NHTSA Complaint #10426362 — 1996 HONDA PASSPORT

AFTER EXPERIENCING A SLIGHT VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, I REMOVED MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE TO INSPECT BRAKES, BEARINGS, ETC. I IMMEDIATELY DISCOVERED A LARGE RUST HOLE IN MY FRAME RIGHT WHERE IT BENDS UP TO THE HEIGHT OF THE ENGINE MOUNT. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED THAT HOLE, AS WELL AS, HOLES ON THE TOP AND BOTTOM IN THE SAME VICINITY. I REPLACED THE TIRE, REMOVED THE PASSPORT FROM SERVICE AND REPLACED IT WITH A RELIABLE VEHICLE. SINCE THEN I HAVE MONITORED THE WEB TO SEE IF ANY OTHERS HAD EXPERIENCED FRAME RUSTING ON HONDA PASSPORTS OR ISUZU RODEOS. THERE WERE MULTITUDES. TODAY I TOOK THE PASSPORT TO A BODY SHOP FOR A PROFESSIONAL INSPECTION OF THE FRAME. THE RESULTS WERE THAT THE TOTAL RIGHT SIDE OF THE FRAME WAS FULL OF RUST HOLES AND THE LEFT SIDE TO A LESSER EXTENT. I AM TRULY FORTUNATE THAT I NOTICED THE PROBLEM BEFORE SERIOUS INJURY TO MYSELF AND FAMILY OR OTHERS OCCURRED. I HAVE ALSO RECENTLY NOTICED THAT HONDA AND ISUZU HAVE ISSUED RECALLS FOR 1998-2002 DUE TO FRAME RUST ISSUES. THE RUST IS NOT LIMITED TO THOSE YEARS AS IS EVIDENT WITH MY VEHICLE. I DO LIVE IN A STATE THAT USES SALT PRODUCTS TO CONTROL WINTER ICE WHICH CERTAINLY ACCELERATED THE RUST CONDITION. MANUFACTURERS HAVE TREATED THEIR FRAMES TO PROTECT FOR MANY DECADES AND BECAUSE OF THAT RECORD, I BLINDLY BELIEVED I RECEIVED THE SAME FROM HONDA; OTHERWISE, I WOULD HAVE PURCHASED THE RUST UNDERCOATING OFFERED AT PURCHASE. *KB