NHTSA Complaint #10788672 — 2003 HONDA ACCORD

I HAVE A 2003 HONDA ACCORD SEDAN. IN AUG 2015, I HAD BEEN NOTICING A WHEEZING, STRAINING SOUND WHEN I TURNED MY CAR WHILE DRIVING. IT BECAME HARDER TO TURN AS WELL. I CHECKED THE POWER STEERING FLUID, AND IT WAS EMPTY. I GOT THE APPROPRIATE POWER STEERING FLUID SPECIFICALLY FOR HONDAS AND REFILLED IT. IN SEPT 2015, ON MY WAY TO WORK IN THE MORNING, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER MY HOOD. IT IS A 10 MINUTE COMMUTE FOR ME THROUGH THE CITY STREETS. THE SMOKE BEGAN WHEN I WAS OUTSIDE MY WORK AT A STOPLIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO GET INTO THE PARKING LOT WHEN I REALIZED THE UNDERSIDE OF MY HOOD HAD CAUGHT FIRE. (SEE ATTACHED PHOTOS) THAT DAY, I GOT IT TO THE MECHANIC, AND HE TOLD ME THAT THERE WERE CRACKS IN THE POWER STEERING AND FLUID WAS EVERYWHERE UNDER MY HOOD, ALL OVER MY ENGINE. DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, I SAW A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM, WITH MY EXACT CAR: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID# IS: 12V222000; MAY 17, 2012. IT STATES THAT "PROLONGED UNDER HOOD AND POWER STEERING FLUID TEMPERATURES MAY CAUSE THE POWER STEERING HOSE TO DETERIORATE PREMATURELY, RESOLING IN CRACKS AND POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE. IF THIS OCCURS, POWER STEERING FLUID CAN LEAD ONTO A HOT CATALYTIC CONVERTER, LEADING TO SMOKE AND UNDER HOOD FIRE." WHEN I CALLED INTO HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE TO CONFIRM MY CAR APPLIED TO THIS RECALL, THEY SAID IT DID NOT. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS EXACT PROBLEM CAN EXIST FOR MY CAR, BUT MY CAR NOT BE LISTED AS EFFECTED. REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEY SAY, MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE FOR THE SAME REASON HONDA RECALLED 625,762 OTHER VEHICLES FOR POWER STEERING DEFECTS. AS I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX THE POWER STEERING, I WAS HOWEVER FORCED TO REPLACE THE BELT THAT IS CLOSEST TO THE POWER STEERING FLUID RESERVOIR (SEE PHOTOS), BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN BURNED AND MANGLED. NEARLY $200 JUST FOR THE BELT.