NHTSA Complaint #10361423 — 2000 HONDA ACCORD

I HAVE A 2000 HONDA ACCORD. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS SHORT OUT DUE TO A SYSTEMIC DEFECT IN THE FUSE SYSTEM, WHEREIN THE FUSE WORKS ITSELF LOOSE AND THE BULBS SHORT OUT. THIS IS SUPPOSEDLY A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH HONDA ACCORD MODELS DATING BACK TO AT LEAST MY YEAR, ACCORDING TO HONDA REPRESENTATIVES. THEY TELL ME THAT EVEN THOUGH, ACCORDS WERE SUBJECTED TO RECALL FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM, MY VIN WAS "OUTSIDE THE PARAMETERS" OF THE RECALL. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT AND CREATES A DANGEROUS NIGHT DRIVING CONDITION. OUR VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 135,000 MILES ON IT BUT THE SHORTING OUT PROBLEM HAS BEEN EVIDENT FOR OVER TWO YEARS. IN THE PAST, IF I TAPPED ON THE DASHBOARD, THE LIGHTS WOULD COME BACK ON. NO LONGER. THIS SYSTEMIC DEFECT, OF WHICH HONDA IS WELL AWARE, IS DANGEROUS. MY WIFE REFUSES TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT AND EVEN I FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE BECAUSE I CANNOT DETECT THE SPEED, GASOLINE METER, WHETHER THE CAR IS OVER-HEATING, ETC, ALL REQUIRED SAFETY FEATURES UNDER PROBABLY BOTH FEDERAL AND CALIFORNIA STATE LAW. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED TWICE, PAID FOR THE REPAIRS, WITHOUT SUCCESS. I AM ASKING FOR YOU AGENCY TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS DANGEROUS SAFETY DEFECT AND ORDER HONDA TO RECALL ALL ACCORDS THAT MAY BE IMPACTED, WHICH COULD VERY WELL BE THE ENTIRE LINE SINCE 2000. I FIND HONDA'S ADAMANT FAILURE TO FAIRLY RESOLVE THE ISSUE TO BE SHOCKING. WHY SHOULD A CONSUMER BE FORCE TO PAY OVER $500.00 FOR A DEFECT THAT THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS EXISTS AND WILL NOT CORRECT? UPDATED IVOQ 12/17/10 *TR