1991 HONDA CIVIC Complaints

MY PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT BEGAN RETRACTING IF I WOULD BRAKE SUDDENLY, OR IF I WENT OVER A BUMP, AS THOUGH THE DOOR WAS OPEN. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO SAID IT WAS A DEFECT WITH THE DOOR LATCH AND HE HAD SEEN THIS SAME PROBLEM BEFORE. ON 7/3/01, I SPOKE WITH MICHELLE ALBERT AT AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO AT (800) 999-1009 AS THE SEATBELTS ARE WARRANTIED FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR AND THIS WAS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. SHE AGREED TO HELP ME WITH THE REPAIR JOB, FOR BETWEEN $100 AND $200. I HAD THE REPAIR DONE AND SENT HONDA A COPY OF THE BILL. THEY SENT ME A LETTER BACK SAYING THEY HAD NO RECORD OF MY CONVERSATION WITH MICHELLE ALBERT, AND THAT DUE TO THE AGE OF THE CAR THEY WOULD NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR ANY PART OF THE REPAIR. I SENT THEM ANOTHER LETTER STATING HOW DISAPPOINTED I WAS AT THEIR LACK OF CONCERN FOR MY SAFETY. I FEEL THEY ARE TRYING TO GET OUT OF THEIR SEATBELT WARRANTY ON A TECHNICALITY (I.E., THAT SINCE IT IS THE DOOR LATCH THAT IS CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO MALFUNCTION, AND NOT THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ITSELF, THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE TO REPAIR IT). ALSO, IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE CAR ITSELF, SINCE MY SMALL LOCAL MECHANIC HAS SEEN THE SAME PROBLEM BEFORE, AND THAT HONDA SHOULD HONOR ITS COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE A WORKING SEATBELT FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR.*AK

SEAT BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT UNLOCK. BELT IS ATTACHED TO DOOR AND CAN CAUSE A PROB,EM IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. MANFACTURER HASN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT 60-62 MPH HOOD FLEW OPEN AND SHATTERED FRONT WINDSHIELD, KNOCKING REAR VIEW OFF. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND ADVISED CONSUMER TO TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK

VEHICLE WAS REARENDED WHEN STOPPED IN TRAFFIC AT A SIGNAL. SHOULDER BELT FAILED TO LOCK UP AND DRIVER WAS THROWN AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL AND INJURED. THE NHTSA RECORD SHOWS NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLIANTS.*AK

DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WHEN IT RAINS BELT GETS WET WHEN COLD SEAT BELT HARD TO PULL OUT WHEN SEAT BELT IS UNBELTED BELT DOSE NOT RETRACT FULLY. *AK

ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS AUTO COMPLETELY LOST ALL POWER. THREE OF THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED ON MAIN ROAD STREETS, TWO OCCURRED AT ABOUT 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY. I HAD IT TOWED IN EACH OCCASION, TO DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOPS SINCE I BROKE DOWN IN 5 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. AFTER DESCRIBING THIS INCIDENT TO A REPAIR SHOP, THE OWNER SAID THAT HONDA HAS A RECALL OUT ON IGNITION WIRE WHICH IS THE CONTINUOUS CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. HOW DO I GO ABOUT HAVING HONDA FIX THIS PROBLEM FOR THE RECALL. IT HAS ALREADY COST ME 5 TOWS, 5 MIS-REPAIRS, AND ALMOST A FREEWAY CRASH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

REPLACED THE CAP+ROTOR AFTER 1ST STALL, AND AUTOSHOP RECOMMENTS REPLACING DISTRIBUTOR AFTER MY 2ND STALL(NOISE).

REPORTING A VEHICLE FIRE IN A PARKING LOT; POSSIBLE CAUSE COULD BE A FUEL LEAKAGES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS:

THE ENGINE FAILED/STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ON TWO OCCASIONS DUE TO THE IGNITOR ROTER FAILURE.

CONSUMER WAS LEANING ON THE AIR CLEANER & PLASTIC PIPE THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE RADIATOR BY A SCREW. THE WEIGHT OF RIGHT HAND LEANING ON THE AIR INLET PIPE CAUSED CRACK IN THE TOP OF THE RADIATOR RESULTING IN ANTI-FREEZE SQUIRTED OUT & BURNED THE CONSUMER .*YH