NHTSA Complaint #10669195 — 2013 HONDA PILOT

AT ABOUT 12:05 PM, ON DECEMBER 7TH (WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45MPH) ON A FLAT SURFACE STREET WITH MY WIFE IN THE FRONT SEAT AND TWO CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT, WE HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM BENEATH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. SECONDS LATER, MY WIFE GRABS HER FOOT AND SCREAMS IN EXCRUCIATING PAIN. I PULL OVER AND SAW A .25 INCH? THICK BY 5 INCH LONG ABRASION THAT RAN ACROSS THE ARC OF HER RIGHT FOOT THAT TORE THE TOP LAYERS OF HER SKIN. AFTER WE STOPPED BY A LOCAL TARGET TO BUY GAUZE AND BANDAGES AND DROPPED OFF OUR CHILDREN AT A LOCAL FRIEND'S HOUSE I CHECKED MY WIFE INTO URGENT CARE AT ST. JUDE'S HOSPITAL, LOCATED WITHIN TEN MILES OF THE INCIDENT, TO HAVE THE WOUND EXAMINED. A PHYSICIAN DIAGNOSED THE ABRASION AS A SECOND DEGREE ELECTRICAL BURN AND GAVE HER A TETANUS SHOT AND PAIN MEDICATIONS. I REPORTED THE ISSUE TO OC HONDA WORLD, THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM WHILE WAITING IN LOBBY. I TOOK THE CAR IN ON DECEMBER ON 9TH AND 17TH AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT OC HONDA WORLD FOUND NOTHING FAULTY. PHOTOS OF THE INJURY COULD BE VIEWED AT: HTTP://TINYURL.COM/PILOT-INJURY-PHOTOS. I CONTACTED [XXX], HUMAN RELATIONS MANAGER, FROM HONDA OF NORTH AMERICA ON DECEMBER 16TH TO ADDRESS A SAFETY QUESTION HE WOULD NOT ANSWER... IF MY CAR HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY THE SERVICE TECHNICIANS AT OC HONDA WORLD AND FOUND NOTHING FAULTY... IS IT SAFE TO TRANSPORT PASSENGERS IN THE FRONT SEAT OF MY CAR? HE POLITELY AND FIRMLY SAID I CANNOT ANSWER THAT QUESTION. HE STATED THAT ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN NOW AND IN THE NEXT TEN MINUTES. THIS WAS VERY COMFORTING AS I BOUGHT MY HONDA PILOT TOURING WITH THREE FACTORS IN MIND: (1) SAFETY; (2) RELIABILITY; AND (3) ROOMY INTERIOR SPACE. THIS INCIDENT COMPLETELY FACTORED OUT MY FIRST PRIORITY AS PASSENGER SAFETY HAS BEEN COMPROMISED... WHAT OPTIONS DO I HAVE AS A CONSUMER? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR UPDATED 1/29/16 *JS