NHTSA Complaint #11291676 — 2006 HONDA PILOT

WE WERE LEAVING THE DRIVEWAY ON CHRISTMAS EVE, WE SUDDENLY HEARD A LOUD THUNK FOLLOWED BY A GRINDING NOISE FROM BENEATH THE VEHICLE. WE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY AND EXITED THE VEHICLE TO SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED. I EXPECTED TO FIND THAT WE HAD RUN OVER A BICYCLE BUT INSTEAD FOUND THE ENTIRE REAR AXLE HANGING FROM THE SPRINGS. BOTH REAR SUSPENSION MOUNTS HAD CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED PULLING COMPLETELY OUT OF THE SUBFRAME. THE SUBFRAME CROSSMEMBER AND A NUMBER OF COMPONENTS WERE FOUND TO BE HEAVILY RUSTED AND SEVERELY STRUCTURALLY COMPROMISED. WE HAD PLANNED TO DRIVE ABOUT 80 (PREDOMINANTLY FREEWAY) MILES EACH WAY THAT DAY TO VISIT FAMILY FOR THE HOLIDAY. IT IS A SMALL MIRACLE THAT THESE FAILED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND NOT ON THE FREEWAY AT 70 MILES PER HOUR. A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE LIKE THIS AT FREEWAY SPEEDS COULD BE DEADLY! A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH REVEALED THIS TO BE A RELATIVELY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND SHOULD WARRANT A RECALL. PLEASE DON'T WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE IS KILLED BY THIS OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW.