NHTSA Complaint #701987 — 1997 HONDA PRELUDE

THE LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION HAS A LOUD AND DISTINCT CRACK UPON TAKE OFF AND STOPPING OF THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS MAINLY IN COLD WEATHER. AS WELL AS THE SOUND, THE DRIVER CAN FEEL THE NOISE IN THE FLOORBOARD OF THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT. THE MANUFACTURER STATES THAT THIS IS A CHARACTARISTIC OF THE VEHICLE AND THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT. THE MANUFACTURER CAN PROVIDE NO FACTS TO BASE THIS DECISION ON NOR DID THE MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVE EVEN LOOK AT THE MECHANICS OF THE PROBLEM VEHICLE. THE REP BASED HIS "CHARACTARISITC" CLAIM ON MY VEHICLE AND ANOTHER SIMILAR VEHICLE ,MAKING THE NOISE. THERE IS NO OTHER COMPLAINTS TO HONDA TECH LINE FROM MECHANICS IN REFERENCE TO THIS PROBLEM. THE HONDA REP STATES THAT IT IS THE BUSHINGS IN THE SUSPENSION WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT THE VEHICLE, AND THE MECHANICS AT THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT LOCATE ANY FAULTY BUSHINGS. *AK