NHTSA Complaint #10544503 — 2007 HONDA CIVIC

DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE 'EQUIPMENT INSPECTION' WAS INFORMED THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT WAS 'BURNED OUT'. AS THIS IS A MULTI-LIGHT LED, THE PROBABILITY OF THE ALL THE LED TO HAVE FAILED WAS SUSPICIOUS. DEALER REP WAS VERY SURE ENTIRE UNIT REQUIRED REPLACEMENT AND QUOTED A PRICE OF NEARLY $200 FOR REPAIR OF A PIECE OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT. DEFERRED REPAIR TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE. WEB SEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A EXTREMELY COMMON OCCURRENCE ON 2007 AND LATER CIVICS. PROBLEM IS NOT THE LED BUT THE SOLDER JOINTS ON THE ASSEMBLY WHICH FAIL FREQUENTLY. AS THIS IS A DESIGN DEFICIENCY IN A PIECE OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT, ONE WOULD EXPECT A RECALL TO CORRECT. APPARENTLY AS THE PROBLEM REQUIRES 'IMMEDIATE' REPAIR IN MOST STATES WITH ANNUAL SAFETY INSPECTIONS, IT HAS NOT GARNERED SUFFICIENT TRACTION WITH NHTSA TO WARRANT ACTION. (NOTE: ACTUAL FAIL DATE/MILEAGE IS UNKNOWN). *TR