Issue ID | 866753 |
Internal NHTSA # | 10411138 |
Manufacurer | HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.) |
Brand | HONDA |
Model | ODYSSEY |
Model Year | 2007 |
File date | 24/06/11 |
Component | UNKNOWN OR OTHER |
Product type code | VEHICLE |
Description of the problem | Component failure: a/c condenser, due to small object hitting it. A/c no longer works and dealer wants $1,000 to repair. This is a problem that honda has known about since 2004 at least, i. E., the a/c condenser is susceptible to damage from small road objects (stones mostly). Honda refuses to acknowledge their fault, claiming damage is "accidental". My position is that this is a design flaw that honda was aware of and could have easily prevented. In 2008 model year, honda covered the condenser with a shield to prevent further problems. My dealer is offering to add this shield for $70. 00 (in addition to the $1,000 repair bill) to prevent further occurences. This may not be a safety problem but it surely smacks of a consumer rip-off. Honda poorly designed the shielding for the condenser, knew about the problem for years (just google the issue), and then allowed its dealers to charge $1,000 for the problem they created. Obviously, the delaers are happy with this common problem. Extended warranty does not cover this repair either. Honda claims the damage is like a stone hitting the windshield. However, the purpose of the windshield is to prevent a stone from hitting the car's occupants; no one would argue honda is responsible for the windshield doing the job it was intended to do by preventing a stone from hitting the occupants. With regard to the condenser, honda could easily have prevented the problem by placing a shield over the affected part(s). It chose not to with the full understanding this common problem would cost its customers hundreds of thousand (if not millions) of dollars to repair. |
Vehicle Mileage at Failure | 65000 |
Number of Occurences | |
Source of the issue | PORTABLE SAFETY COMPLAINT FORM (PDF) |
City and State | GAITHERSBURG, MD |
VIN pattern | 5FNRL38467BXXXXXX |
Was vehicle invloved in a crash? | N |
Was vehicle involved in a fire? | N |
Was incedent reported to police? | |
Was medical attention required? | |
Was part original equipment? | |
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Date of purchase | 29/06/24 |
Was original owner? | |
Anti-lock brakes | |
Cruise control | |
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Vehicle speed | 30 |
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