NHTSA Complaint #11124069 — 1998 HONDA ACCORD

THE AC DRIP TUBE IS AIMED RIGHT AT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME AND RUSTS IT OUT OVER TIME. JUST RECENTLY I HAD THE SUBFRAME TOTALLY FAIL AND SNAP IN HALF DUE TO THIS RUST. THE SCARY PART WAS THAT I HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF THE HIGHWAY AND WAS ONLY GOING 5 MPH WHEN IT HAPPENED. IF IT HAD HAPPENED FIVE MINUTES SOONER THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A MUCH WORSE SITUATION. NOTICE IN THE PICTURE I ATTACH THAT THE WHOLE CORNER OF THE SUBFRAME IS RUSTED OUT EVEN THOUGH THE REST OF THE FRAME AND BODY IS RUST FREE. THIS HAPPENED WHILE MAKING A TURN IN A FLAT PARKING LOT AT ABOUT 5 MPH. THIS IS A WELL-DOCUMENTED ISSUE ON ALL 97-02 HONDA ACCORD AND 00-03 ACURA CL VEHICLES SINCE THEY ARE THE SAME BODY/PLATFORM. I WENT TO A JUNKYARD RECENTLY TO SEE IF I COULD FIND A GOOD SUBFRAME TO REPLACE MINE WITH AND EVERY SINGLE HONDA ACCORD AND ACURA CL IN THE LOT WAS RUSTED OUT EXACTLY THE SAME WAY. THIS CLEARLY IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE SUBFRAME HAS THREE OF THE FOUR ENGINE MOUNTS ON IT AND THE SUSPENSION IS ALL CONNECTED TO IT AS WELL.