Body & structureOther / unspecified
Filed Aug 25, 2011
A 1999 HONDA GOLDWING MOTORCYCLE WAS CONVERTED TO A TRIKE USING A CONVERSION KIT MANUFACTURED BY CHAMPION TRIKES, A DIVISION OF CHAMPION MOTORCYCLE ACCESSORIES INTERNATIONAL, INC FROM GARDEN GROVE CALIFORNIA. THE KIT USED WAS MANUFACTURED IN AUGUST OF 2006 WITH A SERIAL NUMBER OF 709268. THE SWING ARM ASSEMBLY IS THE MAIN CONNECTING MEMBER THAT JOINS THE TWO WHEEL REAR END TO THE FRONT END OF THE MOTORCYCLE. ON AUGUST 12, 2011 TWO CRACKS WERE FOUND IN THE SWING ARM STEEL AFFECTING BOTH SIDES OF THE ASSEMBLY. HAD THESE CRACKS BROKEN LOOSE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE REAR END COULD SEPARATE FROM THE FRONT RESULTING IN SEVERE BODILY INJURY AND/OR DEATH OF THE RIDER AND PASSENGER. WHEN A CHAMPION REPRESENTATIVE WAS CONTACTED FOR ASSISTANCE IN REPAIR HE SAID IT WAS OUT OF THE THREE YEAR WARRANTY AND TOTALLY THE OWNERS RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. THEY HAD NO INTEREST IN WHY IT HAD CRACKED OR DESIRE TO SEE THE FAILED PART. (THE REPAIR HAS BEEN MADE AND THE DEFECTIVE PART RETAINED.) THIS MOTORCYCLE HAS NOT BEEN WRECKED OR SUBJECTED TO ANY FORCE THAT CAUSED THE CRACKS TO OUR KNOWLEDGE. IT IS RIDDEN BY MY WIFE. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THERE MAY BE OTHER CHAMPION TRIKE CONVERSIONS ON THE ROAD WITH THE SAME CRACKS THAT ARE POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS WAITING TO HAPPEN. ACCORDING TO CHAMPION, THEY HAVE SOLD 17,000 OF THESE CONVERSIONS. THE CRACKS IN THE PART HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS "STRESS CRACKS" BY THE DEALER THAT MADE THE REPAIR AND ALSO BY A FRIEND THAT WORKS WITH STEEL. THE CRACKS ARE LOCATED AT POINTS WHERE THE SWING ARM STEEL HAS BEEN DRILLED FOR A DRIVESHAFT PENETRATION ON ONE SIDE AND A BRAKE LINE PENETRATION ON THE OTHER. THE COST FOR THE REPAIR OF WHAT I BELIEVE WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DESIGN AND/OR STEEL DEFECT HAS COST US $1570.47 FOR THE PART INCLUDING SHIPPING AND $1088.16 FOR THE DISASSEMBLY, REMOVAL OF THE DEFECTIVE PART, AND REASSEMBLY OF THE REAR END. CHAMPION CHOSE NOT TO HELP IN ANY WAY. THE DEALER DID SELL ME THE PART AT HIS COST TO HELP. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10421498
- Incident
- Aug 12, 2011
- Mileage
- 43,362 mi
Driver assistanceOther / unspecifiedTransmission
Filed Aug 2, 2011
THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING, AND DID NOT ALLOW ME TO ACCELERATE IN AN INTERSECTION. NEAR COLLISION BY 2 CARS CAUSED AN INCREDIBLY UNSAFE AND HAZARDOUS SITUATION. *KB
- NHTSA ID
- 10416784
- Incident
- Jul 24, 2011
- Mileage
- 78,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedTransmission
Filed Jul 26, 2011
WE HAVE HAD TWO TRANSMISSIONS FAIL ON OUR 2002 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE FIRST TIME, THE DEALER DENIED WE HAD A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. WHEN THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED.EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL, WE WERE NEVER INFORMED OF IT BY HONDA. AFTER MUCH WRANGLING, HONDA PAID FOR THE PARTS BUT WE HAD TO PAY FOR THE LABOR, $1,100. WE BELIEVE HONDA INSTALLED A REFURBISHED TRANSMISSION AND NOT A NEW ONE BECAUSE 3 YEARS AND 7 MONTHS LATER., THE SECOND TRANSMISSION FAILED TOO, STRANDING US IN THE DARK WITH OUR TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AND REQUIRING US TO RENT A CAR TO GET HOME. WE HAD NO IDEA THAT HONDA HAS HAD ALMOST A DECADE OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND THAT OUR YEAR IS THE WORST YEAR. IN OUR OPINION, HONDA HAS ENGAGED IN FRAUD. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10415267
- Incident
- Jul 22, 2011
- Mileage
- 61,000 mi
BrakesOther / unspecified
Filed Oct 4, 2010
REAR BRAKES ON 2009 HONDA ACCORD LX NEED REPLACING AT 18,000 MILES. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10359154
- Incident
- Oct 2, 2010
- Mileage
- 17,850 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Aug 15, 2009
