NHTSA Complaint #10398526 — 2006 HONDA ODYSSEY

AC CONDENSER CRACKED AND CAUSED THE AIR CONDITIONER TO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. DEALER STATED DAMAGE DUE TO ROAD DEBRIS HITTING AC CONDENSER. HONDA ORIGINAL DESIGN HAS CONDENSER EXPOSED AT FRONT BUMPER. DEALER REPAIR INCLUDED NEW CONDENSER AND HEAVY GAUGE WIRE SCREEN TO PROTECT CONDENSER FROM FUTURE DAMAGE. CLEARLY HONDA KNOWS THEY HAVE A POOR VEHICLE DESIGN AND IS COVERTLY ADDRESSING THE ISSUE AT CUSTOMER AND INSURANCE COMPANY EXPENSE. DEALERS ARE ENCOURAGING CUSTOMERS TO FILE INSURANCE CLAIMS FOR ROAD DAMAGE. REPAIR COST WAS $722, WITH $415 FOR THE CONDENSER. THANKFULLY OR SAFETY WAS NOT IN JEOPARDY. SINCE OUR HONDA ODYSSEY MODEL YEAR, HONDA HAS CHANGED DESIGN TO INCLUDE A THINK PLASTIC INSERT INTO THE FRONT BUMPER TO PROTECT THE CONDENSER. VAN IS 2006 WITH LESS THAN 60,000 MILES. IT IS DRIVEN MOSTLY IN THE CITY. THE DAMAGE APPEARED IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING AN OIL CHANGE AT HONDA ON GRAND IN ELMHURST. PRIOR TO THE OIL CHANGE, THE VAN WAS NOT LEAKING ANY FLUIDS. POST OIL CHANGE, THE CONDENSER STARTED LEAKING. AT FIRST, THE DEALER THOUGHT IT WAS OIL LEAKING. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM A WEEK LATER AFTER FLUID CONTINUED TO DRIP AND LEAVE LARGE SPOTS ON THE DRIVEWAY. *TR