1996 HONDA ODYSSEY Recalls, Complaints & Safety

CRUISING AT 35 MILES AN HOUR DOWN PARK BOULEVARD WITHOUT HITTING ANY BUMPS THE PASSENGER AIRBAG EXPLODED. THE EXPLOSION WAS SO HARD THAT IT KNOCKED DOWN THE REARVIEW MIRROR, THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT DOOR, AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD. I WAS SO LUCKY NOT TO HAVE BEEN HURT BY FLYING DEBRIS OR HAVING MY EAR DRUMS BLOWING OUT. EVERYONE I SPOKEN TO IN THE CAR SERVICE BUSINESS HAS NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THIS. AN AIRBAG EXPLODING WITHOUT IMPACT OR HITTING A MAJOR BUMP. I HAD LOCAL EMS COME TO CHECK ME OUT.

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT WE HAVE HAD AN IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE ON THIS 1996 HONDA ODYSSEY. IT WILL SOMETIMES START, WITH SOME JIGGLING OF THE KEY, OR WILL NOT START AT ALL. IT HAS CUT OUT WHILE DRIVING, A DANGEROUS SITUATION, ESPECIALLY WHEN CARRYING CHILDREN. AT THIS POINT, IT WILL NOT START AT ALL. HOW OFTEN DO WE NEED TO REPLACE THIS? HONDA ODYSSEYS OF THIS YEAR WERE SUBJECT TO RECALL FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM IN AUSTRALIA, JAPAN, AND CHINA. WHY NOT HERE? CHINA, IN THIS INSTANCE, HAS MORE CONCERN FOR SAFETY THAN THE OBSESSIVELY SAFETY-ORIENTED USA.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,064.

WAS WAITING IN THE LEFT TURN LANE TO MAKE THE TURN, LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND WHEN TRYING TO MAKE THE TURN, VEHICLE STALLED SUDDENLY WITHOUT ANY NOTICE OR ENGINE PROBLEMS. A FAMILY MEMBER WAS PRESENT IN THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENED. HAVE HAD ENGINE STALL AFTER STARTING BEFORE AND HAD THE BATTERY CHECKED. NO ISSUES WERE NOTED WITH ANYTHING BEFORE THIS SUDDEN STALL IN TRAFFIC. HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH HONDA VEHICLES AND IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEMS WITH SAME RESULTS ABOUT VEHICLE STALLING IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT ANY SIGNS OF THE STALLING ABOUT TO OCCUR. *TR

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ENGINE JUST QUIT..IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN ON ANY LIGHTS ,BUT RADIO WOULD WORK HAD IT TOWED 45 MIKES BACK HOME. HONDA KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM ON 97 ACCORDS BAD IGNITION SWITCH.HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD QUICK TO KEEP FROM BEING REARENDED, HIWAY 252. *TT

HONDA ODYSSEY LX 1996 WOULD NOT START IN A PARKING LOT SO I CALLED FOR A TOWING SERVICE. TOWING SERVICE TRIED TO UNLOCK ENGINE USING DOOR LOCK TRICK AND THE ENGINE STARTED. TWO DAYS LATER THE ENGINE DIED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD TO COAST TO AN EXIT RAMP, AND IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL AFTER THAT. MODOT TRUCK STOPPED TO CHECK IT OUT AND RECOMMENDED TO HAVE IT TOWED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HONDA DEALER; SAID IT WAS AN IGNITION SWITCH DEFECT. *KB

CAR WAS TAKEN IN FOR INSPECTION AND TOLD THAT REAR ENGINE MOUNTS NEED REPLACED AT 71,000 MILES. TOLD REPAIR COST WAS $940 AND NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. *TR

MY 1996 HONDA ODYSSEY DIED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE STATIONARY AND/OR DRIVING, INCLUDING ONE INCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEED. I TOOK IT TO AAA CARE PLUS, GOT SPARK PLUG, SPARK PLUG WIRE SET, DISTRIBUTOR REPLACED. IT STILL STALL FREQUENTLY. AFTER DOING A GOOGLE SEARCH LEARNED THAT 1996 ODYSSEY HAS PROBLEM. OTHER HAVE ALSO REPORTED. WANT TO KNOW WHAT HONDA IS DOING ABOUT IT AS THIS MODEL WAS RECALLED FOR SAME PROBLEM IN CHINA AND EUROPE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED THE FAILURE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 197,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 HONDA ODYSSEY. IF THE CONTACT RELEASES THE KEY AFTER PLACING IT INTO THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS HER RESPONSIBILITY. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 145,000.

