1991 Honda Accord

HONDA'S ARE SOLD WITH "DONUT" SPARE TIRES WHICH ARE OF REDUCED SIZE AND DURABILITY AND INCREASED PRESSURE. IN MY FIRST USE, THE TIRE FAILED IN LESS THAN 30 MILES DRIVEN AT UNDER 50 MPH. IN MY VIEW THIS IS AN INHERENTLY UNSAFE ARRANGEMENT. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER SERVICES THIS CAR SINCE NEW ACCORDING TO MFR SPECS, I DON'T EVER RECALL CHECKING THE TIRE MYSELF (UNLIKE TIRES THAT GET ROTATED REGULARLY). IT QUICKLY FAILED IN CURCUMSTANCES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN QUITE DANGEROUS.*AK

DRIVER'S-SIDE DOOR LATCH JUST FAILED AND THE DOOR WAS JAMMED SHUT. THIS IS THE ONLY CASE OF A DOOR LATCH JUST FAILING IN ANY VEHICLE THAT I OR ANY OF MY FAMILY/FRIENDS HAVE EVER OWNED. THIS COST OVER $700 TO REPAIR (SINCE THE DOOR WAS JAMMED SHUT)AND ALTHOUGH HONDA HAS UNOFFICIAL DOCUMENTS ABOUT THE DRILLING (FROM THE INSIDE) PROCEDURE TO RELEASE THE JAMMED LATCH, THEY HAVE NO OFFICIAL DOCUMENT RELATING TO THIS. WHEN I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER, I WAS BASICALLY TOLD "SORRY, YOUR CAR IS PAST THE WARRANTY" - END OF STORY. FROM THE REPORTS I HAVE SEEN ON THIS WEB SITE AND IN TALKING WITH A LOCAL HONDA MECHANIC, IT TURNS OUT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS FAILURES OF THIS TYPE. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE ORIGINAL DOOR LATCH DESIGN IS DEFECTIVE, SINCE I HAVE NEVER OWNED ANY CAR (OF ANY AGE) OR EVEN HEARD OF A CAR (BESIDES THE ACCORD REPORTS I GOT FROM THIS WEB SITE AND THE LOCAL HONDA MECHANIC) WHERE THE DOOR LATCH JUST FAILED. I BELIEVE THAT THIS REPRESENTS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD, SINCE IF THE LATCH MECHANISM IS PRONE TO FAILURE WITHOUT ANY OUTSIDE INFLUENCE, THEN THAT MECHANISM WILL BE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO FAIL IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, JAMMING THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR SHUT AND PREVENTING EASY EXIT FROM THE VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THAT THE HONDA CORPORATION SHOULD BE COMPELLED TO CORRECT THIS DEFICIENCY BY REPLACING THE FAULTY DOOR LATCH MECHANISMS, OR AT LEAST OFFERING TO COMPENSATE THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE HAD TO SPEND WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE AN INORDINATE SUM OF MONEY TO REPAIR A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. IT HAS TAKEN ME NEARLY A YEAR TO GET AROUND TO WRITING THIS, AND I WOULD BE WILLING TO BET THAT FOR EACH PERSON WHO FILES A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA THERE ARE HUNDREDS MORE WHO DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOUR AGENCY OR DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO FILE A REPORT. THANK YOU.*AK

I BOUGHT 4 TIRES FOR MY HONDA ACCORD AROUND SUMMER 97, THEY HAD ABOUT 35,000 MILES ON THEM AT THIS MOMENT. DUE TO THE HOT WEATHER IN OK AND TX; LAST FRIDAY, I WAITED UNTIL 800PM FOR THE HEAT TO COME DOWN TO DRIVE FROM OKLAHOMA CITY TO DALLAS. ABOUT 60 MILES NORTH OF DALLAS, MY REAR RIGHT TIRE BLEW UP AS SEEN ON TV NEWS REPORTS ON THE RECALL TIRES; THE OUTER PLY(S) PEELED OFF. THE DOT ON MY TIRES ARE: VDRVAIB496 MADE FROM THE SAME DECATUR ILLINOIS PLAN. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING ALL FIRESTONE'S TIRES BESIDE THE RECALL ONES. JUST WONDERED, THERE IS A WORKMANSHIP PROBLEM AT THE DECATUR, ILLINOIS PLAN? PLEASE EMAIL ME ANY FINDING OR INFORMATION ON FIRESTONE'S OTHER TIRES PROBLEMS. ..... THANK YOU!( DOT NUMBER: VDRV TIRE SIZE: P185/70R14 )