NHTSA Complaint #10808158 — 2008 HONDA RIDGELINE

MY 2008 HONDA RIDGELINE TRUCK IS IN VERY GOOD SHAPE, GARAGE KEPT, WELL MAINTAINED, WITH ONLY 72K MI. WE WERE DRIVING UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT ON I-83N FROM DE TO PA, DURING THE RAINY NIGHT OF NOV. 18,2015. WE HEARD A FLAP-RIP SOUND, AND THOUGHT IT WAS THE (AFTER MARKET) BED COVER FLAPPING AT THE CAB CORNER, BECAUSE A COVER CLIP HAD WEAKENED THERE DURING THIS HIGHWAY DRIVE FROM GA TO PA, ALLOWING THE COVER TO FLAP IN WIND, AND NEEDED REFASTENING WHENEVER WE STOPPED FOR GAS. IT WAS THE NEXT MORNING IN THE LIGHT WHEN WE REALIZED THE ENTIRE CAB TOP-REAR PANEL (BREAK LIGHT, WIRING & ALL) HAD DISLODGED COMPLETELY OFF THE TRUCK, AND DECIDED THIS WAS PROBABLY THE RIPPING SOUND WE HEARD ON I-83 THE NIGHT BEFORE, THOUGH WE DID NOT KNOW AT THE TIME, AND PRAY NO DANGER RESULTED BEHIND US. WE TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED, TO SEE WHAT THEY COULD DO TO COMPENSATE, WHICH WAS ONLY TO OFFER $50 DISCOUNT ON $400 OF PARTS, ALSO SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE ISSUE, EVEN THOUGH CARCOMPLIANTS.COM HAD A POSTING. WE INSTEAD HAVE A LOCAL MECHANIC WAITING ON THE PART TO REPLACE THE PANEL AT LESS COST, BECAUSE THE LIGHT IS NEEDED, AND WE HAVE TEMPORARY DUCT TAPE OVER THE WIRING HOLE FOR PROTECTION. OUR POSITION IS THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S SAFETY DEFECT, AND SHOULD BE RECALLED! NO MARKET BODY PART SHOULD JUST FLY OFF THE TRUCK, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT CAN RESULT IN ACCIDENTS, INJURY, AND POSSIBLY EVEN DEATH!