NHTSA Complaint #10429982 — 2004 HONDA PILOT

ONE OF THE TWO NUTS THAT HOLD ON THE REAR LICENSE PLATE ONTO THE CAR SHEARED OFF DUE TO NORMAL USAGE, I.E. NORMAL CLOSING OF THE REAR DOOR. THE TWO NUTS ARE TACK WELDED DIRECTLY TO THE THIN BODY METAL AND APPARENTLY THE REPEATED SHOCK OF CLOSING THE REAR DOOR CAN CAUSE METAL FATIGUE AND THE NUTS TO SHEAR OFF WITH THE BODY METAL, RESULTING THE LICENSE BECOMING UNSECURED TO THE VEHICLE. POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD SINCE IF THE OWNER DOES NOT NOTICE THE FIRST FAILURE, THE METAL FATIGUE WILL BE ACCELERATED BY THE ADDITIONAL TORQUE STRESS AND FAILURE OF THE SECOND NUT COULD OCCUR WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. MULTIPLE INCIDENTS OF THIS FAILURE HAVE BEEN REPORTED ON THE INTERNET BLOGS SINCE 2007. *KB