I BOUGHT A 1999 HONDA ODYSSEY IN APRIL, 1999. IT NOW HAS ABOUT 13,000 MILES. ON 11/13/2000, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WHEN SHE STARTED TO SMELL SMOKE. WITHIN A MILE, ALL ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, THE ENGINE QUIT, AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. SHE GOT OUT OF THE VAN; WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, THE ENGINE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE; THEY SAY THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AND THAT THERE IS $18,000 IN DAMAGE. MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAS INVESTIGATED; THEY SAY THERE IS $19,000 IN DAMAGE -- A TOTAL LOSS. MY QUESTIONS: 1. WHAT'S THE LIKELY CAUSE OF THE FIRE -- A HONDA DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT, OR A DEALER INSTALLATION ERROR? (I HAD THE LOCAL DEALER INSTALL A HONDA CASSETTE DECK IN NOVEMBER, 1999; I HAD TO TAKE THE VAN BACK FOR REPAIRS A FEW DAYS LATER WHEN I NOTICED THAT CERTAIN ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES NO LONGER WORKED CORRECTLY AND MY BATTERY WENT DEAD.) 2. WHAT LEVERAGE DO I HAVE TO GET SPECIAL TREATMENT (E.G., A GOOD DEAL ON A NEW VAN, TEMPORARY TRANSPORTATION) FROM HONDA AND THE DEALER? (MY WIFE IS 6 MONTHS PREGNANT, SHE HAD OUR 20-MONTH-OLD DAUGHTER IN THE VAN WITH HER; THEY ARE FINE, BUT A BYSTANDER HAD TO HELP THEM GET OUT OF THE VAN -- THEY COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED IN THIS INCIDENT.) I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO HAS CONTACTED HONDA. NEITHER WANTS TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY TRANSPORTATION (MY INSURANCE DOESN'T COVER IT); THE BEST THEY'VE OFFERED IS TO EXPEDITE DELIVERY OF A REPLACEMENT (AT LEAST 2-3 MORE WEEKS). AT THIS POINT, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'LL CHARGE ME MSRP OR GIVE ME A DISCOUNT. *AK
2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE CHILDREN WERE GETTING OUT OF THE SLIDING DOOR ON THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE, THE DOOR STOPPED MIDWAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NOW THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN AT ALL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 59,000.