NHTSA Complaint #10978999 — 2004 HONDA PILOT

I HAD A VERY SERIOUS MECHANICAL FAILURE AFTER HITTING A BUMP ON A DIRT ROAD ONLY GOING 25 MPH. ALL 4 OF THE REAR AXLE MOUNTS FAILED CAUSING THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE TO DROP AND THE TIRES TO SPREAD. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS IF I WAS GOING FASTER OR HIT THE BUMP ON THE HIGHWAY. WE HAD BEEN NOTICING A CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BUT COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IT WAS. SO, PERHAPS ONE OR TWO FOR THE MOUNTS HAD ALL READY FAILED BEFORE THIS FINAL FAILURE. WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW IN 2004 AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENT NOR DRIVEN OFF ROAD. IT IS A MICHIGAN CAR SO IT HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO ROAD SALT PERHAPS CONTRIBUTING TO THE RUSTING OF THE MOUNTS. BUT, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE SHOULD THIS OCCUR. AFTER DOING AN INTERNET SEARCH I WAS ONLY ABLE TO FIND TWO OTHER INSTANCES OF THIS HAPPENING. AS THESE VEHICLES GET OLDER MORE MAY HAPPEN IF IT IS A DESIGN FLAW.