NHTSA Complaint #10524551 — 2003 HONDA CR-V

MY FAMILY AND I WERE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE, TRAVELING UP A SLIGHT HILL AT 65 MPH. I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR TO INCREASE POWER, AND THE PEDAL SUDDENLY WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR AND THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED FROM 3K TO ABOUT 5.5K. THE CRV ACCELERATED RAPIDLY, APPROACHING 80 MPH, AND I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE PEDAL. THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE, AND THE CRV CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE TO 85 MPH. AT THIS POINT, I MADE SURE THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS TURNED OFF. I QUICKLY REALIZED SOMETHING WAS WRONG, SO I BEGAN TO APPLY THE BRAKES, GENTLY AT FIRST, BUT THE ENGINE WAS RACING AND ACCELERATING THE CRV, SO I HAD TO SMASH ON THE BRAKE WITH BOTH FEET. I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE CRV DOWN TO ABOUT 45 MPH AND EXIT THE INTERSTATE AT A REST AREA. ONCE ON THE OFF-RAMP, I PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL BECAUSE THE BRAKES WERE UNDER A LOT OF STRESS. THE ENGINE RPMS SHOT EVEN HIGHER, SO I CUT THE IGNITION AND COASTED INTO THE REST AREA. WE HAD TO CALL FOR A TOW TRUCK. A MECHANIC CONFIRMED (AS I SUSPECTED) THAT THE BUTTERFLY VALVE IN THE ENGINE THROTTLE BODY WAS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION. A FEW DAYS LATER, A HONDA PARTS INSPECTOR REVIEWED THE CRV AND DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, AND THAT WE WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR A NEW THROTTLE BODY. A SERIES OF CALLS WITH CORPORATE HONDA ENSUED, WHEREIN THEY REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECTIVE PART. AFTER MUCH COMPLAINING ON MY PART, HONDA AGREED TO PAY FOR A NEW THROTTLE AS LONG AS I WOULD SIGN A WAIVER ABSOLVING THEM OF ALL FUTURE LEGAL LIABILITY. I REFUSED TO DO SO. ULTIMATELY, I WORKED WITH MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO TRADE-IN THE CRV FOR A NEWER MODEL. I DO NOT KNOW THE FATE OF THE 2003 CRV. THE INCIDENT ON THE ROAD WAS HORRIFYING, AND THEN TO BE TREATED POORLY BY CORPORATE HONDA WAS INFURIATING. THE NATIONAL SAFETY DATABASE SHOWS THAT THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM. *TR