NHTSA Complaint #10743463 — 2006 HONDA ELEMENT

THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER FAILED SUDDENLY, PREVENTING ANY USE OF THE VEHICLE. THE WAFERS (EQUIVALENT TO PINS ON TUMBLER LOCKS) WORE AWAY SUCH THAT THE KEY NO LONGER WORKED IN THE LOCK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SUCH THAT TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IS IMPOSSIBLE, AND STRANDS THE DRIVER AND ALL PASSENGERS WHEREVER THE CAR IS AT THE TIME. WHEN THE PART FAILED, THE VEHICLE WAS STALLED ON A ROADWAY WHERE SPEEDS REGULARLY EXCEED 30 MPH AND I IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO MOVE THE CAR OUT OF DANGER. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO UNLOCK WITHOUT TURNING THE KEY IN THE LOCK CYLINDER. THE CAR REMAINED IN THE ROAD FOR ABOUT A HALF HOUR UNTIL PERMISSION WAS SECURED TO TURN THE CAR INTO THE DRIVEWAY WHERE THE WHEELS TURNING LEAD INTO, REQUIRING PUSHING THE CAR THROUGH TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC. ONCE IN THE DRIVEWAY, IT TOOK AN ADDITIONAL HOUR FOR A TOW TRUCK TO COME (WE WERE LUCKY THE DRIVEWAY EXISTED AT THAT LOCATION!). AFTER TOWING EXPENSES, DEALERSHIP QUOTED REPAIRS AT AROUND $800 FOR JUST REPAIRING THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER, AND ADDITIONAL EXPENSES FOR REPLACING ALL THE LOCKS ON THE VEHICLE SO THAT ONE KEY WOULD WORK ON ALL LOCKS ON THE CAR. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE 1) THE FAILURE PREVENTS USE, OR EVEN CONTROLLED MOVEMENT OF THE CAR BEING PUSHED (THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS, AND WON'T UNLOCK WITHOUT THE KEY TURNING IN THE LOCK CYLINDER) IN WHATEVER SITUATION THE CAR IS IN, WHETHER STALLED ON A ROADWAY OR PARKED, 2) THERE IS NO MAINTENANCE PROCEDURE PRESCRIBED TO PREVENT THIS ISSUE, 3) BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN OF THE KEY/LOCK COMBINATION, THIS ISSUE WILL HAPPEN EVENTUALLY TO ALL VEHICLES WITH THIS TYPE OF LOCK (SIDEWINDER KEY), 4) THERE IS LITTLE TO NO INDICATION OF IMMINENT FAILURE.