HONDA IS RECALLING 2,032 HITCH STYLE BIKE RACKS SOLD AS AFTERMARKET FOR USE ON MY 2003-2007 AND SOME

Feb 05, 2008 — Recall Campaign #08E013000

HONDA IS RECALLING 2,032 HITCH STYLE BIKE RACKS SOLD AS AFTERMARKET FOR USE ON MY 2003-2007 AND SOME MY 2008 HONDA PILOT, RIDGELINE, AND ACURA MDX VEHICLES. A PINCH BOLT EXISTS BETWEEN THE BIKE ARM BRACKET AND THE UPRIGHT ASSEMBLY OF THE "HITCH" STYLE BICYCLE RACK.

The recall was influenced by the manufacturer with about 2,032 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

08E013000

Manufacturer:	Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Recall date:	February 05, 2008
NHTSA Campaign #:	08E013000
Units affected:	2,032

Description:: HONDA IS RECALLING 2,032 HITCH STYLE BIKE RACKS SOLD AS AFTERMARKET FOR USE ON MY 2003-2007 AND SOME MY 2008 HONDA PILOT, RIDGELINE, AND ACURA MDX VEHICLES. A PINCH BOLT EXISTS BETWEEN THE BIKE ARM BRACKET AND THE UPRIGHT ASSEMBLY OF THE "HITCH" STYLE BICYCLE RACK.
Consequeces:: WHEN MOVING THE BIKE ARM BRACKET TO ITS DOWN POSITION, THIS PINCH BOLT HAS THE POTENTIAL OF CAUSING SEVERE LACERATION OR AMPUTATION TO THE USER'S FINGERTIPS OR HAND.
Corrective action:: OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT THULE AT 800-THULE91 (800-848-5391) TO OBTAIN A FREE REPAIR KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS OR OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
Notes:: CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

Affects the following:

ACURA 08L14-E09-200 Complaints
IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT HONDA MOTOR CO HAS NOT TAKEN ANY CORRECTIVE ACTION TO ADDRESS THE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH ITS ACURA MDX TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND I AM CALLING FOR A FULL FEDERAL INVESTIGATION ALONG WITH A POTENTIAL CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST HONDA. A VEHICLE OF THIS CALIBRE ON A LUXURY LINE, COSTING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IS SUPPOSED TO LIVE UP TO ITS REPUTATION. TO BE FURTHER PROACTIVE, I ASK ALL THE MDXERS FOR US TO START A CHAIN BLOG FOR ACURA AND THE OTHER CAR MANUFACTURERS TO SEE HOW EXTENSIVE THESE PROBLEMS ARE. ACURA HAS BEEN LESS THAN COOPERATIVE DURING MY INTERACTIONS WITH THEM. SO FIRST LET ME TALK ABOUT THE PROBLEMS AND ISSUES ON MY MDX. IT STARTED WITH GRINDING AND WHINING NOISES COMING FROM MY 2005 MDX WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I BROUGHT IT IN TO OPEN ROAD ACURA OF WAYNE, NJ SEVERAL TIMES TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT ISSUE STILL REMAIN TODAY. FINALLY, I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. WHEN DRIVING 50-60 MPH, WHINING NOISE FROM ENGINE AREA DEVELOPS. IT CAN BE UNBEARABLE SOMETIMES, SORT OF WHAT YOU EXPERIENCE WITH EARACHES ON A PLANE. THE ENGINE IDLES ROUGH, IN A GRUNTING WAY. INITIALLY, CONSTANT NOISE CAME FROM THE TENSIONER PULLEY. I PAID AND GOT THAT FIXED EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS A RECALL ISSUE. TWO WEEKS INTO BUYING THE CAR BRAND NEW, SOMETHING IN THE DROP DOWN DVD SCREEN WAS RATTLING AND I GOT THAT FIXED. THEN, THE DVD/NAV FROZE ON ME CAUSING YET ANOTHER REPAIR AND TIME LOST. SO, NOW BACK TO THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I CONTACTED ACURA HQ AND THEY ASKED ME TO CONTACT THE DEALER. I ASKED FOR THEM TO INITIATE CALL TO DEALER BUT SAID THEY WEREN'T ALLOWED TO DO SO AND ALL REPAIRS IS AT DISCRETION OF DEALER. NOW WHAT HAPPENS IF CAR SEIZES WHILE I'M DRIVING CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH? ACURA HAS REFUSED TO EVEN CALL ME BACK AS A COURTESY AND HAS NEVER DONE SO WITH ITS CUSTOMER. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT DEALER CLAIMS ITS AT THEIR COST. DEALER SERVICE IS GOOD, POLICY IS BAD. *TR;
ACURA 08L14-TA1-200 Complaints
OUR 2004 ACURA APPEARS TO BE VERY SLUGGISH AND SLOW TO ACCELERATE IN 35-40 MILES RANGE AND WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. SO, WE TOOK IT TO ACURA DEALERSHIP IN LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA ON 1/27/2009 FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. THAT'S WHEN THE DEALER RECOMMENDED A NEW TRANSMISSION WITHOUT ANY MENTION OF THE EXISTING RECALLS ON THE 2004 ACURA MDX TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *TR;