NHTSA Complaint #768994 — 1999 HONDA CIVIC

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON MY 1999 HONDA CIVIC FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH IN SEPTEMBER 2002. I TOOK THE CAR TO GET A NEW SWITCH INSTALLED. AFTER THAT I DID NOT SEE A POSITIVE CHANGE OR FASTER START UP OF THE CAR . IN FACT, IT SEEMED TO START SLOWER AND SLOWER. WHEN I WOULD PRESS THE ACCELERATOR I FELT A GRINDING SENSATION UNDER MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL, WHICH SOUNDED LIKE THE CAR WAS STRUGGLING TO SPEED UP. ALSO, WHEN I WOULD TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION THE CAR WOULD NOT START RIGHT AWAY, IT STALLED FOR ABOUT (7) SEVEN SECONDS OR SO. I BELIEVE THIS CAR IS A LEMON. WHEN I BOUGHT IT, THE GEARS WOULDN'T CHANGE PROPERLY. I WOULD PRESS THE ACCELERATOR TO GO UP TO SPPED ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT WOULD TAKE A LONG TIME FOR THE CAR TO CHANGE GEARS, IT SOUNDED VERY LOUD BECAUSE OF THIS. I DON'T KNOW WHY IT DID THIS, I AM CONCERNED AND IT BECAME VERY ANNOYING. I HAD AN ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR ON OCT. 16, 2002. AS I WAS DRIVING I HEARD SOMETHING CRACK UNDER THE CAR AND THE CAR STARTED TO SPIN TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. I BELIEVE THE CAR HAD A SAFETY DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE WHEELS TO BREAK, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER TOLD ME THESE ARE SOME OF THE DAMAGES TO THE CAR: THE BOTTOM OF THE FLOOR SHIFTED, THE AXLE BROKE, THE TIRES AND WHEELS BROKE, THEY DECLARED THE CAR A TOTAL LOSS. I BELIEVE THE WHEELS/TIRES BROKE FIRST, WHICH IS PROBABLY WHAT THE CRACKING SOUND WAS THAT I HEARD WHICH CAUSED THE CAR SWERVE. MY INSURANCE COMPANY PAID THE CAR OFF SO FAST WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THEY ARE HIDING SOMETHING. ASLO, I THINK THE STEERING OF THE CAR WAS OUT OF LINE, BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE CAR WOULD VEER TO THE RIGHT WHEN I WOULD BE DRIVING STRAIGHT IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO STAY IN THE LANE I WOULD APPRECIATE ALL THE INFORMATION YOU CAN GIVE TO HELP ME FIND OUT WHAT ELSE IS WRONG WITH THIS CAR AS I ALREADY SAID A RECALL FOR THE IGNITION WAS ISSUED MORE DEFECTS MAY BE FOUND. DT