NHTSA Complaint #11019522 — 2010 HONDA ACCORD

I WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, EVEN AFTER UNLOCKING THE DOOR. THIS COULD BE AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, SHOULD EMERGENCY RESPONDERS NEED TO GAIN IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO THE CAR AND A PASSENGER WAS UNRESPONSIVE. THE POWER DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILED, WHICH CAUSES THE DOOR LOCK TO STAY ENGAGED EVEN AFTER UNLOCKING THE CAR USING THE REMOTE FOB AND USING THE POWER LOCK BUTTON ON THE DOOR. THE ONLY WAY TO UNLOCK THE DOOR IS TO MANUALLY FLIP THE INTERIOR DOOR LOCK SWITCH. THIS IS THE SECOND POWER DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR TO FAIL, AND MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 93,000 MILES ON IT. THE POWER DOOR LOCKS SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR, AND DOORS THAT STAY LOCKED ARE AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD. HONDA CHARGES $298, PER ACTUATOR, MAKING COMPLETE REPAIR CLOSE TO $1,200. MY GUESS IS MOST PEOPLE WOULD CHOOSE TO LIVE WITH THE ISSUE RATHER THAN PAY THE HIGH REPAIR COST, BUT THEY DON'T THINK ABOUT WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF THEY ARE UNRESPONSIVE, THE CAR IS IN FLAMES, AND THE DOORS WON'T OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. I SPOKE WITH HONDA CORPORATE ABOUT THE ISSUE, AND THEY PROVIDED NO RESPONSE. THEY JUST SAID "WE DOCUMENT YOUR CALL." VERY FRUSTRATING.