NHTSA Complaint #10561090 — 2002 HONDA ACCORD

WHILE TAKING OFF MY TIRES TO INSPECT THE TIERODS AND BRAKES I NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RUST ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT END VEHICLE SUBFRAME DIRECTLY BELOW THE AIR CONDITIONER DRAIN LINE. IT IS RUSTED THROUGH CURRENTLY ONLY ON THE TOP SIDE BUT IT IS A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL THIS PROGRESSES TO THE UNDERSIDE AS WELL. THIS LEAVES ONLY THE LOWER PORTION TO HOLD THE SUSPENSION AND ENGINE IN PLACE. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SEEMING CAUSED BY THE DRAIN LINE BEING POSITIONED DIRECTLY ABOVE THIS PIECE OF THE SUBFRAME. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE A YEAR AGO FROM A LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP THAT IN HIND SIGHT DEFINITELY SEEMED LIKE THEY WERE TRYING TO GET RID OF A LEMON. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF OTHER ISSUES WITH THE CAR (ELECTRICAL, ETC) AND NOW I FIND THIS. THIS CAR WAS SERVICED AT THIS DEALERSHIP ITS ENTIRE LIFE (SINCE NEW) AND THE DEALERSHIP ABSOLUTELY SHOULD HAVE NOTICED THIS SUBFRAME ROTTING AS THEY PERFORMED ROUTINE OIL CHANGES, TIRE CHANGES, TIRE ROTATIONS, ETC. I BELIEVE THAT HONDA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS SINCE 1) THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND MAINTAINED AT THE HONDA DEALERSHIP AND 2) IT SEEMS TO BE A SIGNIFICANT DESIGN FLAW TO HAVE THE DRAIN IMMEDIATELY ABOVE THIS AREA...THE DRIVERS SIDE DOES NOT SHOW ANY RUST AT ALL AND APPEARS STRUCTURALLY SOUND. *TR