NHTSA Complaint #10495308 — 2006 HONDA RIDGELINE

THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE WASHER USED AT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID JUNCTIONS IN THE RADIATOR. THE FITTINGS AND WASHER ARE MADE OF DISSIMILAR METALS. AS A RESULT, THE STEEL WASHER USED AS A SPACER RUSTS AND CORRODES, THEN SWELLS AND FORCIBLY PULLS THE THREADS FROM THEIR FITTINGS. A CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF FLUIDS INCLUDING AN EXCHANGE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID AND ENGINE COOLANT TAKE PLACE, RENDERING THE VEHICLE NOT ONLY INOPERABLE BUT ALSO PERHAPS SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGED. THESE FITTINGS FAIL AT RANDOM WITH NO OBVIOUS PATTERN OR ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSE. THE NORMAL "UNDERBODY RUST" DOES NOT SEEM TO CORRELATE WITH THIS FAILURE. I HAVE DONE SUBSTANTIAL RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET REGARDING THIS ISSUE, AND MANY OTHERS REPORT THIS TYPE OF FAILURE AND HAVE COME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION. I FEEL THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE, AS SUCH A DRAMATIC AND IMMEDIATE LOSS OF FLUID COULD RESULT IN ENGINE FAILURE, OVERHEATING, AND TRANSMISSION FAILURE. IF THE ENGINE WERE TO FAIL AND THE VEHICLE WERE TRAVELING AT SPEED, A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER ASSISTED BRAKING WOULD OCCUR. ADDITIONALLY, FINDING A LOCATION TO PULL OFF OF THE ROAD PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD IN ITSELF. THIS ISSUE COULD BE EASILY RESOLVED BY CEASING TO USE DISSIMILAR METALS IN THE RADIATOR FITTINGS. AS FAR AS I KNOW, THIS SAME DESIGN IS BEING APPLIED TO ALL HONDA RIDGELINE MODEL YEARS INCLUDING THOSE CURRENTLY IN PRODUCTION. ALTHOUGH I CANNOT VERIFY THIS, I HAVE HEARD THAT THIS PARTICULAR PART IN THE 2009 MODEL YEAR REMAINED UNMODIFIED. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED, AS THERE ARE MORE AND MORE FAILURES OF THIS TYPE OCCURRING. IT IS SIMPLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE A SERIOUS INJURY OCCURS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY PREVENTABLE. *TR