NHTSA Complaint #10509666 — 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY

THE REAR TAILGATE STRUT FAILED ON MY ODYSSEY EX- IMPORTANT TO DIFFERENTIATE FROM THE EX-L, WHICH WAS AFFECTED BY A RECALL FOR THE SAME THING (NHTSA CAMPAIGN #12V062000). THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO THE EX NOR LX MODELS. PROBLEM IS THE EX-L, EX & LX MODELS SHARE THE SAME STRUT PART #74820-SHJ-A21, PRICE $63.91/EACH. THE PARTS INFORMATION IS RIGHT OFF HONDA'S OWN WEBSITE. THE RECALL MAKES NO MENTION OF FAILURES TO ANY MOTORS, GENERATORS OR POWER LOCKS. THE ONLY REFERENCE IS TO THE STRUT ITSELF. IF THE STRUT IS THE PROBLEM, WHY DOESN'T THE RECALL APPLY TO ALL '08 ODYSSEYS IF ALL ODYSSEYS SHARE THE SAME PART? I CALLED HONDA FOR AN EXPLANATION & THE REP SAID THEY WOULD ONLY PAY FOR REPAIRS TO MODELS COVERED BY THE RECALL. SINCE MY VEHICLE WASN'T, THEY WOULDN'T PAY &, AS IT STANDS NOW, I'M OUT $213.71, WHICH IS THE COST FOR BOTH PARTS & LABOR. I BELIEVE I AM ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT OF THE FULL COST OF REPLACING THE STRUTS & I ALSO BELIEVE ALL '08 ODYSSEY MODELS SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM AS FAILURE OF THE PART POSES A SERIOUS RISK OF INJURY TO ANYONE STANDING UNDER THE DOOR, WHICH HAPPENS ALOT WHILE LOADING/UNLOADING THE VEHICLE. *TR