NHTSA Complaint #10558599 — 2010 HONDA ODYSSEY

I GOT INTO THE CAR WITH MY CHILDREN ON JAN 3RD AT ABOUT 11:30 AM. AS WE WERE APPROACHING THE HIGHWAY ON-RAMP, THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED (BRAKE) FOR ABSOLUTELY NO REASON WHILE I HAD MY FOOT ON THE GAS! I MADE A U-TURN TO GET AWAY FROM THE ON-RAMP AND GO HOME. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVING RIGHT. THE CAR SLOWED/STOPPED 2 MORE TIMES. I WAS ON MY STREET, WHEN THE "BRAKES WENT OUT". I COASTED INTO MY DRIVEWAY. SMOKE BEGAN BILLOWING OUT OF FRONT WHEEL WELLS. WHEN I WAS TURNING OFF THE IGNITION, THE VSA LIGHT CAME ON. I DIDN'T KNOW IF THE CAR WAS ON FIRE, SO I RUSHED MY KIDS OUT OF THE CAR AND CALLED 911. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL SMOKING, HOT, AND SMELLING. I HAD CAR TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED AND WAS GOING TO GET HONDA INVOLVED. THEY COULD NOT SEE ANY PROBLEMS AND COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE EVENT. MY SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THAT THE CAR WAS "DRIVABLE", BUT DIDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE LETTING ME TAKE IT. I SAID THAT I DIDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE TAKING IT BECAUSE I CAN?T TRUST ITS SAFETY. JANUARY 5- I HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH ABOUT A VERY RECENT RECALL ON THIS EXACT PROBLEM. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH A YAW SENSOR TELLING THE VSA SYSTEM TO ENGAGE WHILE THE CAR IS ACCELERATING WITHOUT THE BRAKE LIGHTS TURNING ON. NOW IT ALL MAKES SENSE! THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT MY CAR IS NOT NAMED IN THIS RECALL. ONLY 2007-2008 HONDA ODYSSEY OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED. I HAVE A 2010. ACCORDING TO THE DOCUMENTS, HONDA DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT WILL EXPLAIN TO OWNERS WHAT TO DO IN CASE THIS SUDDEN STOPPING OCCURS. I AM DUMBFOUNDED! THERE IS NOT A CHANCE THAT MY CHILDREN AND I WILL GET INTO THAT CAR WITH "INSTRUCTIONS" IN THE EVENT THIS HAPPENS AGAIN. IT SEEMS THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT CONTAINED TO 2007-2008 MODELS. IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS THAT HONDA NEEDS TO EXPAND ITS INITIAL RECALL. I THINK THEY SHOULD BE WARNED ABOUT THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY PROBLEM. *TR