NHTSA Complaint #10794991 — 1998 HONDA ACCORD

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT NORMAL SPEED AND AS I WAS MAKING A TURN I HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND FROM THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. I TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE INFORMED ME THAT MY PASSENGER SIDE SUB-FRAME ARM HAD RUSTED OFF AND SNAPPED. THIS CAME AS A SURPRISED, BECAUSE THE CAR WAS INSPECTED FOR A STATE INSPECTION LESS THEN A WEEK BEFORE THE SAID INCIDENT AND IT HAD PASSED THE STATE INSPECTION. I WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I WAS TOLD BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT THE AC HOSE WERE PLACED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE SUB-FRAME AND EVERY TIME THE AC WAS USED IT WOULD LEAK ONTO THE SUB FRAME AND CAUSE IT TO RUST. THE OTHER SUB-FRAME ARM HAD NO INDICATION OF RUST AT ALL. THIS IS A CASE OF COMPLETE NEGLIGENCE BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER HAS DESIGNED A FLAWED PRODUCT AND HAS FILED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE AND TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THEIR ACTIONS. NO RECALL WAS ISSUED. NO STATEMENT MADE. THE OWNER CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIRS AS THE PRODUCT THAT WAS MANUFACTURED BY HONDA HAS INITIAL DESIGN FLAWS WHICH DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTED TO THE FRAILER OF A MAJOR STRUCTURAL COMPONENT OF THE VEHICLE. THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD AND HAS BEEN FULLY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. A RECALL MUST BE ISSUED TO PREVENT MOST OF ALL FATALITIES AND HELP ALLEVIATE THE FINANCIAL BURDEN PLACED UPON THE OWNERS AS THE REPAIRS ARE OFTEN TIMES VERY COSTLY.