NHTSA Complaint #10412529 — 2004 HONDA CIVIC

WHEN I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE, I CHANGED THE OWNERSHIP INFORMATION WITH AMERICAN HONDA. I LATER CHECKED IF THERE WERE ANY OPEN NOTICES OR RECALLS. HONDA TOLD ME THERE WAS NONE. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE HAD A NOTICE ALERTING OWNERS TO CVT BELT SLIPPAGE. HONDA SENT THIS NOTICE TO THE PREVIOUS OWNER. WHEN THE OWNER CHANGED, HONDA SHOULD HAVE CONSIDERED THIS NOTICE OPEN AGAIN. SENDING A NOTICE TO A PREVIOUS OWNER DOES NOT INFORM THE OWNER AND THE PURPOSE OF THIS KIND OF NOTICE IS TO ENSURE THE OWNER HAS THE INFORMATION. THIS FAILURE RESULTED IN MY VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION FAILING IN OPERATION. HAD I RECEIVED THE NOTICE, I WOULD HAVE KNOWN THE SLIGHT SHUDDER WAS A SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED SAFELY, RATHER THAN FAILING CATASTROPHICALLY ON THE ROAD. HONDA NEEDS TO FIX THEIR NOTIFICATION SYSTEM TO CONSIDER ALL NOTICES (UNLESS THE PROBLEM IS REPAIRED) RE-OPENED ON CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP. OTHERWISE, THE PURPOSE OF THE NOTIFICATION SYSTEM IS DEFEATED, POSSIBLY LEADING TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE IN THE FAILED (AS IT DID IN MY CASE) OR WORSE. I DISCUSSED THIS ISSUE WITH HONDA AND THEY MAINTAINED THAT ONCE A NOTICE WAS SENT ON AN ISSUE, THE NOTICE WAS CLOSED WITH RESPECT TO THAT VEHICLE. THIS MAKES NO SENSE. THE PURPOSE OF A NOTICE IS TO ALERT THE OWNER, NOT THE VEHICLE.