NHTSA Complaint #10568085 — 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY

THE TRUNK LIFT (FROM AN OPEN POSITION) OF OUR 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY EX-L UNEXPECTEDLY FELL ON TOP OF MY WIFE'S HEAD WHILE SHE WAS USING THE TRUNK AREA. HER INJURY WAS NOT SERIOUS, AND CONSEQUENTLY WE DETERMINED THE FAILURE WAS THE GAS STRUTS THAT ASSIST IN OPENING AND CLOSING THE HATCH. HONDA ALREADY HAS A RECALL FOR THE SAME ISSUE FOR POWERED LIFTGATE FOR 2008-9 MODELS, BUT IT DOESN'T INCLUDE MANUAL OPENING ODYSSEYS, CLAIMING THAT A DEGRADED STRUT IN A MANUAL LIFTGATE WILL BE NOTICEABLE. THIS WAS NOT THE CASE FOR US. CONSIDERING ODYSSEYS ARE BUILT FOR FAMILIES, I FEEL THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE SINCE MY OLDER CHILDREN FREQUENTLY OPERATE THE TAILGATES WITHOUT OUR HELP. SINCE THE REASON FOR THE LIFTGATE FAILURE IS THE SAME FOR MANUAL AND POWERED LIFTGATES, HONDA SHOULD EXTEND THE RECALL (OR AT LEAST A NOTIFICATION) TO ALL 2008-9 ODYSSEY OWNERS. JUST BECAUSE WE DIDN'T PURCHASE THE TOP OF THE LINE ODYSSEY, OUR SAFETY SHOULDN'T BE ANY LESS THAN THE TOURING OWNERS. *TR