NHTSA Complaint #11395655 — 2021 HONDA INSIGHT

WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 1/23/21. ON 2/4/21, I WAS DRIVING IN DOBSON, NC, WHEN THE POWER CONTROL UNIT (PCU) MALFUNCTIONED, LEADING TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR, THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN RESTARTED IT WITHOUT WARNING LIGHTS. I THEN BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVE AND STARTED ON MY WAY. AS I WAS DESCENDING A HILL, THE TRANSMISSION SHUT OFF. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP WITH SOME BRAKING. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO FLOW HONDA IN WINSTON-SALEM, NC, WHERE THEY REPLACED THE PCU. WE PICKED UP THE CAR ON 2/9/21. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT FROM WINSTON-SALEM TO DURHAM, NC WITHOUT INCIDENT. SHE THEN DROVE ON I-40 TOWARDS OUR HOME IN RALEIGH, NC. WHILE TRAVELING ON I-40 AT 65 MPH, THE PCU MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN, AND THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING. SHE WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE, AND THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKING WOULD NOT FUNCTION. SHE WAS ABLE TO COAST OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE FROM TWO LANES OVER AND THEN COASTED TO THE EXIT TO SAFETY. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK CAME TO RETRIEVE THE VEHICLE, THE CAR STARTED BUT WOULD NOT GET OUT OF PARK (IT COULD SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL BUT WOULD REVERT TO PARK WHEN MY FOOT WAS TAKEN OFF THE BRAKE). THE CAR WAS TOWED TO CROWN HONDA OF DURHAM, WHERE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE.