NHTSA Complaint #11241333 — 2011 HONDA FIT

HONDA FIT 2011 ON 7/18/19 I WAS DRIVING WEST ON GOLF ROAD IN NILES, IL. AS I MADE A LEFT TURN AT THE LIGHT, THE FIT MADE A NOISE WHICH SOUNDED LIKE I HAD DRIVEN OVER A METAL BARREL. THE CAR LOST POWER AND DRIFTED INTO A STRIP MALL PARKING LOT. SOMEONE HELPED ME PUSH IT OUT OF THE WAY OF INCOMING TRAFFIC. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED, MY MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVER-SIDE DRIVESHAFT HAD CORRODED, ESPECIALLY UNDER THE RUBBER DAMPER, AND HAD COMPLETELY BROKEN THROUGH. ALSO, THE PASSENGER-SIDE DRIVESHAFT HAD CORRODED IN THE SAME PLACE, AND WAS BEGINNING TO WEAR THROUGH. (I SENT TWO PHOTOS OF THE TWO DRIVESHAFTS TO NHTSA.WEBMASTER @DOT.GOV TODAY.) I AM A 75 YEAR OLD CAREFUL DRIVER, NO ACCIDENTS, NO MOVING VIOLATIONS ON MY RECORD. THE CAR HAD JUST 44,615 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED REGULARLY SINCE I BOUGHT IT. I SPOKE TO THE SERVICE DIRECTOR AT MY HONDA DEALERSHIP, WHO SAID "IN MY OPINION, THE AXLE SHOULD NEVER BREAK." IF THIS DEFECT IS APPEARING IN OTHER HONDA FITS, THE CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED. COST TO ME: $396.78 FOR TWO NEW DRIVESHAFTS, AND $295 FOR LABOR.. AND, BY THE WAY, I COULD HAVE BEEN HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC, AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.