NHTSA Complaint #10759706 — 2005 HONDA PILOT

WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE TAILGATE NOT REGISTERING AS CLOSED. UPON INSPECTING I DISCOVERED THAT THE LATCH ON THE TAILGATE WAS MOVING FREELY IN THE TAILGATE. IT WAS UNSECURED. UPON REMOVING THE PLASTIC TAILGATE TRIM, I SPOTTED THREE SPECIALIZED MACHINE BOLTS. THESE WERE TRAPPED BY THE TAIL GATE TRIM LOOSE UNCONNECTED. I DETERMINED THAT THESE BOLTS HELD THE LATCH IN POSITION. I WAS ABLE TO PROPERLY SECURE THE TAILGATE LATCH TO THE DOOR AND RESTORE PROPER FUNCTIONALITY. I BELIEVE THAT MORE LOCKS WILL REVEAL TO BE IMPROPERLY SECURED FROM THE FACTORY. MY VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN REAR ENDED OR HAD ANY POST FACTORY REPAIRS. THE RISK OF INJURY DUE TO DEFECTIVE TORQUING OF THESE MACHINE BOLTS IS REAL AS IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THE TAILGATE COULD COME OPEN EJECTING PEOPLE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE.