NHTSA Complaint #11246570 — 2007 HONDA RIDGELINE

WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY 2007 HONDA RIDGELINE THE SUPPORT WHICH CRADLES THE FUEL TANK BROKE APART FROM THE REAR PART OF THE FRAME (BY THE SUSPENSION, JUST TO THE INSIDE OF THE REAR LEFT WHEEL) AND WAS DRAGGING ON THE ROAD. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC (1 MILE AWAY). WHEN THIS OCCURRED, I WAS DRIVING ON A PAVED ROAD WITH A 35-MPH SPEED LIMIT. MY MECHANIC PUT THE VEHICLE ON A LIFT AND SHOWED ME THE DAMAGE. THE REAR PART OF THE FRAME RUSTED/CORRODED TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS BARELY IN ONE PIECE. THE VEHICLE IS NOT ABLE TO BE REPAIRED AND MY MECHANIC WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME (2 MILES) BECAUSE HE WAS CONCERNED THAT THE REAR PART OF THE FRAME WOULD COMPLETELY BREAK, WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE REAR SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE. HE WAS ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE FUEL TANK MIGHT FALL OF THE VEHICLE. I WOULD NOT EXPECT ANY VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY NOT A HONDA, TO FALL APART LIKE THIS AFTER ONLY TWELVE OR THIRTEEN YEARS. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD ABOUT 136,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE VEHICLE HAS A CLEAN TITLE AND THE CARFAX DOES NOT SHOW ANY FLOOD HISTORY. I'VE ATTACHED TWO PICTURES.