1997 HONDA ACCORD Complaints

OIL SEAL BLOWN OUT AT VERY LOW MILEAGE; GARAGE INFORMS THAT PROBLEM IS OCCURRING AT HIGH FREQUENCY AMONG HONDAS OF SIMILAR AGE, ALTHOUGH NOT MILEAGE, AND THAT HONDA IS AVOIDING OR DELAYING SENDING OUT NOTICES OF DEFECT. *AK

THE "SRS" SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED LIT. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC (A HONDA SPECIALIST) WHOSE COMPUTER TESTING INDICATED THAT THE SRS CONTROL UNIT WAS DEFECTIVE.HE STATED THAT HE HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM NUMEROUS TIMES AND SUGGESTED I SPEAK TO HONDA HEADQUARTERS, WHICH I DID. PLEASE NOTE THAT A FRIEND WITH THE SAME MODEL CAR HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH SRS LIGHT STAYING ON.HAVING EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM AND CONCERNS OVER SAFETY ISSUES, I WAS TOLD THAT MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THAT I MUST TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AND PAY FOR THIS VERY COSTLY PART ($600+), AND THAT THEY MUST MAKE DIAGNOSIS THERE FOR HONDA TO CONSIDER "GOOD WILL" REIMBURSEMENT. WHEN I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPT., THE WOMAN ANSWERING THE PHONE SAID SHE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HER HONDA AND HAD TO HAVE THIS PART REPLACED! UPON BRING CAR INTO DEALERSHIP, THE DIAGNOSIS WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE SRS CONTROL UNIT NEEDED REPLACEMENT,AS THE AIRBAGS WERE NOT FUNCTIONAL. I PRESENTED DOCUMENTATION AS TO MY METICULOUS SERVICE RECORD WITH THIS VEHICLE AND ARGUED THAT THIS PART SHOULD NOT FAIL, NOT HAVING BEEN A REGULAR USE PART AND CERTAINLY SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 50,000 MILES. THEY FINALLY AGREED TO PAY HALF OF THE PART, BUT NOT TAX OR LABOR. MY TOTAL EXPENSE FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND SERVICE COST $450.00. I WAS QUITE DISSATISFIED AND ATTEMPTED TO PURSUE THIS WITH HONDA AMERICA ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, EXPRESSING MY CONCERNS THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEMATIC PART IN NUMEROUS HONDA VEHICLES, FROM ANECDOTAL ACCOUNTS, AND THAT I FELT THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE AND ONE THAT THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR. THEY DID NOT WISH TO PURSUE THE ISSUE WITH MY MECHANIC OR STUDY THE OLD PART TO EVALUATE THE DEFECTIVE MECHANISM. THE REP AT HONDA AMERICA SAID "YOU DIDN'T HAVE ALL YOUR MAINTENANCE AT THE DEALERSHIP" WHICH IN MY VIEW SHOULD NOT AFFECT THIS PARTICULAR PART'S FAILURE AND WHICH DISREGARDS THE CAREFUL AND TIMELY SERVICE THIS CAR HAS GOTTEN. THEY SIMPLY SAID, "IT'S PAST YOUR WARRANTY PERIOD AND IT IS A 5 YEAR OLD CAR!".*

WITH IN 12,000 MILES OF PURCHASE 2 OF 4 BUBBLED ON SIDEWALLS AND WENT FLAT, BOTH HAD TO BE REPLACED.

WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON DASHBOARD. SPOKE WITH DEALER.*AK *YH

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE DASH LIGHTS FOR AIR BAG ILLUMINATES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHEN ABS BRAKES WERE APPLIED. DRIVER USED EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, CONSUMER SAW BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER STOPPED VEHICLE, LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE CAR AND SAW THAT OIL WAS POURING ONTO THE GROUND. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK THE BALANCE SHAFT SEAL WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH A NEW RETAINER, BALANCE BELT AND TIMING BELT. *SLC

GASOLINE LEAKS -- SUSPECT THAT IT IS MANUFACTURER'S DEFECTS W/ SUPPORT RESEARCH. *AK

SRS LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DEALER CLEARED THE FAULT CODE, HOWEVER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE AIR BAGS MAY OR MAY NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT, MANUFACTURER DECLINED TO MAKE ANY NECESSARY CORRECTIONS TO INSURE THAT THE AIR BAGS WILL WORK PROPERLY. *SLC

FRONT AND REAR SHOULDER BELTS FAIL TO PROPERLY RETRACT, CAUSING INADEQUATE PROTECTION WHEN BELTS ARE NEEDED. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT DEALER. *AK THE REAR SEAT BELT IS NOT USABLE AT ALL AND THE DRIVER SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT PROPERLY. *YH