NHTSA Complaint #10489598 — 2004 HONDA PILOT

WE FIRST NOTICED IN OCT. 2012 THAT THE CARPET AND MAT FLOOR BOARDS ON BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES OF OUR CAR WERE WET WITH WATER. IT IS NOW DEC. 2012 AND THE PROBLEM HAS WORSENED. THE WET CARPET IS CAUSING A MILDEW SMELL IN OUR CAR WHICH WE CANNOT GET RID OF, AS THE CARPETS ARE GETTING WETTER EACH TIME IT RAINS. THE CAR ALSO FOGS UP CONSTANTLY DUE TO THE INSIDE MOISTURE, MAKING VISIBILITY EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. ONCE THE TEMPERATURE DROPS THE WET FLOORS ARE SURE TO FREEZE, THUS CAUSING ANOTHER HAZARD: SLIPPERY FEET NEAR THE BREAK AND ACCELERATOR. IT IS REASONABLE TO SUPPOSE THAT THERE WILL BE RUST AND EVENTUAL DETERIORATION IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED. THERE SEEMS TO BE A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM WITH THE CAR ON BOTH SIDES WHERE THERE IS WATER DRIPPING IN FROM POSSIBLY THE WHEEL WELL OR RIGHT ABOVE THE WHEEL WELL. IN LOOKING ON LINE, WE SEE SEVERAL HONDA PILOTS AND RIDGELINES WITH EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM, IMPROPER STRUCTURAL SEALS BREAKING DOWN AND CAUSING WATER TO DRIP ONTO THE FLOORBOARDS OF THE CAR. HONDA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM (WE CALLED OUR DEALERSHIP) BUT WILL ONLY FIX IT IF THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. SEEING THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND A KNOWN COMMON STRUCTURAL PROBLEM WITH THE CAR, IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT HONDA SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR