NHTSA Complaint #10412441 — 2002 HONDA CIVIC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY AT A RAPID PACE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTED INTO PARK IN ORDER TO STOP THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP UNTIL CRASHING INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE POLICE ARRIVED TO THE SCENE AND ADVISED THAT THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER INSPECTED BY A PERSONAL FRIEND WHO DISCOVERED AN ALUMINUM NAME PLATE FROM THE SPECTRE AIR FILTER (MODEL NUMBER: 888911) (NA) WAS LODGED BETWEEN THE HOUSING AND THE BUTTERFLY, CAUSING THE THROTTLE TO BECOME STUCK OPEN AND THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. THE NAME PLATE WAS GLUED ONTO THE AIR FILTER. SAFETY PROBLEM IS WITH THE AIR FILTER NOT THE CAR. UPDATED 11/16/2011 *LN *TR