1998 Honda CR-V

I RECENTLY READ THE PRESS REGARDING FIRES STARTING UNDERNEATH HONDA CRVS. LAST YEAR, FOLLOWING AN OIL CHANGE, I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT AND HEARD PEOPLE SCREAMING AT ME FROM THEIR CARS-THERE WAS A FIRE UNDER MY CAR. I QUICKLY PULLED OVER AND, BY THEN, THE FIRE WAS OUT. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE BACK TO MY MECHANIC-THEY EXAMINED THE CAR, WHICH STILL SMELLED OF SMOKE, BUT THEY WERE STUMPED. THE GARAGE IS VERY REPUTABLE AND AAA RATED. I RECENTLY READ ANOTHER ARTICLE THAT INDICATED NHTSA REOPENED AN INVESTIGATION OF THIS PROBLEM. MY CAR IS A 1998-I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS MORE WIDESPREAD THAN THE 2003-2004 MODELS. I'M EXTREMELY CONCERNED WHENEVER MY OIL IS CHANGED. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE RECTIFIED BY HONDA-QUICKLY.*AK

WHILE DRIVING MY 1998 HONDA CR-V I NOTICED POWER SURGES AND DEEMING OF LIGHTS. THE CAR ULTIMATELY SHUT DOWN. IT STARTED RIGHT BACK UP AND I DROVE IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. HE LOOKED IT OVER HOOKED IT UP TO HIS COMPUTER AND GOT A READING THAT THE SOLENOID ON THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOING BAD. HE THOUGHT THIS WAS INCORRECT AND SUGGESTED MAYBE SOMETHING ELSE WAS WRONG. HE DROVE THE CAR FOR A WHILE AND NOTHING HAPPENED. HE SUGGESTED I DRIVE THE CAR AND LET HIM KNOW IF SOMETHING WENT WRONG. LATER THAT DAY AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK SOLDER DROPPED FROM UNDER THE DASH ONTO MY FOOT. TUESDAY MORNING I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE SAME MECHANIC THAT LOOKED AT IT ON FRIDAY. HE WAS SHOCKED THAT SOMETHING UNDER THE DASH COULD GET THAT HOT AND NOT CATCH ON FIRE. HE LOOKED UNDER THE DASH AND DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT HAD GOT SO HOT THAT IT BEGAN TO MELT THE SOLDER. HE CALLED CALE YARBOROUGH HONDA IN FLORENCE TO GET A NEW IGNITION SWITCH. WE RECEIVED THE PART AND THE MECHANIC PUT IT IN AND THE CAR SEEMS TO BE RUNNING FINE. THE PART THAT STARTLES ME THE MOST IS THAT THE CAR BELONGS TO MY WIFE AND I JUST HAPPENED TO BE DRIVING IT WHEN THE PROBLEMS OCCURRED. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM I HAVE IS THAT IF MY WIFE WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE CAR AND HOT SOLDER WOULD HAVE FALLEN ON HER FOOT AND BURNED HER IT COULD HAVE POSSIBLY CAUSED HER TO WRECK. SHE ALWAYS WEARS SLIP ON SHOES AND HER FOOT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN PROTECTED LIKE MY FOOT WAS. EVEN WITH SHOES ON IT STARTLED ME ENOUGHT TO DRIVE OFF THE ROAD. IT IS DISTURBING TO ME WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF SHE WERE DRIVING THE CAR. I CONTACTED HONDA AND TOLD THEM OF THE INCIDENT AND THEY SAID MY COMPLAINT WOULD GO TO A REVIEW BOARD AND IF IT WARRENTED LOOKING INTO THEY WOULD CONTACT ME. I AM WRITING YOU BECAUSE THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE FATAL IF THIS HAPPENS TO SOMEONE ELSE. I WOULD HATE TO KNOW SOMEONE GOT KILLED BECAUSE SOLDER DROPPED ON SOMEONE'S FOOT AND CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *AK

NAR 1/15/2002. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE IGNITION SWITCH. HOWEVER WHEN THE CONSUMER ARRIVED SHE WAS TOLD THE ALARM WOULD HAVE TO BE DISCONNECTED AND THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO RECONNECT IT AFTER THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH SINCE THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT INSTALL THE ALARM. THE CONSUMER HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE BUSINESS WHO INSTALLED THE ALARM AND HAVE IT RECONNECTED IN WHICH THE COMPANY CHARGED THE CONSUMER $45.00. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSMENT FROM HONDA. *JB