IGNITION PARK-SHIFT INTERLOCK

ODI HAS RECEIVED 16 COMPLAINTS ALLEGING FAILURES OF THE IGNITION PARK-SHIFT INTERLOCK THAT ALLOWED THE IGNITION KEY TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WITHOUT THE TRANSMISSION BEING SHIFTED TO PARK IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2002 AND 2003 HONDA ACCORD VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. ELEVEN OF THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT THE FAILURE OF THE INTERLOCK RESULTED IN A ROLLAWAY CRASH. ONE OWNER ALLEGED THAT SHE WAS ALMOST INTO HER HOUSE WHEN SHE NOTICED THE CAR ROLLING OUT OF THE GARAGE AND DOWN THE DRIVEWAY AND THAT WHEN SHE TRIED TO STOP THE CAR IT ALMOST RAN OVER HER, BEFORE CRASHING INTO A CABLE BOX AT THE END OF THE DRIVEWAY. ANOTHER OWNER ALLEGED THAT THE VEHICLE ROLLED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND STRUCK A TREE ACROSS THE STREET. THERE HAVE BEEN 28 COMPLAINTS MADE TO HONDA REGARDING IGNITION PARK-SHIFT INTERLOCK FAILURES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, 10 OF WHICH ALLEGE ROLLAWAY CRASHES. IN OCTOBER 2003, AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR COMPANY INITIATED RECALL 03V-423 TO CORRECT AN IGNITION PARK-SHIFT INTERLOCK DEFECT IN CERTAIN MY 1999 HONDA ODYSSEY, MY 1997-99 ACURA CL, MY 1999 ACURA TL, AND MY 1998-99 HONDA ACCORD VEHICLES. IN JANUARY 2005, HONDA INITIATED ANOTHER RECALL TO ADDRESS DEFECTIVE IGNITION PARK-SHIFT INTERLOCKS (RECALL 05V-025), THIS TIME COVERING MY 1997-2001 HONDA PRELUDE, MY 1999-2000 ACURA TL, AND CERTAIN MY 1999-2002 HONDA ACCORD VEHICLES. NOT ALL MY 2002 HONDA ACCORDS WERE COVERED UNDER RECALL 05V-025. THE REMAINING MY 2002 AND ALL MY 2003 ACCORD VEHICLES ARE COVERED IN THE SCOPE OF THIS RECALL QUERY. THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA09-001) TO CONTINUE TO ASSESS THE SCOPE AND FREQUENCY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT.