NHTSA Complaint #10435292 — 2006 HONDA ODYSSEY

FAILURE OF EXHAUST SYSTEM HEAT SHIELDS COULD CAUSE VEHICLE FIRE. CONSUMER HAS NO WAY OF KNOWING THAT THE SAFETY SHIELDS ARE NO LONGER IN PLACE. DEALER INDICATED EXHAUST SYSTEM HEAT SHIELDS WERE LOOSE AND MISSING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. DEALER INDICATED FAILURE TO REPLACE COULD RESULT IN MELTING OF INSULATION ON ELECTRICAL WIRES. I FEEL THE HEAT SHIELDS SHOULD HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED USING STAINLESS STEEL TO PREVENT CORROSION AND LOSS OF THIS IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURE. AT $615 TO REPLACE, IT IS UNLIKELY MANY PEOPLE WILL HAVE THIS WORK PERFORMED, ESPECIALLY AS THE VEHICLE AGES. THERE ARE NORMAL/EXPECTED SAFETY FEATURES THAT CAR OWNERS EXPECT TO REPLACE (TIRES, WIPER BLADES AND BULBS). THE CONSUMER HAS NO WAY OF KNOWING IF THE SAFETY SHIELDS HAVE FALLEN FROM THE VEHICLE. WHEN CONTACTING HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE I WAS TOLD IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP THE CAR OPERATING IN A SAFE MANNER. BUT IF I WAS NOT TOLD (BY THE DEALER) THAT I HAD A SAFETY ISSUE, I WOULD HAVE HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING. THERE ARE LIKELY MANY OTHER UNSUSPECTING ODYSSEY OWNERS WITH THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY/FIRE HAZARD. *TR