VEHICLE BEGAN HAVING STARTING PROBLEMS - WOULD CRANK BUT NOT ALWAYS CATCH AND RUN. THEN ENGINE STOPPED WHILE DRIVING SEVERAL TIMES, AN UNSAFE SITUATION. FINALLY WOULD NOT START AGAIN. REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH, WORKS FINE. NOTED THAT SIMILAR (MODEL, YEAR) VEHICLES IN AUSTRALIA AND JAPAN HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALLED FOR SAME SYMPTOMS - IS THERE A LINK? *TR

JULY 2002, I TOOK MY ODYSSEY TO A HONDA DEALER BECAUSE I WAS HAVING SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS: 1. MY SRS LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULDN'T GO OFF. 2. MY ABS LIGHT HAD ALSO BEGUN TO GO ON AND OFF. 3. MY POWER LOCKS WOULD LOCK UNCONTROLLABLY AND DRAIN BATTERY. I ASKED THEM TO TAKE A LOOK. AFTER $160 DIAGNOSTIC CHARGE, I WAS TOLD THE FOLLOWING: CODE 8-3 PRESENT ON SRS. CLEARED CODE AND TEST DROVE. LIGHT REMAINED OFF FOR DRIVE. SUGGEST REPLACING AIRBAG IF LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN. PROBABLY A SENSOR PROBLEM. COST $748 CODE 44 PRESENT ON ABS. RIGHT REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR IS FAULTY. SUGGEST REPLACING SENSOR. COST $283 ELECTRONIC LOCKS NEED NEW LOCK UNIT. COST $256 I WAS SHOCKED THAT REPAIRS WOULD COST ANOTHER $1300. AFTER DISCUSSING THESE PROBLEMS WITH THE DEALER AND BEING TOLD THE ISSUES WERE PROBABLY ALL SENSOR MALFUNCTIONS, I OPTED NOT TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. JUST AFTER DRIVING OFF, MY SRS AND ABS LIGHTS CAME BACK ON AND HAVE REMAINED ON EVER SINCE. NOW, AFTER SEEING THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS BY OTHER ODYSSEY OWNERS AND LEARNING THAT THE AIRBAGS MAY ACTUALLY NOT WORK, I AM REPORTING MY EXPERIENCE AS WELL... I JUST BOUGHT A CHEVY.

IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS MY 1996 HONDA ODYSSEY DIED NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE STATIONARY AND 3 TIMES WHILE DRIVING, INCLUDING 2 INCIDENTS ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEED IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. I WAS ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THE POWER FAILURE AND REACT QUICKLY ENOUGH TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND AVOID BEING RAMMED INTO BY OTHER VEHICLES, BUT IT WAS A FRIGHTENING AND DANGEROUS SITUATION. AFTER THE FIRST EPISODE ON THE HIGHWAY, I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO SUSPECTED EITHER A FUEL LINE PROBLEM OR IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM, BUT GIVEN THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DEAD, THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM WITH CERTAINTY. ON JANUARY 3, 2007 THE CAR DIED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AND I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC. THEY WERE ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. IT IS CLEAR FROM SEARCHING ONLINE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THAT THIS YEAR AND MODEL HAS HAD MANY REPORTED PROBLEMS OF THIS NATURE. THERE ARE ALSO NUMEROUS BULLETINS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR THE 1996 HONDA ODYSSEY. THERE IS A REPORT OF A RECALL FOR FAULTY IGNITION SWITCHES BY HONDA OF OVER 484,000 VEHICLES IN JAPAN AND CHINA FOR MODELS INCLUDING MY VEHICLE MODEL AND YEAR. HTTP://WWW.THEMONEYTIMES.COM/ARTICLES/20060615/HONDA_RECALLS_484_626_CARS_TO_FIX_FAULTY_IGNITION_SWITCH-ID-10585.HTML I HAD NO HELP FROM MULTIPLE CALLS TO HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE ON JAN. 3, 2007. THEY TELL ME THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY SPECIFIC VIN AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING FURTHER I CAN DO OTHER THAN FILE THE REPORT WITH NHTSA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. NOTE THAT I CALLED NHTSA TWICE TO REPORT THIS AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO LEAVE MY NAME AND PHONE # WHICH I HAVE DONE. *JB UPDATED 04/13/07.*JB

