NHTSA Complaint #10411650 — 2007 HONDA ODYSSEY

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WITH MY TWO CHILDREN, THE TWO FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS OF MY 2007 HONDA ODYSSEY BROKE! ALTHOUGH I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE CAR WAS NOT IN ANY SHAPE TO CONTINUE. *TR I TOOK MY HONDA TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER, HERB CHAMBERS HONDA IN SEEKONK MASSACHUSETTS. AT THAT TIME, THEY MENTIONED THAT A BROKEN WHEEL BEARING IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND WE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT THE WHEEL COULD LOCK UP OR COME COMPLETELY DISLODGED FROM THE FRAME. IN ADDITION, HE ASSURED ME THAT MY DRIVING DID NOT CAUSE THE BREAK AND THAT IS A CLEAR DEFECT IN THE PRODUCT. STILL, BECAUSE THE CAR HAD 61,622 MILES, I WAS CHARGED 700.00 TO FIX THE BEARINGS. I AM ASKING NETS OFFICIALS TO INVESTIGATE HONDA FOR THE WHEEL BEARING FAILURES ON ALL HONDA ODYSSEY MINIVANS FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: THOUSANDS IF NOT, MILLIONS EFFECTED - ACCORDING TO THOUSANDS OF HONDA OWNERS ON THE INTERNET WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE, THE WHEEL BEARINGS BREAK ANYWHERE FROM 1200K (JUST OFF THE LOT) TO 75K. SAFETY ' WHEN YOU CONTINUE DRIVING A VEHICLE WITH BAD BEARINGS, THE SYMPTOMS WILL WORSEN AND SAFETY RISKS INCREASE. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL BECOME HARDER TO CONTROL. IF THIS HAPPENS, NAVIGATING AND STEERING WILL BE DIFFICULT. A WHEEL WILL BECOME LOOSE AND MOVE AROUND IN THE WHEEL ARCH, CAUSING DAMAGE TO HUB AND BRAKES. IF THE WHEEL REMAINS UNSTABLE, IT WILL EVENTUALLY DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING. ABS ISSUES - WHEEL BEARINGS CONTAIN SENSORS THAT SEND A SIGNAL TO THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) WHEN THE TIRES SPIN OR SKID. CONTINUING TO DRIVE A VEHICLE WITH BAD BEARINGS CAN CAUSE ITS ABS SYSTEM TO FAIL. WHEN BEARINGS ARE FAULTY, THE ABS SIGNAL LIGHT USUALLY APPEARS ON THE DASH INDICATING THE DISABLEMENT OF THE ABS SYSTEM. THIS GENERALLY DOES NOT CAUSE ANY INTERRUPTIONS IN REGULAR BRAKING; HOWEVER, IT WILL SUSPEND THE ABS SYSTEM'S AID IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS OR WHILE BRAKING ON WET OR SLIPPERY SURFACES.