NHTSA Complaint #10790124 — 2015 HONDA FIT

I WAS ADVISED TO FILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT MY CONCERNS BY JENNIFER TIMIAN, CHIER OF THE RECALL MANAGEMENT DIVISION OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATIONS ENFORCEMENT. THIS IS NOT A TYPICAL COMPLAINT. IT IS NOT ABOUT AN ACCIDENT THAT HAS OCCURRED, BUT RATHER PREVENTIVE MEASURE TO KEEP THEM FROM HAPPENING. THERE IS ALREADY A RECALL ABOUT THE DEFECT IN THESE CARS (15V-574). THIS COMPLAINT IS ABOUT A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE FIX THAT HONDA HAS IMPLEMENTED FOR IT. IT IS MY OPINION THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS FLAW IN HOW THEY ARE FIXING THE DEFECT THAT LEAVES THE OPERATORS OF THESE AFFECTED VEHICLES(OVER 100,000 OF THEM) IN DANGER. THE REASON FOR THIS RECALL IS QUITE SERIOUS. IT APPEARS THAT SOME OF THE PULLEY SHAFTS IN THE CVT TRANSMISSIONS WERE MANUFACTURED WITH LOW HARDNESS AND THIS COUPLED WITH HIGH FORCES IN THE CVT TRANSMISSION CAN CAUSE THE PULLEY SHAFT TO FAIL RESULTING IN LOSS OF ALL DRIVE AND IN ONE INSTANCE LOCKING OF THE FRONT WHEELS (A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT CAN EASILY RESULT IN SOMEONE BEING KILLED). THE SOLUTION THAT HONDA CAME UP WITH WAS TO CHANGE THE PROGRAMMING IN THE CVT TO REDUCE THE FORCE ON THE PART. THIS IN NOT THE CORRECT WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE FLAW THAT HONDA IS OVERLOOKING IS THAT THESE CARS HAVE BEEN DRIVEN AND THE PART HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO STRESSES THAT HAVE CAUSED IT FAIL IN SIMILAR VEHICLES. IN THE CASE OF MY GIRLFRIEND FOR OVER A YEAR. THE PART CAN EASILY BE WEAKENED AND CLOSE TO FAILURE. REDUCING THE FORCES APPLIED TO IT CAN NOT INSURE THAT THE PART WILL NOT FAIL. I FEEL THAT THE CORRECT FIX WOULD BE TO REPLACE THE PART WITH ONE THAT IS PROPERLY HARDENED OR AT LEAST INSPECT AND TEST THE PART TO INSURE THAT ITS STRENGTH HAS NOT BEEN COMPROMISED. I WILL ATTACHED REALTED PDF'S