NHTSA 02V120000 IGNITION PROBLEM OCCURS ON 1996 HONDA ODYSSEY TOO. HONDA DEALER WILL NOT FIX UNDER RECALL BECAUSE 1996 VIN NUMBERS ARE NOT FLAGGED FOR RECALL. *NM

2 RELATED INCIDENTS -- CAR NO LONGER RUNS OR SHUTS OFF IF IGNITION KEY IS NOT FIDDLED WITH. SOLDER FROM IGNITION SWITCH MELTED, DRIPPED AND BURNED MY WIFE'S FOOT. *JB

1 injured

IGNITION SWITCHES I HAVE A 1996 HONDA ODYSSEY VAN AND THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THIS WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND I HAD THREE CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. *NM

I SET THE CRUISE CONTROL ON MY VAN AT 120 KM AN HOUR. A CAR PASSED AND THEN PULLED CLOSELY IN FRONT OF ME SO I TOUCHED MY BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN. WHEN I PRESSED RESUME TO RE-ESTABLISH MY SET SPEED, THE CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED AND THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE TO ABOUT 130. I TOUCHED THE BRAKES, SLOWED THE CAR, AND AS SOON AS I RELEASED THE BRAKES THE CAR ACCELERATED AGAIN. I PUSHED OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON. IT HAD NO EFFECT. I REALIZED SOMETHING WAS JAMMED AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT GOING TO SHUT OFF. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, PUT ON MY BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD, PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. I RE-STARTED TO SEE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN AND THE ENGINE ROARED AT FULL THROTTLE. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND WAS TOWED TO THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP WHERE A TECHNICIAN CUT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE AND I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE ON MY WAY. *JB

DRIVER'S POWER LOCK WAS CYCLING. DRIVER'S POWER WINDOW MADE A METALLIC SPRING-LIKE SOUND WHEN CLOSING. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED "POWER DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR WAS BAD, REPLACED IT." "WINDOW REGULATOR & MOTOR WERE BAD, REPLACED THEM." POWER WINDOW WORKED NORMALLY WHEN DELIVERED TO DEALERS SERVICE, JUST MADE A NOISE. WHEN HE CALLED ME, MECHANIC SAID WINDOW WAS NOT WORKING AT ALL. AFTER MUCH ARGUMENT, DEALER AGREED TO A "50% GOODWILL" SPLIT OF CHARGES DUE TO AGE/MILEAGE. MY SHARE OF REPAIR COST WAS $320.49. *NM

INSTALLED NEW BATTERY IN VEHICLE JUNE 2001. AFTER BATTERY INSTALLATION, SRS LIGHT WENT ON. HONDA MECHANIC DIAGNOSED "CAR HAD A CODE 6-2 STORED IN SYSTEM, WE CLEARED CODE, IF LIGHT COMES BACK ON THE CONTROL UNIT WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED." UPON STARTING CAR, SRS LIGHT CAME BACK ON. MECHANIC SAID I NEED NEW SRS CONTROL MODULE. HE INFORMED ME THAT REPAIR WOULD COST ME $600 OR MORE. *NM

