NHTSA Complaint #11242413 — 2013 HONDA FIT

IT WAS RAINING. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY, CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 65 MPH. AT THIS POINT, THE ROAD CURVES TO THE RIGHT. I HAD JUST GONE THROUGH A DIP IN THE ROAD AND I THINK I MAY HAVE BEEN HYDROPLANING. THE VSA LIGHT CAME ON AND THE RIDE BECAME VERY CHOPPY. I STARTED PUMPING THE BRAKES AND I TRIED TO STEER MY CAR TO STAY IN THE LANE BUT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND I COULDN'T MOVE IT. I CONTINUED ON A STRAIGHT PATH EVEN THOUGH THE ROAD CURVED. I WAS ON THE LEFT HAND SHOULDER, HEADING OFF THE ROAD COMPLETELY, STILL TRYING TO STEER TO THE RIGHT WHEN THE VSA LIGHT ABRUPTLY TURNED OFF. AT THIS POINT THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY UNLOCKED AND I INADVERTENTLY PULLED IT HARD TO THE RIGHT; SENDING ME ACROSS 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC, ACROSS THE RIGHT HAND SHOULDER, OVER A SMALL CURB AND INTO THE DIRT/DESERT. AS THIS WAS HAPPENING, I WAS ABLE TO CORRECT MY STEERING BACK TO THE LEFT BUT NOT BEFORE I WAS COMPLETELY OFF THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HIT A SMALL HILL NEXT TO IT WITH THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY CAR. AT THIS POINT, I MANAGED TO GET MY VEHICLE BACK ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE HONDA DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED. THEY SAID MY TIRES WERE BALD WHICH CAUSED ME TO HYDROPLANE. REGARDLESS OF THE CONDITION OF THE TIRES, WHEN THE VSA IS ENGAGED, I SHOULD STILL BE ABLE TO STEER THE CAR BUT I COULDN'T. THE TECHNICIAN RAN THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST(S) AND SAID HE FOUND NOTHING WRONG. SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG WHEN YOUR STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AT CLOSE TO 65 MPH WHEN A SAFETY FEATURE IS ENGAGED.