1995 Honda Odyssey

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL INTERMITTANTLY (VERY, VERY DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC!) AND MAKING IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO START (KEY HAD TO BE HELD BETWEEN ACC AND ON). SWITH DISASSEMBLY REVEALED MOLTEN PITTING ON ONE CONTACT. FILING CONTACTS RESTORED NORMAL OPERATION, BUT COPPER NOW LACKS SILVER PLATING, WHICH MAY ACCELERATE CORROSION. NEW SWITCH PURCHASED FROM DEALER FOR $60 AND DIY REPLACEMENT TOOK APPROX. 15 MINUTES TO INSTALL (TWO SCREWS AND SEVERAL HARNESS CLIPS). VEHIICLE WAS NOT COVERED BY HONDA RECALL FOR LATER (AND MECHANICALLY IDENTICAL) MODELS.*AK

ON MY 1995 HONDA ODYSSEY, THE ELECTRICAL PART OF IT HAS CAUSED OUR VEHICLE TO STOP RUNNING FOR NO REASON WHILE WE ARE DRIVING - THAT HAS HAPPENED TO US TWICE IN THE LAST SIX DAYS. ALSO, WHEN WE TURN THE KEY TO START THE VEHICLE, NONE OF THE INSTRUMENT LIGHTS WILL COME ON. IN READING OTHER THINGS, MY PROBLEM SOUNDS JUST LIKE THE PROBLEM THAT BROUGHT ABOUT THE 1997 MODEL YEAR IGNITION SWITCH RECALL. *JB

ELECTRICAL FIRE INSIDE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. WHERE INSTRUMENT PANEL (WINDOWS/DOOR LOCKS) IS. DRIVER'S DOOR (MATERIAL, BUTTONS, PLASTIC) IS MELTED AND BURNT BADLY. THE VAN WAS WARMING UP, 3- 5 MINUTES. SMOKE WAS POURING OUT WHEN I WENT TO GET IN AND THE DOOR WAS ON FIRE. SNOW KEPT THE FIRE AT BAY UNTIL THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER WAS USED. THE SMELL OF BURNT PLASTIC IS STILL HORRIBLE, EVEN AFTER LEAVING THE DOORS OPEN. CHECKED THE FUSES THE NEXT DAY FOR THE DOOR AND WINDOW LOCKS AND THE INSIDE OF THE FUSE WAS BURNT TO A CRISP. *LA

1995 HONDA ODYSSEY : IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM: I WROTE HONDA MOTORS AND ADVISED THEM THAT MY HONDA DEALER BELIEVES I HAVE AN IGNITION SWITCH THAT SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NO 02V120000 DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE FAILURE. I RECEIVED A LETTER BACK FROM HONDA ON MAY 20, 2003 STATING THAT MY WARRANTY EXPIRED AND "WE WILL BE UNABLE TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE". DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE FAILURE OF MY IGNITION SWITCH BEING THE SAME AS DESCRIBED IN YOUR RECALL CAMPAIGN, I BELIEVE HONDA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REIMBURSE ME THE $170.63 THAT I PERSONALLY SPENT TO REPLACE MY FAULTY SWITCH. I HAVE THE OLD PART AND THE CONTACTS ON THE SWITCH ARE MELTED. THE ENGINE STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING SEVERAL TIMES ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING. I HAVE THE OLD PART AS PROOF OF THE INCIDENT AND WOULD BE WILLING TO MAIL IT TO YOU FOR ANALYSIS. AFTER LOOKING AT THE IGNITION SWITCH, TALKING WITH MY HONDA SERVICE MECHANIC AND READING YOUR RECALL BULLETIN, I BELIEVE YOU WILL AGREE THAT MY IGNITION SWITCH SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND REPLACED AT NO CHARGE. AS OF THIS LETTER, I HAVE SPENT $3,388.30 ON MY HONDA IN REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE COST. I'M NOT ASKING HONDA TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR NORMAL REPAIRS; HOWEVER, I AM ASKING THEM TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIRS THAT ARE PERHAPS MFG. DEFECTS THAT COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH DUE TO THE PARTS FAILURE. THE VERY FACT THAT A RECALL CAMPAIGN WAS IMPLEMENTED TELL ME THEY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT PROBLEMS EXISTS. I ONLY WANT MY SWITCH TO BE EXAMINED AND A FAIR DETERMINATION MADE. I KNOW THAT THE RECALL WAS FOR 1997 HONDA'S AND MY HONDA IS A 1995; HOWEVER, I PURCHASED IT USED AND THE ORIGINAL SWITCH COULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN 1997 WITH THE RECALLED IGNITION SWITCH. FOR A FAX COPY OF MY LETTER TO HONDA, AMERICAN HONDA'S RESPONSE TO MY LETTER, AND A COPY OF MY CANCELLED CHECK, PLEASE CONTACT ME AT [XXX] (W) OR [XXX] (H). I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP REGARDING THIS MATTER & AWAIT YOUR REPLY. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

FIRE BROKE OUT INSIDE DRIVER'S DOOR INTERIOR WHILE DRIVING. SUSPECT FAILURE IN POWER WINDOW, POWER DOOR LOCK OR POWER MIRROR CONTROL ASSEMBLY. FIRE COMPLETELY OR PARTIAL DESTROYED DRIVER'S DOOR, DRIVER'S SEAT, FRONT WINDSHIELD, HEADER, MIRROR, SUN SHADE, MOON ROOF, AND STEERING WHEEL. THE ENTIRE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS COVERED INSIDE WITH BLACK STUFF FROM THE FIRE. MY WIFE AND CHILD WERE LUCKY TO HAVE GOTTEN OUT OF THE VEHICLE BEFORE BEING BURNED. DT