AT 117,000 MILES THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ON OUR 1996 HONDA ODYSSEY CAME ON AND STAYED ON. ALSO, AT THE SAME TIME ABS SYSTEM WOULD IMPROPERLY ENGAGE AT LOW SPEEDS ON DRY PAVEMENT WHEN APPROACHING A STOP. TOOK TO HONDA DEALER, WAS GIVEN DIAGNOSIS THAT ABS CONTROL UNIT HAS FAILED. THE COST OF REPLACEMENT IS $1227 PLUS TAX, WHICH IS PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE. IN MY OPINION THIS UNIT SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE, IT HAS FAILED BECAUSE HONDA PROVIDED A CONTROL UNIT OF POOR QUALITY. EVIDENCED BY THE FACT THAT THIS IS THE SECOND SAFETY-RELATED ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT TO COMPLETELY FAIL ON THIS VEHICLE - THE AIR BAG SRS CONTROL UNIT FAILED AT 73,000 MILES. WHERE IS THE MUCH-TOUTED HONDA QUALITY AND RELIABILITY? IT SEEMS TO BE ABSENT ON THIS 1996 OCYSSEY. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND HONDA WILL NOT REPLACE THE CONTROL UNITS.*AK

SRS LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON AT 73522 MI. HONDA DEALER CHECKED ALL CONNECTIONS AND WIRING, ALSO TRIED RE-PROGRAMMING-THAT DID NOT WORK. DEALER SAID THAT AIR BAGS ARE INOPERATIVE, AND THAT A NEW SRS CONTROL UNIT IS NEEDED - AT COST OF OVER $700. THE COST IS PROHIBITIVE FOR US. DEALER SAYS THEY HAVE REPLACED NUMEROUS SRS CONTROL UNITS ON ODYSSEYS. THIS INDICATES A MANUFACTURING DEFECT RENDERING KEY SAFETY SYSTEM INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT HONDA HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR FAILURE OF KEY SAFETY COMPONENT DURING NORMAL USE--THE STATED REASON IS THAT "YOU STILL HAVE YOUR SAFETY BELTS." I BELIEVE THAT THE SRS CONTROL UNIT SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED WITHIN NORMAL LIFE OF THE VEHICLE, THE OWNER'S MANUAL SAYS THAT IT ONLY NEEDS TO BE CHECKED EVERY 10 YEARS. *NM

I HAVE A 1996 HONDA ODYSSEY LX AND IT HAS STALLED OUT MANY TIMES WITH MY FOUR YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN ATLANTA, GA RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I DRIVE THIRTY MILES TO WORK EACH DAY AND IS VERY DANGEROUS TO NOT KNOW WHEN THE CAR WILL JUST QUIT. I TOOK THE CAR TO CATHERINE'S AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR & SERVICE AND THEY DETERMINED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. THEY HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER HONDAS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND ARE AWARE OF HONDA RECALLS. MY CAR IS A '96 AND WAS NOT UNDER THE RECALL. I BELIEVE THIS IS UNFAIR THAT A CERTAIN YEAR SHOULD BE DISQUALIFIED WHEN IT HAS EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEMS AS OTHER HONDAS. *JB

COMPLAINED ABOUT A SMALL OIL LEAK WHEN AT DLR FOR OIL CHANGE AT 90000 MI. WAS TOLD THAT CAM SHAFT SEAL WAS LEAKING. OIL LEAK HAD SATURATED TIME BELT. DLR RECOMMENDED REPLACING TIMING BELT DUE TO POSSIBLE FAILURE DUE TO OIL SATURATION. ORIGINAL OWNER, TIMING BELT HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED AT 60000 MI AS PART OF REGULAR MAINTENANCE. REPLACED CAMSHAFT SEAL, BALANCER SHAFT SEAL, GEAR SET, TIMING BELT, AND WATER PUMP AT COST OF $866. NOTED OTHER COMPLAINTS ON SITE OF BALANCER SHAFT SEAL PROBLEMS. *JB

BALANCER SHAFT OIL SEAL FAILED IN JANUARY 2000. OIL HOUSING OIL SEAL (O-RING) FAILED IN JANUARY 2004. BOTH FAILURES CAUSED HEAVY OIL LOSS SO VEHICLE WAS TOWED AT MY EXPENSE. SRS LIGHT IS ON. DEALER CHARGED ME $89 DIAGNOSTIC FEE FOR SRS ESTIMATE AND SAID IT WOULD COST JUST UNDER $1000 TO REPAIR. THIS FEE WAS CHARGED EVEN THOUGH I WAS PAYING FOR THE O-RING REPAIR AT THAT TIME. * CB