ON THE AFTERNOON OF 8/15/2009 IN GRAHAM COUNTY NC I WAS STOPPED, DETAINED AND TICKETED FOR VIOLATION OF THE SAFETY HELMET LAW, WHICH THE OFFICER COULD NOT SUPPLY ME WITH. HE SAID MY HELMET WAS NOT DOT APPROVED, BUT, HE COULD NOT PROVIDE ME WITH A LIST OF APPROVED HELMETS. HE SAID HE COULD TELL BY LOOKING AT THE INSIDE OF THE HELMET IT WAS NOT DOT APPROVED, BUT, HE COULD NOT PROVE THAT MY HELMET WAS UNSAFE. TWO OTHER BIKERS THAT WERE WITH ME WERE TICKETED ALSO. THEN, TO BEAT ALL, THE OFFICER HANDED ME BACK MY "UNLAWFUL" HELMET AND I WAS FREE TO GO, ALONG WITH MY $100 FINE AND COSTS. IF IT WAS UNLAWFUL WHEN HE STOPPED ME, IT WAS ALSO UNLAWFUL WHEN I RODE OFF, WEARING HIS SO-CALLED "UNLAWFUL HELMET". WHEN HE HANDED ME BACK MY "UNLAWFUL" HELMET AND SAID I COULD GO, IT SEEMS TO ME HE WAS AIDING IN THE COMMISSION OF AN UNLAWFUL ACT. THIS SMACKS OF THE OLD TIME "FEE GRABBERS". THIS IS NOT ABOUT SAFETY, THIS IS ABOUT MONEY, CLEAR AND SIMPLE. THEY KNOW THE AVERAGE PERSON CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE ONE OR MORE DAYS OFF FROM WORK, AND I MY CASE, DRIVE 150 MILES ROUND TRIP AND PROBABLY BE FOUND GUILTY BY A COURT BIASED AGAINST BIKERS ANYWAY; SO I'LL PAY THE UNCONSTITUTIONAL FINE AND COSTS. AS LONG AS MY ATTIRE POSES NO THREAT OF HARM TO OTHERS, I SHOULD BE TREATED LIKE AN ADULT. I DON'T NEED NANNY GOVERNMENT TO TELL ME HOW TO DRESS FOR MY OWN GOOD. EITHER MAKE THE LAW CLEAR AND UNIVERSAL, OR DO AWAY WITH IT. THE FACT THAT SO MANY STATES HAVE NO HELMET LAW SHOWS IT IS NOT A NATIONAL SAFETY ISSUE. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE LAWS THAT THEY ONLY ENFORCE WHEN THEY NEED A LITTLE CASH. ENOUGH SAID. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10280539
- Incident
- Aug 15, 2009
Electrical
Filed Jun 28, 2008
SWITCH, FRONT BRAKE LIGHT. PART NO. 35340-MA5-671 HONDA GL 1100 GOLD WING MOTORCYCLE REPLACED SEPT. 2006 / REPLACED MAY 2007 / REPLACED OCT. 2007 / REPLACED MAY 2008. DISASSEMBLY REVEALED 2MM DIAMETER CONTACT POINTS, OFFSET AND ANGLED AT 45. THIS CONTACT SURFACE HAS BEEN FURTHER REDUCED TO JUST THE EDGE OF ONE CONTACT TOUCHING THE FLAT OF ITS MATING SURFACE TO CLOSE THE CIRCUIT. FOULING BY ELECTRICAL ARC RESIDUE, DUST, DIRT, ETC. OCCURS DUE TO POOR DESIGN AND/OR QUALITY CONTROL IN MANUFACTURING OF PART. BRAKE LIGHT NO LONGER FUNCTIONS. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10232593
- Incident
- May 10, 2008
Interior & seatsOther / unspecified
Filed Apr 9, 2008
HONDO ODYSSEY, 2001 DOOR LATCHES. DOOR DID NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS. THEN DOOR COMPLETELY STOPPED OPENING OR CLOSING EVEN AFTER RESETTING THE SYSTEM. HONDA GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF $995.00 FOR THE LEFT DOOR AND $875.00 FOR THE RIGHT DOOR. I KNOW PRIOR TWO YEARS THIS MODEL WAS PRODUCED THE LATCH WAS RECALLED. I CAN NOT FIND A RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE. I FEEL IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE 1999 AND 2000. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10223800
- Incident
- Jan 11, 2008
Electrical
Filed Jan 5, 2008
ON OCTOBER 30, 2004, I HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED ON MY 1998 HONDA CIVIC PER THE RECALL. IN LATE DECEMBER OF 2007, I BEGAN HAVING TROUBLE STARTING MY CAR. ON SIX OCCASIONS, MY CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING -- ONCE ON THE INTERSTATE (UNDER CONSTRUCTION -- WITH NO SHOULDER). THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH, BUT SAID THAT SINCE IT WAS PREVIOUSLY TAKEN CARE OF PER THE RECALL, I HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE THE 3 YEAR OLD REPLACEMENT ($364.). I SAVED THE IGNITION THAT THEY REPLACED THIS TIME -- THEY DID NOT ALLOW ME TO SAVE THE IGNITION THE FIRST TIME (2004) (THEY SAID, BECAUSE IT WAS A RECALLED PART). NOTE: THIS IS A HONDA CIVIC (THIS SITE WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO CHOOSE THE CORRECT MODEL FROM THE PULL-DOWN MENU). *CN
- NHTSA ID
- 10213802
- Incident
- Jan 3, 2008