NHTSA Complaint #10534593 — 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY

2003 HONDA ODYSSEY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION SWITCH RECALL NOTICE AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE, WHICH REQUIRED THE INSTALLATION OF AN UPDATED SHIFT INTERLOCK LEVER. LATER IN THE DAY, THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALER STATING THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW IGNITION SWITCH. THE DEALER STATED THEY WOULD INSTALL THE NEW SWITCH AT A COST OF $ 520. THE CONSUMER WAS SATISFIED WITH THE WORK. HOWEVER, HE OBJECTED TO BEING CHARGED FOR THE WORK, BECAUSE ACCORDING TO THE RECALL NOTICE, IT EXPLICITLY STATED THE WORK WOULD BE PERFORMED AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. THE RECALL NOTICE STATED AN UPDATED SHIFT INTERLOCK LEVER AND, IF NECESSARY, ANY NECESSARY PART OF THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE MANAGER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS A NECESSARY PART, HE INSISTED, THE CONSUMER WAS OBLIGED TO PAY FOR THE INSTALLATION. THE CONSUMER WROTE HONDA'S NATIONAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT, EXPLAINING THE SITUATION AND THEY WROTE BACK REJECTING HIS REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT. TO JUSTIFY THEIR REFUSAL OF REIMBURSEMENT, THEY IMPOSED A NARROW INTERPRETATION OF THE PHRASE ANY NECESSARY PART OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. THEY CLAIMED THAT IT REFERRED ONLY TO THE SHIFT INTERLOCK LEVEL ITSELF, AND THEY WANTED TO EXCLUDE WHAT THE RECALL NOTICE ACTUALLY SAID ABOUT ANY NECESSARY PART OF THE IGNITION SWITCH.