NHTSA Complaint #745662 — 1989 ACURA LEGEND

SINCE L998 MY CAR HAS FAILED TO START AND AFTER REPEATED EFFORTS, WHEN THE ENGINE HAS COOLED OFF, IT WILL START UNEXPECTEDLY. I HAVE EVEN CALLED THE AAA AND BY THE TIME THEY ARRIVE, THE CAR WILL START ON ITS OWN. I HAVE REPLACED (AT MY EXPENSE) ONE STARTER; AND THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED (AT THEIR COST) ANOTHER). IN ADDITION, AS THEIR SUGGESTION, I DISENGAGED BY SECURITY SYSTEM, AS IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT A SHORT WAS CAUSING A MALFUNCTION, AND "FREEZING THE ENGINE." THE STARTING PROBLEM PERSISTS ON AN ON AGAIN/OFF AGAIN BASIS. MY CAR HAS ONLY BEEN SERVICED, AT APPROPRIATE TIMES, BY THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHICH I PURCHASED IT. THEY INSIST THAT "NOTHING APPEARS TO BE WRONG WITH THE CAR" BUT IT CONTINUES TO REFUSE TO START, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN SEVERAL MILES, OR WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE. THIS IS A SEVERE HAZARD TO ME AS I AM A SINGLE PERSON AND CAN FIND MYSELF IN A DISTANT LOCATION WITH A NON-FUNCTIONING CAR. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY ANOTHER ACURA LEGEND OWNER (ALSO 1989) THAT HE HAS HAD THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM, AND HAS RECEIVED THE SAME RESPONSE FROM OUR DEALERSHIP. WHEN QUESTIONED, THEY INSIST THAT THIS IS A UNIQUE PROBLEM, BUT I AM DOUBTFUL OF THIS IN LIGHT OF MY FRIEND'S EXPERIENCE.*AK