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT ABS BRAKE FAILURE. THE ACCUMULATOR WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID.*AK

PROBLEM WITH ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASH AND ABS MODULATOR. *MR THE ABS LIGHT HAD COME ON. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE MODULATOR COULD BE RESET BUT THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE LIGHT WOULD NOT COME BACK ON. WITHIN TWELVE MILES AFTER THE REPAIR, THE LIGHT HAD COME BACK ON. *SCC *JB

THE AIR BAG MODULE MALFUNCTIONED. THE LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN STARTED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED BOTH THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER THE AIR BAG WAS NOT IMPORTANT AS THE SEAT BELT AND WAS NOT MANDATORY TO REPAIR. *NLM. *AK *TS *JB

FRONT BALANCER SHAFT SEAL FAILED AND ALL OF THE OIL LEAKED OUT OF THE ENGINE...RAPIDLY!!! *JB

SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (AIR BAGS) WARNING LIGHT APPEARED, DEALER SAYS AIR BAGS ARE INOPERATIVE. DEALER RESET CONTROL UNIT. LIGHT APPEARED TWO MONTHS LATER. ASKED DEALER IF THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. DEALER SAYS THAT THEY HAVE REPLACED NUMEROUS CONTROL UNITS. SHOULD A SAFETY DEVICE OF THIS MAGNITUDE FAIL WITHIN FOUR YEARS OF SERVICE? THE OWNERS MANUAL SAYS TO CHECK THIS SYSTEM EVERY TEN YEARS. FROM THE DEALERS COMMENT OF REPLACING NUMEROUS CONTROL UNITS, IT'S MY OPINION THAT A PART OF THIS MAGNITUDE SHOULD INDEED LAST THE USEFUL LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. *JB ****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS.*****765263

I PURCHASED A 1996 HONDA ODYSSEY VAN NEW IN 1996. (VIN#: [XXX]) ON MARCH 11, 2003 WE DROVE IT WITH SOME FRIENDS TO A NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT WHERE WE PARKED AND LOCKED THE CAR, AND WENT IN. ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER A MAN CAME INTO THE RESTAURANT SAYING THERE WAS A CAR ON FIRE IN THE PARKING LOT. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OF MY HONDA WAS ON FIRE. FORTUNATELY, THE RESTAURANT OWNER HAD A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE DOOR OPEN AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE FIRE APPEARS TO HAVE STARTED IN THE ELECTRICAL WIRING WITHIN THE INTERIOR OF THE DRIVER'S DOOR. AS A RESULT OF THE FIRE, THE PLASTIC POWER WINDOW SWITCH ASSEMBLY WAS MELTED, RENDERING THE WINDOWS INOPERATIVE, THE PLASTIC DOOR LATCH MECHANISM THAT ENABLES THE DOOR TO BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE WAS ALSO MELTED AND INOPERABLE. THIS RENDERED THE DRIVER'S DOOR INOPERATIVE FROM THE INSIDE. THE FIRE FILLED THE CAR WITH SMOKE FROM THE BURNING DOOR PANEL AND INSULATION, THE WIRE INSULATION, AND VARIOUS PLASTIC PARTS OF THE DOOR ASSEMBLY. I'M SURE THE SMOKE WAS QUITE TOXIC, AND HAD SOMEONE BEEN IN THE CAR AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE, THEY WOULD HAVE LIKELY BEEN OVERCOME. PARTICULARLY IF THEY WERE IN THE DRIVERS SEAT AND UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR OR THE WINDOW TO LET THE SMOKE OUT OR EXIT THE CAR. TO ANSWER A POTENTIAL QUESTION, WE DO NOT SMOKE, AND DO NOT ALLOW SMOKING IN THE CAR. I REALIZE THIS IS BEYOND THE WARRANTY PERIOD FOR THIS VEHICLE, AND THAT THE FAILURE OF SOME ELECTRICAL PART OF THE DOOR COULD BE DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE, AND NORMAL DETERIORATION OF MECHANICAL PARTS WITH AGE. MY CONCERN IS THAT THOUGH SOME PART OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY, THE DESIGN OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS SUCH THAT IT DID NOT FAIL SAFELY. A FUSE OR CIRCUIT BREAKER SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE PROTECTIVE DEVICE THAT FAILED, PROTECTING THE WIRING AND THE OCCUPANTS OF THE CAR FROM A POTENTIALLY VERY HAZARDOUS, AND POSSIBLY FATAL FIRE. *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Fire

