NHTSA Complaint #11631303 — 2024 HONDA ACCORD

ISSUE TYPE: Safety Concern “Brakes Auto Engage When Driving At ANY Speed and Parking Brake Lever Is Raised” DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM: I inadvertently lifted up on the Parking Brake switch in center console while driving about 30mph, trying to turn off a different switch on the console. This caused the vehicle to slam-on the brakes, narrowly avoiding a rear-end collision. It is labeled as a Parking Brake but is also an Emergency Brake (I discovered) that can be triggered by anyone who has their hand around the center console and accidentally raises this switch. This poses a serious safety risk to passengers and causing rear-end collisions! STEPS TO REPRODUCE: 1Drive the vehicle at any speed (cruise, increasing/decreasing) 2Lift up the Parking Brake lever only momentarily and release 3The vehicle immediately slams-on full rear-brakes then releases 4Hold the switch UP for longer period - experience a full-on emergency stop. Poor excuse for Honda's Parking Brake system. Emergency Brake should be located elsewhere on the dash away from console. DEALER SERVICE: Told me this is normal, as lifting the Parking Brake "up" will engage the rear wheel calipers full-on REGARDLESS of speed! This is not normal Parking Brake action and very dangerous. The manual does not point out this is a FULL-ON braking. They say it "will assist in braking". This is just wrong & needs a software correction now. The Parking Brake should never be able to engage when the wheels are turning at ANY speed. We don't need a 2 wheel Emergency Brake for a super-obscure, super-rare brake failure (if ever). CORRECTIVE ACTION: Simple software modification needed... if the Parking Brake lever is lifted (accidentally) AND the wheels are turning it should INHIBIT the brakes from being slammed-on. An Emergency Brake should be in a separate place on the dash. Honda should fix this very dangerous condition to make it a Parking Brake ONLY. It should only engage when stopped (like in a parking spot).