NHTSA Complaint #10443708 — 2011 HONDA ODYSSEY

A LOOSE RATTLING SOUND BEGAN TO GET MUCH MORE PRONOUNCED AND LOUDER COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER AREA. I DETERMINED IT WASN'T A LOOSE/UNLATCHED DOOR, TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. UPON INSPECTION THEY FOUND THAT THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBER HAD LOST ALL OF ITS FLUID, REDUCING ITS OPERATION TO NEAR 0%. IF THIS HAD OCCURRED ON A LONG TRIP (APPROX 200-400 MILES, THE AMOUNT COVERED IN ABOUT A WEEK) THIS LACK OF WHEEL CONTROL COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. THIS LOUD RATTLING MASKED ANOTHER SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT STRUT; THIS IS AN EVEN GREATER SAFETY ISSUE CONCERNING CONTROLLING THE CAR. BOTH STRUT AND SHOCK WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER. A LESS PERCEPTIVE OR ATTENTIVE DRIVER MIGHT HAVE MISSED THESE TELLTALE INDICATORS OF SOME PART FAILURE, WHICH COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.. *TR