NHTSA Complaint #11252282 — 2018 HONDA ODYSSEY

I HAVE BEEN INCREASINGLY CONCERNED WITH THE AUTOMATIC BRAKE FEATURE, WHICH ACTIVATES AT TIMES IN A SURPRISE. IT IS TOO "TOUCHY" IN SLOW CITY TRAFFIC, AND I AM AFRAID THAT I CAN GET REAR-ENDED IF/WHEN IT ACTIVATES. NOTHING HAS HAPPENED YET. THE WORST PROBLEM IS WHEN TRAVELING ON A TWO-LANE HIGHWAY WITH SPEED LIMITS IN THE RANGE OF 45-55 MPH. WHEN THE ROAD IS TURNING TO THE RIGHT, THE SENSOR WILL PICK UP ONCOMING TRAFFIC (BECAUSE IT SEES THE ONCOMING CAR AS IN MY LINE OF TRAVEL) AND PUT ON THE BRAKE. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE, AND I ALMOST LOST CONTROL ON ONE OCCASION. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED I CAN TURN THIS FEATURE OFF, BUT IT REACTIVATES EVERY TIME THE CAR IS RESTARTED. THUS I HAVE TO REMEMBER ALWAYS TO TURN OFF THE FEATURE WHEN I RESTART THE CAR. THIS IS ANNOYING, AND CAN STILL LEAD TO A PROBLEM IF I FORGET TO TURN IT OFF. THE MOST FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE WAS ON/ABOUT AUGUST 7, 2019. I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON U.S. 31 ABOUT 15 MILES SOUTH OF CHARLEVOIX, MI. THE HIGHWAY CURVED TO THE RIGHT, AND SUDDENLY THE AUTOMATIC BRAKE DEPLOYED AS AN ONCOMING CAR APPROACHED. MY SPEED WAS ~55MPH (THE SPEED LIMIT) AND I BELIEVE THE ONCOMING CAR WAS DOING THE SAME. THE SUDDEN ACTION OF THE AUTOMATIC BRAKE FEATURE REALLY SURPRISED ME, AND I WAS FORTUNATE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR. THIS SO-CALLED SAFETY FEATURE IS MORE HELP THAN I NEED. PLEASE TELL CAR COMPANIES NOT TO ADD THIS FEATURE. IF THEY FEEL THEY MUST DO IT, PLEASE REQUIRE A PERMANENT SHUT-OFF FEATURE