NHTSA Complaint #11153621 — 2017 HONDA CR-V

ON 11/24/2018 ON I-81 NEAR STAUNTON VA. DURING HEAVY RAIN AND HOLIDAY TRAFFIC AT 70 MPH IN LEFT LANE PASSING TANDEM 18 WHEELER ON INCLINE WITH 18 WHEELER CLOSE BEHIND CAR SUDDENLY ENTERED "LIMP" MODE. CAR BEGAN MISSING BADLY WITH NO POWER AND BEGAN SLOWING TO A DRIFT. COULD NOT MOVE RIGHT, PULLED AS FAR LEFT TO GUARD RAIL, RIGHT SIDE CAR WHEELS STILL IN PASSING LANE, TRAFFIC SWERVED AROUND THE CAR. AT APROX. 10 MPH I HAD A SLIGHT BREAK IN TRAFFIC AND WAS ABLE SWERVE ACROSS TRAFFIC TO RIGHT SIDE. SURPRISINGLY THE CAR IDLED FINE. BACKED DOWN RIGHT SIDE 1/4 MILE TO EXIT, DROVE IN "LIMP" MODE TO HONDA DEALER. THE DEALER HAD FOUND THE CAR HAD ENTER LIMP MODE BECAUSE WATER HAD ENTERED INTO THE MAF SENSOR AND INTAKE TUBE. THE AIR BOX HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY SEALED LIKELY DURING A DEALER SERVICE 1 WEEK PRIOR. THE AIR FILTER WAS WET AND REPLACED. INTAKE TUBE AND MAF SENSOR PULLED AND DRIED. MY ISSUE IN WRITING THIS IS THE CAR SHOULD NOT ENTER "LIMP" MODE AND CUT POWER JUST BECAUSE A SENSOR REPORTS IN BAD. CARS ARE DESIGNED TO CRUMPLE TO ABSORB IMPACT AND SAVE THE DRIVERS BUT YET HERE "LIMP" MODE IS DESIGNED TO SAVE THE EQUIPMENT ACTUALLY PUTS THE OCCUPANTS AND IN MY CASE OTHERS ON A CROWDED INTESTATE HIGHWAY AT RISK. A CAR SHOULD NEVER BE DESIGNED TO PUT ITS PASSENGERS AND THOSE AROUND THEM AT RISK AS THIS CRV DID IN MY CASE. LIMP MODE IS A VERY VERY BAD IDEA.