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE, WHICH SEEMED TO BE ELECTRICAL RELATED. *JB

Fire

ABS MODULATOR/SEAT BELTS AND AIR BAGS MALFUNCTIONED. DEALER REFUSED TO FIX ABS MODUALTOR.

VEHICLE NEEDS NEW SRS MODULE. DEALER WOULD INSTALL IT FOR $875.*AK

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE FAILURE, LIGHT PANE INDICATING PROBLEMS. CONSUMER CAN'T AFFORD REPAIR. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH OR FASTER, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL BEGIN TO SHAKE, DEALER CONTACTED AND STATES THAT THE WHEEL SUSPENSION IS OFF BALANCE WHICH CAUSES STEERING PROBLEMS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRVING, VEHICLE WILL STALL OR SOMETIMES WILL NOT EVEN START. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED 6 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER IS UNABLE TO FIX. FINALLY CONSUMER ASKED TO HAVE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. FOUND OUT THAT IT HAD REPEATEDLY FAILED. TSCONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT OF MONIES PAID FOR REPAIRS BECAUSE OF A RECALL ISSUED REGARDING THIS SAME PROBLEM. *JG

THE SRS INDICATOR LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD STAYED ON AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE FROM PARK. IT STAYED ON UNTIL THE I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER FOR A CHECK-UP. I HAD TO PAY FOR A DEFECTIVE SRS CONTROLLER, WHICH IS AN ELECTRONIC BOX THAT SENDS SIGNALS TO THE AIRBAG TO TELL IT WHEN TO DEPLOY (ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE REP). I HAD TO SPEND $697.91 TO REPLACE IT WITH A BRAND NEW ONE THAT HAS A WARRANTY OF "12 MONTHS OR 12,000 MILES, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST". THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION FOR THE FAILURE OF THE SAID PART. MR

FRONT WINDSHIELD IS DEVELOPING A HAZE DISCOLORATION AND CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE DEALER WAS UNSURE WHICH COMPONENTS OF THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT MIGHT BE CAUSING THE SRS WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING UNLESS THE ENTIRE UNIT WAS REPLACED, CONSUMER DENIED THE REPAIRS AND AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP THE LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ON, HOWEVER IN APRIL 2002 THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. *JB NAR *SCC *CB

COUNTER BALANCE SHAFT SEAL POPPED OUT. OIL WAS PUMPED OUT OF ENGINE RAPIDLY. WE DISCOVERED BY FINDING POOL OF OIL UNDER LEFT FRONT TIRE. DEALER REPAIR WAS PROMPT. HONDA PAID FOR SEAL AND NEW TIMING BELT. I HAD TO PAY FOR CAM SEAL, CRANKSHAFT SEAL, WATER PUMP, AND COOLANT. HONDA'S CUSTOMER RELATIONS AT 1-800-999-1009 WAS UNRESPONSIVE. THEIR ATTITUDE WAS "NOT OUR FAULT" . I ASKED WHAT THEY WOULD DO IF ENGINE HAD BLOWN. THEIR RESPONSE WAS "TO PROBABLY DENY CLAIM SINCE THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE DRIVEN WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT ON.*AK

SRS LIGHT CAME ON WHEN CAR WAS STARTED. *YD

SRS LIGHT CAME ON. WE PAID $85 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC REPORT. IT INDICATED THE SRS COMPUTER HAD FAILED AND IT WILL COST $850 TO REPLACE. THE DEALER WOULD NOT FIX IT UNDER THE WARRANTY. IS THERE A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM?