NHTSA Complaint #11390868 — 2014 HONDA CR-V

RE: 2014 HONDA CR-V ~ POWER TAILGATE OPENER SWITCH ASSEMBLY, HONDA PART NO. 74810-T0A-A02; HONDA SERVICE BULLETIN16-063 ISSUE: POWER TAILGATE WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: WE PURCHASED A 2014 HONDA CRV USED FROM A LOCAL HONDA DEALER IN 2020. NOT LONG AFTER THE PURCHASE, WE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS OPENING THE TAILGATE WHICH IS DESIGNED TO OPEN WITH THE KEY FOB. FREQUENTLY, THE BUTTON UNDER THE TAILGATE LIFT DOES NOT ACTIVATE AND THE TAILGATE WILL NOT OPEN. IT DOES NOT SEEM TO MATTER IF THE WEATHER IS COLD OR NOT. WE ARE PRESENTLY UNABLE TO CONVENIENTLY ACCESS 32.9 CUBIC FEET OF SPACE BEHIND THE SECOND ROW OF SEATS DUE TO THE FAULTY TAILGATE OPENER. THE SECOND ROW OF SEATS MUST FIRST BE LOWERED BEFORE GROCERIES, PETS, ETC. CAN BE PLACED INTO THAT REAR CARGO AREA. THIS PRESENTS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. IF WE WERE TO BE INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS AUTO ACCIDENT, FIRST RESPONDERS MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN THE TAILGATE TO ACCESS THE REAR CARGO AREA IF IT WERE NECESSARY TO EXTRACT OCCUPANTS. WE RESEARCHED THIS TAILGATE OPENER PROBLEM ONLINE AND LEARNED THAT MANY HONDA CRV OWNERS HAVE POSTED ONLINE COMMENTS REFLECTING THEY HAVE ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH THIS PROBLEM. SOME CLAIMED THEY HAD THE SWITCH REPLACED EITHER UNDER WARRANTY OR NOT, AND STILL EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. WE WERE AMAZED AT THE NUMBER OF POSTINGS CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. THIS ISSUE IS BIGGER THAN OUR 2014 HONDA CRV. IT IS APPARENT THAT THE OEM EQUIPMENT SWITCH ASSEMBLY INSTALLED BY HONDA IS FAULTY. WE FEEL THAT HONDA SHOULD OFFER A VOLUNTARY RECALL TO ALL HONDA CRV OWNERS WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THIS FAULTY SWITCH ASSEMBLY. WE PLAN TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WITH OUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES TO ENSURE THAT HAPPENS. WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT ONLINE WITH THE NHTSA AND LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSE.