NHTSA Complaint #722454 — 2000 HONDA S2000

THE PLASTIC REAR WINDOW ON THE CONVERTIBLE TOP WRINKLES AND CREASES WHEN THE TOP IS LOWERED. THIS CAUSES A SAFETY HAZARD IN THAT CAR HEADLIGHTS ARE DISTORTED DURING NIGHTTIME DRIVING. THE DISTORTION CAUSES THE HEADLIGTHS TO SHOW AN UNKNOWN NUMBER OF VEHICLES IN BACK OF YOU. IT COULD BE ONLY ONE, BUT APPEARS TO BE MANY DUE TO THE DISTORTION THROUGH THE WRINKLES IN THE PLASTIC REAR VIEW WINDOW. I WAS ALMOST HIT BECAUSE IT APPEARED THAT ONE CAR WAS BEHIND ME, WHEN IN FACT THERE WERE MANY-ANS AS I PULLED OUT, I WAS ALMOST SIDESWIPED. THERE WAS NO WAY TO ASCERTAIN THE NUMBER OF CARS BEHIND ME DUE TO THE DISTORTION. DURING DAYLIGHT, IT IS A DISTRACTION BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS DISTORTED. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE LADY (JOYCE FARR) FROM HONDA TOLD ME TO PUT 170 DEGREE F WATER ON THE PLASTIC WINDOW TO GET THE WRINKLES/CREASES OUT. (?!) I DO NOT USUALLY CARRY HOT WATER AROUND WITH ME. ANOTHER "FIX" IS TO BUY A "TUBE" AND ROLL THE WINDOW HALFWAY DOWN, THEN GET OUT OF THE CAR, PLACE THE TUBE ON THE WINDOW, GET BACK IN THE CAR, AND FINISH LOWERING THE TOP. REVERSE THIS PROCEDURE TO PUT THE TOP UP. FIRST OF ALL, THERE'S NO PLACE TO CARRY A TUBE IN THIS 2-SEATER SPORT CAR, AND SECOND, IF YOU PUT THE TOP UP AND FORGET TO REMOVE THE TUBE (LIKE WHEN IT'S RAINING AND YOU PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO PUT THE TOP UP), THE TUBE WILL GET THROWN IN THE ROAD TO CREATE A TRAFFIC HAZARD. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SAFTEY HAZARD, AND AM REPORTING IT AS SUCH. *AK