NHTSA Complaint #746968 — 1999 HONDA PASSPORT

WE HAVE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH OUR PASSPORT SINCE ITS PURCHASE IN 4/99. IN 2/00, WHILE DRIVING A 65MPH, THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL SPONTANEOUSLY WENT DUE TO A LEAK IN THE REAR AXLE OF THE CAR. OUR VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE DEALER FOR OVER 50 DAYS DUE TO PROBLEMS OBTAINING THE CORRECT PARTS FROM ISUZU. WE HAVE ALSO HAD ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS SYTEM ESPECIALLY AFTER GOING OVER BUMPS,UNEVEN AND SLICK SURFACES. IN EACH INSTANCE, ALTHOUGH THE BRAKES WERE FIRMLY ENGAGED,THE VEHICLE EMITTED A LOUD GRINDING SOUND FROM UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF THE CAR, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO ONE SIDE, AND THE ABS SYSTEM DID NOT IMMEDIATLEY ENGAGE.ON 11-21-00, THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED TO PROPERLY ENGAGE ON OUR VEHICLE, WHICH RESULTED IN A REAR END ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLES' ABS SYSTEM FAILED TO ENGAGE AT A SPEED UNDER 15 MPH. THE CAR PULLED TO ONE SIDE AND WOULD NOT STOP! THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED OVER $5000 WORTH OF DAMAGE ALTHOUGH NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE ONLY DAMAGE TO THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS A SLIGHT DENT TO THE BACK BUMPER. DURING A MAJOR SNOWSTORM IN 2-01, WE FOUND OUT THAT THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE NO LONGER WORKED ON THE VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH THE MANUAL SAYS THAT THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE COULD BE ENGAGED ON THE FLY, THE CAR WOULD NOT TRAVEL OVER 10MPH WITHOUT VIBRATING THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION,THE RIDE FELT LIKE BEING IN A BULLDOZER AND WE WERE BOUNCED AROUND THE ROAD. FURTHER, THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE WOULD NOT DISENGAGE UNLESS THE VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO REVERSE. THIS REPAIR TOOK OVER 50 DAYS TO ACCOMPLISH AND WAS DUE TO THE DEALERSHIP NOT USING THE CORRECT PARTS TO FIX THE DIFFERENTIAL PROBLEM IN 2000. FINALLY, THE ABS SYSTEM SPONTANEOUSLY MALFUNCTIONED ON 6-16-01 WHILE DRIVING AT UNDER 30MPH. IN ADDITION TO THE MALFUNCTION,A LOUD WHINING SOUND CAME FROM THE ABS BOX UNDER THE HOOD EVEN WHEN THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF! WE HAVE EXTREME CONCERNS OVER THE SAFETY AND QUALITY OF THIS VEHICLE. THE OWNERSHIP BY THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN GREATLY LACKING. *AK