NHTSA Complaint #11378656 — 2015 HONDA CIVIC

COMPLAINT TO NHTSA REF. 2015 HONDA CIVIC-EX (VIN: [XXX]) PLEASE NOTE THAT OUR REFERENCED VEHICLE CONTAINS A DESIGN FLAW AND PRODUCT DEFECT. THE CAR WAS NOT STARTING DUE TO A MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE TECHNICIANS AT A HONDA CERTIFIED DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A PRODUCT DEFECT ASSOCIATED WITH THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR HANDLE TOUCH SENSOR. ACCORDING TO AN ADVISOR AT HONDA OF ESCONDIDO (CALIFORNIA), THE DOOR HANDLE SENSOR FAILURE CONSTITUTED BOTH A HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE MALFUNCTION. THE ADVISOR INDICATED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT HE HAS NOT SEEN THIS PHENOMENON OCCUR WITH RESPECT TO A HONDA CIVIC DURING HIS MANY YEARS AT HONDA OF ESCONDIDO. IT APPEARS THAT THE AMOUNT OF CURRENT (AMP) DRAW WAS THE MAIN CULPRIT IN DEPLETING THE BATTERY?S POWER CAPACITY AND DEGRADING IT TO A POINT THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT START AS A RESULT OF THE PRODUCT DEFECT. IT ALSO CAUSED THE VSA (I.E., THE VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST) SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION AND BEHAVE ERRATICALLY AS WELL. IN OUR ASSESSMENT, THIS SITUATION CONSTITUTES A PUBLIC INTEREST CONSIDERATION AS THE SAFETY, WELL-BEING AND WELFARE OF EVERY OWNER IS AT RISK WHEN DRIVING THE SAME 2015 HONDA CIVIC MODEL. IN OUR JUDGMENT, A RECALL IS REQUIRED TO PREVENT SEVERE ACCIDENTS FROM HAPPENING AND TO PRECLUDE THIS HIGHLY RISKY AND DANGEROUS SAFETY SITUATION FROM RECURRING. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE NECESSARY CORRECTION ACTION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR