NHTSA Complaint #10547917 — 2009 HONDA ODYSSEY

THE TAILGATE STRUTS THAT SUPPORT THE TAILGATE (BACK) DOOR OF THE MINIVAN FAILED (COLLAPSED) WHEN THE DOOR WAS IN ITS OPEN POSITION. THIS CAUSED THE BACK DOOR TO SLAM SHUT WITH GREAT FORCE. THE STRUTS ARE CYLINDERS FILLED WITH GAS UNDER PRESSURE USED TO POP THE DOOR OPEN AND HOLD IT OPEN. THE DOOR IS VERY HEAVY AND DID NOT FAIL IN A FAILSAFE MANNER (LOCKUP FOR EXAMPLE), INSTEAD THE SYSTEM FAILED TO SUPPORT THE DOOR IN ITS OPEN POSITION. THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS VERY PROBLEM, MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR: HONDA ODYSSEY 2009, HOWEVER, MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. HONDA INC CONFIRMS THAT THEY ARE RECEIVING REPORTS LIKE THIS ONE FROM OTHER PEOPLE WHOSE CARS WERE NOT MADE PART OF THE RECALL. *TR