NHTSA Complaint #11453044 — 2017 HONDA RIDGELINE

1. Reverse camera not operating because of wire harness conductor breakage at tailgate hinge point. 2. Reduced vision and blind spots when backing up. If this isn't a safety concern, what is? System stopped working at 3-years, 40K miles. Dealer told me issue not covered under warranty, wanted $700 for a repair of Honda's inferior harness design. Aside from the poor flex loop design, the quality of the conductors are insufficient for use in a flex application. My opinion is based on 31 years of designing robot wire harness's in high flex applications. I spent four hours splicing the harness back together, all the conductors in the harness were broken. 3. I exchanged several emails with service manager; I'll dig them out of backup data storage if needed. Service manager told me the Honda people he talked too did not see it as a warranty safety issue; $700. Once again I have to ask, how can not having a complete view of the rear of the truck when in reverse not be a safety issue? The camera is a mandated safety item. 4. Failure began with a few days of intermittent operation before complete failure. I'll note that my truck tailgate gets very light use. The harness design is inferior by any engineering failure mood analysis. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF RIDGELINE TRUCKS ON THE ROAD WITH THIS ISSUE. 5. As I mentioned, I've made a temporary splice repair. I've managed to restore rear image although the screen quality is not what it should be. 6. I've owned Honda's for years and have had to deal with other issues Honda does not want to admit is their responsibility, and will secretly do extended coverage because they know it should be covered. Driving without the camera makes my wife and I very nervous. 7. In summary all owners of second generation Ridgeline's should be entitled to a replacement redesigned rear camera harness for SAFETY REASONS before a child, adult, or bike rider are killed or injured.