NHTSA Complaint #10443789 — 2001 HONDA ACCORD

I HAD MY 01 HONDA ACCORD EX RECENTLY INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY FOUND A RUSTY HOLE (SIZE OF A QUARTER) ON THE TOPSIDE OF THE SUBFRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THEY STATED, THAT OTHER THAN THIS SMALL RUSTED AREA, THE REST OF THE SUBFRAME AND CAR BODY WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND COMPLETELY FREE OF RUST. MECHANIC STATED, AIR CONDITIONING UNIT IS DRAINING ON THIS AREA OF THE SUBFRAME AND THIS COULD BE UNDER RECALL. THEY SAID THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, THE SUBFRAME SHOULD BE REPLACED ASAP, AND RECOMMENDED I TAKE IT TO A HONDA DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL ISSUES. TOOK IT TO MIKE PRUITT HONDA AKRON,OH FOR INSPECTION (FOR THIS ISSUE), THEY PUT IT ON A LIFT AND FROM UNDERNEATH SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND A HOLE IN THE SUBFRAME. I TOLD THEM, THE RUST HOLE IS ONLY VISIBLE ON THE TOPSIDE OF THE PASSENGERSIDE SUBFRAME. THEY FOUND A SMALL HOLE (WHERE I MENTIONED), SAID IT WASN'T A SAFETY ISSUE, AND THERE WEREN'T ANY RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE. THEY DENIED IT WAS CAUSED BY THE AIR CONDITIONING LEAKING ON THAT PART OF THE SUBFRAME, YET COULDN'T GIVE ME AN ALTERNATE REASON.THEY WERE EVASIVE AND DISHONEST AND TOLD THEM I'M GOING TO ANOTHER DEALER. I BROUGHT IT TO PARK HONDA FOR THEIR INSPECTION, THEY FOUND THE RUST HOLE, AND RECOMMENDED THE ENTIRE SUBFRAME BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $2250.00. THEY EVADED ANSWERING WHAT CAUSED THIS ISSUE (AIR-CONDITIONING LEAKING ON SUBFRAME) . I HAD THEM DO THIS WORK AND IN THE MEANTIME,I WILL CONSULT A LAWYER. *TR