NHTSA Complaint #10474705 — 2003 HONDA ACCORD

VEHICLE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED FROM ~3RD-4TH GEAR WHILE DRIVING AT A CONSTANT 40 MILES PER HOUR IN TRAFFIC TO 1ST GEAR CAUSING VERY RAPID DE ACCELERATION (SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE ITEMS ON REAR DECK TO FLY FORWARD, SEAT BELTS TO LOCK, AND DRIVER TO HIT STEERING WHEEL) AND CAUSING OTHER DRIVERS TO BRAKE TO AVOID COLLISION. DRY PAVEMENT PREVENTED LOSS OF CONTROL. ACTION BY TRAILING DRIVERS (SPACING AND BRAKING) PREVENTED COLLISION. FOLLOWING INCIDENT, TRANSMISSION REMAINED LOCKED IN FIRST GEAR. TRANSMISSION FIRST LOCKED INTO FIRST GEAR (AS ABOVE) ON AUGUST 18, 2012. ON AUGUST 21, 2012 THE DEALER RETURNED THE VEHICLE AFTER ASSERTED THE TRANSMISSION HAD NOT FAILED AND REQUIRED ONLY FLUSHING AND CHANGING TRANSMISSION FLUID (TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD BEEN FLUSHED AND CHANGED IN 2010 AS SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE LESS THAN 12,000 MILES OF THIS FAILURE). DEALER CHARGED MORE THAN $250 FOR THIS SERVICE AND STATED VEHICLE WAS FULLY REPAIRED. SECOND DANGEROUS FAILURE OCCURRED WITHIN 5 MILES. HONDA DEALER REFUSED TO REFUND THE COST OF WORK RESULTING FROM FAULTY DIAGNOSIS WHICH PLACED A DANGEROUS FUNCTIONING TRANSMISSION BACK INTO USE. TRANSMISSION RECALLED IN 2004 AND MODIFIED BY DEALER PURSUANT TO TRANSMISSION LUBRICATION PROBLEMS. HONDA DEALER PROVIDED ALL STATE INSPECTIONS AND PERIODIC MAINTENANCE. HONDA NORTH AMERICA REFUSED TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUSLY FUNCTIONING TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER HAS AGREED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WITH A RE-MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION FOR $2500. THE OWNER BELIEVES THIS FAILURE IS RELATED TO THE PREVIOUS RECALL. VEHICLE HAS ONLY BEEN USED FOR LIGHT DUTY, HAS NEVER BEEN USED FOR TOWING, AND ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN PERFORMED BY DEALER. THE MODE OF FAILURE WAS VERY DANGEROUS. A RECALL SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AND TRANSMISSIONS WITH THIS MODE OF FAILURE REPLACED BY MANUFACTURER. INVESTIGATION IS REQUESTED.