1998 ACURA INTEGRA — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT. SINCE MY CAR WAS NOT STRAIGHT, I WANTED TO BACK OUT AND PARK AGAIN. I STEPPED ONTO THE BRAKE, AND SWITCHED TO REVERSE GEAR. AS I PREPARE TO DRIVE BACKWARDS, I RELAXED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE. HOWEVER, MY CAR SUDDENLY ROARED AND CHARGED FORWARD. IT RAN OVER THE CURB, AND KEPT GOING. I HAD TRIED TO BRAKE 2 OR 3 TIMES, BUT THE BRAKE BECAME SO STIFF, IT SIMPLY WOULD NOT STOP. IT FINALLY HIT THE FIRE HYDRATE, TURNING 90 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT, THEN CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THERE WAS WATER SPILLED ALL OVER, AND STEAM COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE. MY FOOT WAS STILL ON BRAKE. I WANTED TO PARK, THEN GET OUT OF THE CAR. AS I LOOKED DOWN, IT WAS STILL ON THE REVERSE GEAR. I WAS VERY SHOCKED THAT THE CAR WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELERATE FORWARD WHILE ON THE REVERSE GEAR, AND THE BRAKE WOULD NOT WORK. IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE FIRE HYDRATE, MY CAR WOULD SURELY HAVE RAN INTO THE BUSY STREET AND HIT THE INCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE DRIVEN THIS CAR SINCE 1998, AND TAKEN MY CAR FOR ALL MINOR, INTERMEDIATE, AND MAJOR SERVICES ON TIME AT ACURA DEALER, SO IT WAS UNLIKELY THE ACCIDENT WAS MY FAULT. *TR

THE HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY BECOMES LOOSE OR NO LONGER FUNCTIONS AS NORMAL WHEN CLOSING THE HOOD. THIS PREVENTS THE HOOD FROM CLOSING COMPLETELY AND MAKES IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT HIGHER SPEEDS SUCH AS HIGHWAYS WITHOUT RISKING THE HOOD FLIPPING UP OR BREAKING OFF THE VEHICLE WHICH CAN CAUSE DANGEROUS ACCIDENTS. *TR

1988 ACURA INTEGRA LS DRIVING WEST ON ADAMS HILL ST. AT FT. SUMTER IN SAN ANTONIO, TEX., ABOUT 6PM, 09/21/05. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STARTED SPURTING (MISSING) AND THE ENGINE STARTED SMOKING AND CAUGHT FIRE AS A RESULT OF AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT FIRER EXTINGUISHER AND FIRE DEPT. THE ENGINE/ELEC.WIRES WAS TOTALED AND BEYOND REPAIR AND NO REPAIRS DONE TO DATE. REPORT TO FARMERS INS., FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND PROCESS REPORTING TO POLICE. THIS IS FIRST ELECTRICAL FIRE ON THIS CARE SINCE OWNED. APPEARS MAIN FUSE BOX IGNITED. SEEMS LIKE MANUFACTURER DEFECT. QUICK ACTION PREVENTED LOSS OF LIFE. THE IGNITER WAS REPLACED IN THIS CAR AS RESULT OF RECALL. *NM

WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A SLIGHT TURN TO RIGHT, (BECAUSE OF BEND IN ROAD), THE STEERING LOCKED AND THEN RELEASED WHICH CAUSED AN OVER COMPENSATION TO THE RIGHT AND RESULTED IN A CRASH INTO A FENCE CAUSING EXTENSIVE PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY CAUSING A MINOR HEAD INJURY. *AK

CONSUMER STATED WITHIN FOUR YEARS THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN TWO ACCIDENTS. THIS DUE TO LOWER CONTROL ARM BREAKAGE AND EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE BALL JOINTS. THERE WERE NO INJURIES BOTH TIMES AND THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM THE BACK IN EACH INSTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEED OF COMPLETE BALL JOINT AND LOWER CONTROL ARM WORK. *PH *TS *JB