NHTSA Complaint #10692664 — 2015 HONDA FIT

SINCE SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR ON JUNE 13, 2014, BAD TO AWFUL ODORS HAVE BEEN EMITTED FROM THE HVAC SYSTEM. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHOM I PURCHASED IT HAS SERVICED IT THREE TIMES (2014/09/17 @ 4,982MI, 2014/09/27 @ 5,254MI, 2014/10/31 @ 6,589MI). EACH TIME, FOAMING AC CLEANER WAS USED. THE THIRD ONE ALSO INVOLVED REMOVING THE BLOWER ASSEMBLY (THEY CUT AWAY PART OF THE DASHBOARD TO GET IT OUT) SO THEY COULD SPRAY CLEANER DIRECTLY INTO THE EVAPORATOR BOX, THOUGH ONLY THE INLET SIDE OF THE EVAPORATOR COILS IS ACCESSIBLE. AFTER EACH SERVICE, AIR COMING OUT THE VENTS WOULD SMELL OF CLEANER FOR A FEW DAYS, THEN THE BAD SMELLS WOULD BE DONE FOR A FEW DAYS AND THEN RETURN. THE THIRD SERVICE WAS THE LONGEST-LASTING, BUT BAD ODORS AND NOW MOLD SPORES STARTED COMING OUT AGAIN, FIRST NOTICEABLE IN EARLY DECEMBER 2014. IT HAS GOTTEN SO BAD I HAVE HAD SEVERAL SEVERE SYMPTOMS OF MOLD EXPOSURE, INCLUDING ITCHY THROAT AND EYES, SINUS HEADACHES, SHARP SINUS PAIN, BLOODY NASAL DISCHARGE, SOMETIMES WITH LARGE CLOTS. I'VE STARTED USING N95 OR N100 RESPIRATORS, DRIVING WITH WINDOWS OPEN AND MINIMIZING USE OF THE HVAC. THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR SMELLS MOLDY/MILDEWY WITHOUT USING THE HVAC SYSTEM; I THINK MOLD IS NOW IN THE REST OF THE INTERIOR, AND THIS CAR IS KEPT OVERNIGHT IN A DE-HUMIDIFIED GARAGE! I SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT WITH AMERICAN HONDA EARLY FEBRUARY 2015, A COMPLAINT WITH THE OHIO ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE MID-FEBRUARY AND SUBMITTED A LEMON LAW CLAIM ON 2015/03/06 TO THE ARBITRATION PROGRAM HONDA MAKES OWNERS USE. HONDA HAS BEEN UNRESPONSIVE THUS FAR. HONDA'S CELAYA, MEXICO PLANT, IN ADDITION TO LABOR ISSUES, HAD TRANSPORT TRAINS HIJACKED, WITH PARTS STOLEN FROM MANY CARS. IF THIS IS TRUE, THESE CARS SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN SOLD AS NEW! IT WOULD EXPLAIN THE LOOSE DRIVER DOOR TRIM AND REAR HATCH TRIM I FOUND ON MY CAR AND SNAPPED INTO PLACE. *TR