NHTSA Complaint #758145 — 1998 HONDA ACCORD

THE SUBJECT VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK OR SO I THOUGHT AND REMOVED THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION TO GO INSIDE MY HOME. ABOUT A HALF HOUR LATER I WAS CONTACTED BY MY NEIGHBOR WHO TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE HAD ROLLED DOWN MY DRIVEWAY AND ACROSS THE STREET. HE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NARROWLY MISSED HIM BEFORE STRIKING HIS BRICK MAILBOX STRUCTURE AND DESTROYING IT. I TOLD HIM I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE ROLLED BACKWARDS AS I HAD PUT IT IN PARK AND REMOVED MY KEYS. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I CAME TO REALIZE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ACTUALLY IN NEUTRAL. I CONTACTED THE HONDA REGARDING MY CONCERN ABOUT BEING ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL NOT PARK. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEYS UNLESS THE CAR WAS IN PARK. THEY INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT THEY WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM AT MY EXPENSE. I TOLD THEM THAT I DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT SAFETY FEATURES SHOULD EVER BE OUT OF WARRANTY. I AM REPORTING THIS TO YOU BECAUSE I AM CONCERNED THAT POSSIBLY THERE ARE OTHER VEHICLES OUT THERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS COULD CERTAINLY END UP GETTING SOMEONE HURT OR KILLED.*AK