NHTSA Complaint #10457074 — 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY

THE STRUTS ON MY 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY EX-L FAILED THIS MORNING. IT IS NOT COVERED BY THE CURRENT RECALL FROM FEB 16, 2012, SINCE MY ODYSSEY DOES NOT HAVE A POWER LIFTGATE. PEOPLE STILL HAVE TO USE THE LIFTGATE (POWERED OR NOT), AND IT POSES A BIG RISK TO THE PERSON UNDER THE LIFTGATE. WHILE SUPPORTING THE LIFTGATE WITH MY HEAD, I HAD TO PULL OUT MY BICYCLE FROM THE VEHICLE WITH BOTH HANDS. AS I MOVED, THE LIFTGATE WOULD HURT ME SINCE IT WAS ONLY BEING KEPT OPEN BY MY BODY. AS SOON AS I MOVED OUT, IT CLOSED WITH A BIG BANG. THIS IS A MAJOR RISK ESPECIALLY TO THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE USERS OF THE ODYSSEY: MOMS WITH YOUNG CHILDREN. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AS EVIDENCED BY THIS FORUM THREAD (11 PAGES LONG): HTTP://WWW.ODYCLUB.COM/FORUMS/52-2005-2010-ODYSSEY/40133-TAILGATE-GAS-STRUT-PROBLEMS.HTML RELATED RECALL: VEHICLE MAKE / MODEL: HONDA / ODYSSEY MODEL YEAR(S): 2008-2009 MANUFACTURER: HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.) MFR'S REPORT DATE: FEB 16, 2012 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V062000 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE11034 COMPONENT: STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE *JS