NHTSA Complaint #10476890 — 2003 HONDA ACCORD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND AS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY INCREASED ACCELERATION TO 70 MPH. THE BRAKE WAS ENGAGED REPEATEDLY AND THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE SPEED WAS REDUCED AS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP AN INCLINE THEN THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO ROAR LOUDLY WITH A RAPID INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. A CERTIFIED MECHANIC ARRIVED ON THE SCENE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD BECOME STOP IN OPEN THROTTLE POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESUME AS NORMAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ACCELERATION FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER HOWEVER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, AN INVESTIGATOR INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETECTED THAT THE AIR FILTER PLASTIC BOX WAS FRACTURED, WHICH CAUSED FRAGMENTS TO REMAIN STUCK IN THE THROTTLE. THEY ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE AIR FILTER WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED BY A MECHANIC WHEN PERFORMING A PREVIOUS OIL CHANGE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.