NHTSA Complaint #710828 — 1996 HONDA ODYSSEY

I BELIEVE THAT THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FROM DIDN'T DO A THOROUGH INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE. IN AUGUST 1998, THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD IT CHECKED AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE ACCUMULATOR WAS BAD. THE TOTAL COST FOR THE REPAIR WAS $435. IN FEBRUARY 1999, A FRONT OIL SEAL GASKET BLEW. REPAIR COST WERE $320. NOW, AUGUST 1999, THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THE DIAGNOSIS IS THE ACCUMULATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACE AGAIN. IT HAS BEEN ALMOST 1 YEAR TO THE DATE THAT THE PREVIOUS ONE WAS REPLACED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SUNBELT HONDA IN LAKE CITY THIS TIME FOR THE PROBLEM TO BE EVALUATED. NOT ONLY DO THEY SAY THE ACCUMULATOR IS BAD BUT THAT THE MODULATOR MAY BE THE CAUSE FOR THE ACCUMULATOR GOING BAD. ESTIMATED COST IS $500-$2000. HONDA CORPORATION (SEAN THEUS) CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS SAID THAT HONDA WILL ABSORB SOME OF THE COST BUT THAT I WILL HAVE TO PAY PROBABLY AT LEAST HALF OF THE BILL. I FEEL THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE IS A LEMON, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE FOUND NO LAWS TO PROTECT USED CAR BUYERS AGAINST LEMONS. I NEED HELP BECAUSE MY HUSBAND AND I ARE MAKING A $380 VAN PAYMENT ON TOP OF THESE COSTLY REPAIRS. IF YOU CANNOT BE OF HELP TO US, PLEASE DIRECT US TO SOMEONE WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO. SINCERELY, LISA RICHARDSON