NHTSA Complaint #11349971 — 2009 HONDA FIT

I JUST EXITED A HIGHWAY, STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT ON THE INTESECTION. WHEN I TRIED TO TURN RIGHT I HEARD A NOISE LIKE THE CAR HIT SOMETHING. BUT THERE WAS NOTHING FOR THE CAR TO HIT UPON TURNING ON RIGHT. THE CAR STARTED ROLLING BACK UNTIL I USED THE HANDBRAKE AND TURNED ENGINE OFF. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR, THERE WAS NOTHING OBVIOUSLY ADRIFT. TOWING SERVICE CAME AND CONFIRMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AXEL SHAFT IS BROKEN. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE SHOP WHERE THE TECHNICIAN REMOVED THE BROKEN AXEL SHAFT AND SHOWED IT TO ME - THE AXEL SHAFT RUSTED INSIDE THE RUBBER BOOT. ANYWAY, TWO COPS HELPED ME GET THE CAR OUT OF THE INTERSECTION AND INTO A DRIVEWAY, AND I CALLED A LOCAL SHOP THAT I DEAL WITH WHEN I CAN'T DO THE WORK MYSELF, AND HAD IT TOWED THERE. THEY CALLED ME LATER THAT DAY TO SAY THAT THE RIGHT HALF SHAFT HAD SNAPPED INSIDE THE DAMPER, AND THAT WAS THE REASON FOR NO GO AND NOTHING ADRIFT. THEY ASKED IF I WANTED TO REPLACE BOTH HALF SHAFTS, AND I SAID HELL YES, TAKING NO CHANCES ON A REPEAT. A WEEK LATER AND $700 BUCKS LIGHTER, I HAD THE CAR BACK. THE SHOP OWNER AND THE LEAD MECHANIC BOTH SAID THAT THEY HAD HEARD OF THIS ISSUE, BUT MY '07 FIT WAS THE FIRST ONE THAT THEY HAD SEEN. THEY ALSO OPINED THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE.