NHTSA Complaint #11230549 — 2007 HONDA RIDGELINE

WE HAVE A 2007 RIDGELINE. TWICE BEFORE WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT PANEL RIPPING OFF ENTIRELY UNDER HIGHER SPEEDS. IT HAPPENED BOTH TIMES WHEN WE WERE TRAVELING 65 MPH ON THE EXPRESSWAY. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS HURT AND BOTH TIMES THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE ISSUE AT NO EXPENSE TO US. UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE NOW AGAIN EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT PANEL WHEREAS WE ARE HEARING WHISTLING NOISES AND THUMPING SOUNDS IF WE GO OVER 60 MPH. THE PARTS ARE STILL IN PLACE AND I'M TRYING TO BE PROACTIVE TO GET THE PART FIXED BEFORE IT RIPS OFF AGAIN. I HAVE CONTACTED BOTH THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND AMERICAN HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE, BUT NEITHER PARTY IS TAKING RESPONSIBILITY AND WE ARE TOLD WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AT OUR OWN EXPENSE. I EVEN BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION THAT NOT ONLY IS IT THE THIRD TIME IT HAS HAPPENED TO US, THERE ARE NUMEROUS ON-LINE REPORTS OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. AND SOME HAVE REPORTED HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM MULTIPLE TIMES. HERE ARE LINKS TO A COUPLE ON-LINE REPORTS: HTTP://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/HONDA/RIDGELINE/BODY-PROBLEMS.PHP HTTPS://WWW.RIDGELINEOWNERSCLUB.COM/THREADS/THIRD-BRAKE-LIGHT-PANEL-FELL-OFF.36990/#POST-530200 HTTPS://WWW.RIDGELINEOWNERSCLUB.COM/THREADS/3RD-BRAKE-LIGHT-BODY-PANEL-BLEW-OFF.27241/#POST-387981 HTTPS://WWW.RIDGELINEOWNERSCLUB.COM/THREADS/WIND-NOISE-WHISTLING.30811/PAGE-4#POST-522368 HTTPS://WWW.RIDGELINEOWNERSCLUB.COM/THREADS/ROOF-BRAKE-LIGHT-ASSEMBLY-BLOWING-OFF.41175/#POST-591377 THIS IS THE ON-LINE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE IN JUST A SHORT TIME THIS AFTERNOON. I'M SURE THAT DEEP, THOROUGH INVESTIGATION WOULD REVEAL THAT THIS IS A LEGITIMATE SAFETY ISSUE FOR WHICH A RECALL IS WARRANTED.