 4TH GEARS. WHEN ACCELERATING, THE ENGINE WILL REV AND THERE IS NO INCREASE IN SPEED WHATSOEVER. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP HAVING THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. IT WAS THE ONLY OPTION BESIDES COMPLETELY REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION. I HAD THE ELD UNIT REPLACED BECAUSE ONE MECHANIC THOUGHT IT MAY HELP, HOWEVER IT DID NOTHING. MY "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT HAD ONLY BEEN ON FOR ONE WEEK PRIOR TO GETTING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE ON MY CAR TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SOONER, HAD I NOT BEEN AWAY FROM HOME. MY SAFETY CONCERN COMES WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. WITHOUT 3RD OR 4TH GEAR, IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GET THE CAR UP TO SAFE SPEED TO MERGE IN WITH CARS GOING 60-70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS NEARLY REARENDED LAST WEEKEND WHILE MERGING ONTO A HIGHWAY, BUT MANAGED TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE A CRASH OCCURRED. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN! MY CAR IS A 2001 AND ONLY HAS 80,000 MILES AND HAS HAD ALL OF THE REGULAR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE PERFORMED IN A TIMELY MANNER! *TR