NHTSA Complaint #11118839 — 2005 ACURA TL

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE, AND HAVE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON IT AT REGULAR INTERVALS. ON JULY 23, 2018, APPROXIMATELY 4:15PM, I WAS EXITING VIA REVERSE FROM A PARKING SPACE AT A LOCAL SHOPPING CENTER. I SHIFTED THE CAR INTO DRIVE, PROCEEDED FORWARD AT A SPEED OF 3MPH, FOR LESS THAN TEN FEET TO MAKE A SLIGHT LEFT TURN, WHEN THERE WAS THE SOUND OF BREAKING METAL, AND THE CAR CAME TO A HALT. THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE, FOOT ON GAS, BUT WOULD NOT MOVE. I STRUGGLED TO SHIFT THE GEAR INTO PARK, THEN RESTARTED. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE, WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY I GOT IT INTO REVERSE, THEN ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO A HANDICAPPED PARKING SPACE. THE GEAR WAS NOW STUCK IN REVERSE, AND KEY WAS LOCKED IN IGNITION. I IMMEDIATELY APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, TURNED ON HAZARD LIGHTS, AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. I PLACED PHONE CALLS TO A TOWING COMPANY, AND MY MECHANIC. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED "THE DRIVER'S FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLY SNAPPED IN TWO. THE AXLE SHAFT HAD RUSTED UNDERNEATH THE VIBRATION DAMPER. THE PASSENGER FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLY LOOKED RUSTED". AT MY DIRECTION, THE MECHANIC REPLACED BOTH FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLIES. BOTH MYSELF AND THE MECHANIC SEARCHED FOR A RECALL, OR EVEN AN UPDATE TO THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE/SERVICE, BUT FOUND NOTHING. CAR AXLES SHOULD NOT RANDOMLY SNAP IN HALF. I HAVE HAD ABSOLUTELY ZERO ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE LEADING UP TO THE EVENT. THANKFULLY, NO ONE WAS HARMED WHEN THIS OCCURRED. HAD I BEEN TRAVELING IN A DRIVE LANE, WHETHER IT WAS IN THE SHOPPING CENTER OR INTERSTATE, NO DOUBT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A CATASTROPHIC SITUATION, RESULTING IN BODILY HARM AND VEHICLE DAMAGE TO MYSELF AND OTHERS. A COPY OF THE REPAIR BILL IS ATTACHED IN THE RECORD FOR YOUR REFERENCE. ON AUGUST 7, 2018, I REPORTED THIS TO ACURA, REFERENCE CASE # 08888084.