NHTSA Complaint #768714 — 2002 HONDA ACCORD

INITIALLY MY FATHER BORROWED THIS CAR AND CLAIMED THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND HE HAD DIFFICULTY DRIVING THE CAR. I DID NOT BELIEVE HIM AS I HAD NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS. THEN ON 7/20/02 WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE THE CAR DID NOT STOP AND I WENT THROUGH A RED LIGHT AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR WHEN I WANTED TO MAKE A TURN. I TOOK THE CAR TO HONDA AND THEY REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN ON 8/12/02 AND THE CAR WAS TAKEN BACK AND HONDA CLAIMED THERE WAS AIR IN THE BRAKE LINES WHICH THEY CLAIMED TO FIX. ON 8/26 THE BRAKES TOTALLY FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY AND I REFUSED TO DRIVE THE CAR. THEY PICKED UP THE CAR ON A FLAT BED AND VACUUMED THE BRAKE LINES. THE BRAKES ARE STILL SPONGY AND THERE IS LONG PLAY IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN THE BRAKES ENGAGE THEY DO NOT ENGAGE TOTALLY. SOMETIMES THE BRAKES ENGAGE AND THEN DISENGAGE TOTALLY. I HAVE SEEN THE HONDA REP WHO SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES AND THAT IT IS MY DRIVING. I REFUSE TO DRIVE THE CAR AND TRADED CARS WITH MY HUSBAND. YESTERDAY 10/20/02 MY HUSBAND WENT THROUGH A STOP SIGN WHEN THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE. WE ARE TERRORIZED TO DRIVE THIS CAR AS WE FEEL WE MAY KILL SOMEONE OR OURSELVES. DT