NHTSA Complaint #10821699 — 2001 HONDA ACCORD

SUBFRAME RUST CAUSED BY MISPOSITIONED A/C DRAIN PIPE DROPPED MY CAR OFF FOR HER 200K TUNE IN NH. THE MECHANIC SAID THE SUBFRAME UNDERNEATH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS SHOT. I DEBATED WHETHER TO SPEND $1100 FOR A USED SUBFRAME AND LABOR. DECIDED IT WAS A GAMBLE, BUT PROBABLY WORTH IT. DROPPED IT OFF TWO DAYS LATER AND HE SHOWED ME WHERE. I GRABBED THE FRAME AND IT JUST CRUMBLED. WITH THE NEW SUBFRAME AND TUNE, SHE RUNS LIKE NEW, EVEN AT 200K. LATER I DID MORE RESEARCH LATER AND FOUND THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I GOT THE CAR UP ON A FRIEND'S LIFT AND FOUND THE A/C DRAIN HOSE. IT WAS HIGH UP IN THE CAR AND REALLY SHORT! IT POINTED DIRECTLY AT THE SUBFRAME. I SIMPLY REPLACED THE HOSE, CLAMPED IT ON, THEN TIED THE END TO A THINGY FURTHER DOWN, SO THAT THE OPENING POINTED AT THE GROUND. LIKE $2 IN PARTS AND 20 MINUTES, AND I'M AN AMATEUR. I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT HONDA NEVER OFFICIALLY ACKNOWLEDGED THIS DESIGN DEFECT. I GET THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR SUBFRAME REPLACEMENTS - THEY'RE A BUSINESS, YADDA YADDA. BUT IT'S SUCH A BASIC OVERSIGHT WITH AN EASY SOLUTION. JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE DILIGENCE ON THEIR PART WOULD HAVE SAVED ME OVER A THOUSAND BUCKS. SUBFRAME RUST IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. THEY DESERVE TO BE PUNISHED FOR SUCH LAZINESS AND NEGLIGENCE. TO NIP THIS IN THE BUD: YES, I LIVE IN NEW ENGLAND. THERE'S A LOT OF SALT ON THE ROADS, BUT I WASH THE UNDERCARRIAGE REGULARLY. AND IF IT WERE GENERAL WEAR-N-TEAR, THE ENTIRE SUBFRAME WOULD HAVE HAD SIMILAR LEVELS OF DAMAGE. HOWEVER, THE ROT WAS LOCALIZED DIRECTLY UNDER THE A/C DRAIN HOSE. ALSO, THE DEALERSHIP SAID NOTHING ABOUT SUBFRAME RUST WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR THE AIRBAG RECALL. SOME 100 POINT INSPECTION, HUH?