NHTSA Complaint #11299501 — 2016 HONDA PILOT

ON JANUARY 13TH, I LEFT MY HOME TO PICK UP MY SON, JULIAN, 3 YEARS OLD, AT PRESCHOOL. HIS PRESCHOOL IS APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES FROM OUR HOME. I PICKED HIM UP, AND DROVE THE SAME DISTANCE BACK TO OUR HOUSE, ARRIVING HOME AROUND 4:45PM. I HAD NO UNUSUAL WARNING NOTIFICATIONS OR ANY UNUSUAL EXPERIENCE DRIVING TO AND FROM THE PRESCHOOL. I PARKED THE CAR IN OUR DRIVEWAY. JULIAN AND I EXITED THE VEHICLE, AND WALKED TO OUR FRONT DOOR. AS WE APPROACHED THE FRONT DOOR I SMELLED SMOKE, AND LOOKED BACK AT THE CAR. I NOTICED A SMALL FLICKER IN THE PASSENGER SIDE LOWER HEADLIGHT. UPON CLOSER LOOK, I REALIZED THIS WAS IN FACT A FLAME. JULIAN AND I LEFT OUR BAGS ON THE PORCH, STEPPED OFF OF OUR FRONT PORCH, AND MOVED AWAY FROM THE HOUSE AND CAR, AND CALLED 911. AS WE WAITED FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE WATCHED THIS SMALL FLAME GROW TO FULL FLAMES, ENGULFING THE ENGINE, FRONT HOOD, AND FRONT OF THE CAR. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE CAR WAS TOWED OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MONTCLAIR POLICE DEPT. OFFICER ANTHONY SWAN #232 PATROL DIVISION MONTCLAIR POLICE HEADQUARTERS, 647 BLOOMFIELD AVE., MONTCLAIR NJ 07042 [email protected] REPORT # 20-005325 I THEN CALLED OUR INSURANCE PROVIDER, USAA, FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT. THEY HAVE TAKEN THE CAR INTO THEIR POSSESSION AND INITIATED AN ORIGIN & CAUSE INVESTIGATION. WE PURCHASED THE CAR NEW. WE HAVE NOT BEEN IN A COLLISION. THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED TWICE ANNUALLY. IT WAS SERVICED LAST WEEK. IT HAS ~30,000 MILES ON IT. THE DEALER THAT SOLD US THE CAR, PAUL MILLER HONDA, IN NJ, HAS BEEN UNRESPONSIVE, TELLING US TO REACH OUT THE THE NATIONAL HONDA OFFICE. I HAVE FILED A CASE WITH HONDA, AND HAVE BEEN TOLD SOMEONE WILL REACH OUT TO ME. THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED.