NHTSA Complaint #11207165 — 2009 HONDA ODYSSEY

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR THAT I BELIEVE IS A DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE.THE DRIVERS DOOR HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ACTUATOR, WHICH CONTROLS THE AUTOMATED LOCKING AND UNLOCKING OF THE DOOR. THE ACTUATOR IS DEFECTIVE AND NO LONGER WORKS. AS A DIRECT RESULT, THE DOOR (AND ALL OF THE REMAINING DOORS IN THE VEHICLE) WILL NO LONGER AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCK. IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, THE DOOR LATCH TO OPEN AND EXIT THE CAR IMMEDIATELY WILL NOT WORK. THE DOOR KNOB MUST BE MANUALLY LIFTED; THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO UNLOCK THE DOOR. PRIOR TO THIS ISSUE, THE VEHICLE DOOR SWOULD AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCK WHEN THE CAR WAS PLACED IN PARK POSITION AND THEN LOCKED WHEN THE CAR WAS MOVED OUT OF PARK (EITHER REVERSE, NEUTRAL OR DRIVE). I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A $400 REPAIR TO REPLACE THE ARM ACTUATOR. THIS PART SPECIFICALLY CONTROLS THE AUTOMATED LOCKING/UNLOCKING MECHANISM FOR THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR (AND ALL OTHER DOORS OF THE MINIVAN, WHICH MUST ALL BE MANUALLY UNLOCKED SINCE THIS PART IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY). I HAVE TRIED TO USE THE DOOR LEVER TO OPEN THE CAR AND WHEN IT IS IN THE LOCKED POSITION, THE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK, EVER. THE DOOR KNOB MUST BE LIFTED IN ALL INSTANCES AND I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR ALL PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE.