NHTSA Complaint #10883738 — 2014 HONDA SXS700

THIS IS AN OFF-ROAD VEHICLE PRESENTED BY BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER AS SUITABLE FOR HIGH ALTITUDE USE. AFTER PURCHASE NEW ON 5.1.2014 THE VEHICLE STALLED AND QUIT RUNNING AT 10,500 FOOT ALTITUDE. WHEN I ADVISED THE DEALER OF THIS PERFORMANCE CONCERN, I WAS ADVISED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT TESTED THIS VEHICLE AT HIGH ALTITUDES FOR SALE AND USE IN THE HIGHER COLORADO MOUNTAINS AND THAT THERE WERE NO REPAIRS FOR THE PROBLEM. WHEN I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE HONDA CORPORATE OFFICE IN SAN JOSE, CA., BOTH BY PHONE AND IN WRITING AND, ALSO, THRU THE BBB, I WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED AND ENGINEERED. HONDA ADVERTISING, IN PART , STATES "FLAWLESS OPERATION AT HIGHER ALTITUDES THAT OTHER SXSS CAN ONLY TRY TO FOLLOW". HONDA CORPORATE WENT ON TO TELL ME THAT I WAS THE ONLY ONE COMPLAINING AND I WILL ADMIT THAT IT RUNS GOOD UP TO ABOUT 10,000 FOOT. HOWEVER, I WAS NOT TOLD THAT IT WOULD NOT RUN ABOVE 10,000 FOOT. MY OPINION IS THAT THERE WAS MISREPRESENTATION OF AN IMPLIED WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, I.E. OPERATING OFF ROAD AT HIGH ALTITUDES WHEN NEEDED. I WOULD CALL HONDA ADVERTISING DECEPTIVE AND BAMBOO-ZING. AFTER THE STALLING EXPERIENCE AND CONTACTS WITH THE DEALER AND HONDA CORPORATE, I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND MANY FORUMS EXPRESSING THE EXACT SAME OPERATING PROBLEMS THAT I EXPERIENCED NOT ONLY WITH STALLING AT HIGH ALTITUDES BUT ALSO A SOFT FRONT END SHOCK PROBLEM. I CONSIDER THE VEHICLE DANGEROUS TO OPERATE AT HIGH ALTITUDES AND UNDERSTAND THAT HONDA'S NEW 1000 HAS ELIMINATED THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE 700 THRU MORE POWER AND BETTER GEARING. IT IS OBVIOUS TO ME THAT HONDA KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE 700 AND EXPECTS IT WOULD BE TO EXPENSIVE TO ADMIT. I HAVE TRIED TO SELL THE VEHICLE WITH 400 MILES FOR MUCH LESS THAN I PAID TO NO AVAIL.