NHTSA Complaint #10468255 — 2007 HONDA FIT

WHILE ACCELERATING IN LIGHT TRAFFIC ON A 2-LANE ROAD, CLUTCH FAILED AND I COULD NOT ENGAGE GEARS TO DRIVE. HAD TOWED TO MECHANIC, WHO RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND LEARNED THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON FAILURE IN HONDA FITS. THE TABS OR TEETH ON THE PRESSURE PLATE OF THE CLUTCH WERE WARPED OR BENT CAUSING IT NOT TO ENGAGE. MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY POOR ENGINEERING DESIGN. UNDER DIFFERENT TRAFFIC CONDITIONS, THIS LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE'S ACCELERATION COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES TO ME AND OTHERS. BECAUSE MY MECHANIC'S RESEARCH SHOWED THAT THIS TYPE OF CLUTCH FAILURE OCCURS TOO OFTEN FOR SUCH NEWER CARS, I BELIEVE YOUR AGENCY SHOULD REQUIRE HONDA TO - AT THE VERY LEAST- WARN OTHERS WHO HAVE PURCHASED FITS WITH STANDARD TRANSMISSIONS AND RE-DESIGN THE PART TO AVOID ITS FAILURE. IDEALLY, THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPLACE THE POORLY DESIGNED PART AT THEIR EXPENSE. *TR