NHTSA Complaint #10650615 — 2003 HONDA CR-V

ALMOST 100% OF THE TIME I USE THE REMOTE TO UNLOCK AND LOCK THE 2003 HONDA CR-V EX. WHEN RECENTLY TRYING THE KEY, IT DID NOT WORK IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK. AS A RESULT OF DISCOVERING THIS DEFECT, I TRY THE KEY OCCASIONALLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF SEEING WHAT HAPPENS IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK. OTHER KEY/LOCK OBSERVATIONS: 1. USUALLY THE KEY DOESN'T EVEN GO INTO THE LOCK. 2. SOMETIMES THE KEY GOES IN THE LOCK ALL THE WAY, BUT WON'T TURN EITHER WAY. 3. OCCASIONALLY THE LOCK WORKS PERFECTLY, WITH NO RESISTANCE OR APPARENT PROBLEM, LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THE LOCK. 4. EACH OF THESE SPORADIC ISSUES HAPPEN WITH TWO OTHER HONDA-MADE "SIDEWINDER" KEYS FOR THE CAR, WHICH ARE LIKE NEW. (THE MAIN KEY IS ALWAYS USED FOR THE IGNITION AND IS WORN THEREFROM.) 5. THE OTHER LOCKS ON THE CAR (IGNITION, FRONT PASSENGER & 5TH DOOR) DO NOT EXPERIENCE THESE PROBLEMS. HONDA SERVICE CLAIMS THE LOCKS PINS HAVE WORN OUT. HOW CAN THE LOCK PINS WEAR OUT WHEN THEY ARE BARELY USED? IF THE PINS HAVE WORN OUT, WHY DOES THE KEY GO ALL THE WAY INTO THE LOCK SOMETIMES? AND WHY DOES THE LOCK WORK PERFECTLY SOMETIMES? THIS IS A PERSONAL SAFETY ISSUE, AS WELL AS AN ISSUE REGARDING A BASIC FUNCTION OF THE CAR. DESPITE SERVICE BULLETIN 03068 (NHTSA ID NUMBERS 10004794 AND 10012644), HONDA SERVICE INSISTS THAT THE CONSUMER PAY TO HAVE THE PART(S) FIXED. THIS APPEARS TO BE EITHER A MANUFACTURING OR MATERIALS DEFECT, OR A MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL ISSUE WHICH CONSUMER COULDN'T CAUSE, AND FOR WHICH THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BEAR THE COST TO FIX. *TR