NHTSA Complaint #11112062 — 2007 HONDA FIT

RIGHT HALF SHAFT FAILED DUE TO SALTY WINTER ROAD WATER ENTERING THE AREA BETWEEN THE SHAFT DAMPER AND THE SHAFT, GRADUALLY CORRODING THE SHAFT UNTIL THERE WAS NO LONGER ENOUGH SOUND METAL LEFT TO TRANSMIT TORQUE TO THE WHEEL. THE SHAFT FAILED WHILE LEAVING A STOPLIGHT; IF IT HAD FAILED AT HIGHWAY SPEED, IT LIKELY WOULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. FROM WHAT I CAN FIND ON A HONDA FIT FORUM, THIS SEEMS TO BE A FAIRLY FREQUENT FAILURE MODE FOR BOTH FITS AND CIVICS. I HAVE THREE OTHER PHOTOS OF THE FAILED HALF SHAFT, BUT THEY ARE A BIT TOO LARGE TO UPLOAD. I ALSO RETAINED THE FAILED PART.