NHTSA Complaint #10683977 — 1999 HONDA ACCORD

TOOK MY 1999 HONDA ACCORD TO A HONDA DEALERSHIP FOR ROUTINE OIL CHANGE & MULTI-POINT INSPECTION ON 2/16/15. I WAS TAKEN INTO THE GARAGE AND SHOWN A HOLE ABOUT 2" ACROSS IN THE SUBFRAME NEAR THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WELL. I WAS ADVISED THAT IT WAS DUE TO SALTY ROADS AND RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS FLAGGED AS "UNSAFE TO BE DRIVEN" BY THE HONDA DEALERSHIP AND I WAS ADVISED TO EITHER REPAIR OR STOP DRIVING THE VEHICLE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I WAS TOLD THE FRAME COULD DROP DOWN OR CAUSE THE ENGINE TO COME INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IN THE EVENT OF A FRONT END CRASH. COST TO REPAIR WAS ESTIMATED AT $1600. DEALERSHIP SAID I COULD NOT SELL THE CAR WITHOUT DISCLOSING THE DEFECT. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THE CAR WOULD ONLY HAVE SCRAP VALUE AT $350-500 AS NO ONE WOULD PUT THE NECESSARY REPAIRS INTO A 16 YEAR OLD CAR. PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO NHTSA ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, WHICH HONDA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE. THE SERVICE MANAGER SEEMED SURPRISED WHEN I SAID THIS WAS A "KNOWN PROBLEM" WITH THE '99 ACCORDS. *TR