NHTSA Complaint #758280 — 2001 HONDA PASSPORT

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A DEAD STOP, THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO SLIP INTO FIRST GEAR SOMETIMES. THE CAR WILL JERK A LITTLE AS THE TRANSMISSION ATTEMPTS TO GO INTO FIRST GEAR, AND THE "CHECK TRANSMISSION" LIGHT AND "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WILL COME ON. AT THIS MOMENT, THE TRANSMISSION IS IN A FAILED STATE, AND YOU HAVE TO STOP THE CAR COMPLETELY, WAIT A WHILE FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO RECOVER (ABOUT 5-10 SECONDS) BEFORE YOU CAN TRY TO ACCELERATE AGAIN. THIS POSES A SERIOUS DANGER, ESPECIALLY WHEN ENTERING INTERSECTIONS. I'VE HAD A SITUATION WHERE I WAS TRYING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AND MERGE ONTO A BUSY STREET, ONLY TO HAVE THE SUV JERK ME FORWARD A FEW FEET, AND HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FAIL. I HAD TO COME TO A FULL STOP, LET THE CAR RECOVER BEFORE ACCELERATING AWAY. LUCKILY, THERE WASN'T A CAR APPROACHING, OR ELSE, I WOULD'VE BEEN LEFT HELPLESS (UNABLE TO ACCELERATE), AND WOULD'VE GOTTEN HIT. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED A FEW TIMES NOW, AND LUCKILY FOR ME, IT HASN'T RESULTED IN ANY ACCIDENTS AS OF YET. I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY SAID THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO UNLESS THEY CAN REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM WHILE THEY HAVE THE SUV.*AK