2008 Honda Ridgeline

TAKATA RECALL AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. (AHMC) IS ONLY PROVIDING ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION IN THE LIMITED FORM OF A RENTAL CAR. MY AFFECTED VEHICLE IS A TRUCK WITH WHICH I TOW A BOAT. I WAS INFORMED BY AHMC THAT REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR THE RECALL WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER. THEIR LETTER STATES THAT IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND THAT "THE DEFECT COULD KILL OR INJURE YOU OR OTHER PEOPLE IN YOUR VEHICLE". THEY WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE ANY LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE CAPABLE OF TOWING. THIS IS NOT REASONABLE, GIVEN IT WILL BE POSSIBLY 5 OR 6 MONTHS (APRIL - SEP) BEFORE I WILL BE ABLE TO USE THE TRUCK AGAIN, WHICH MEANS I CANNOT USE MY BOAT EITHER, DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS!

I STARTED MY TRUCK AND THE AIR WOULD NOT BLOW. I SMELLED THE BURNING OF ELECTRICITY. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE DASH HARNESS WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE BLOWER MOTOR. THEY QUOTED ME $1,500 TO FIX IT. APPARENTLY THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT WAS RECALLED IN THE 2007 MODEL BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE FOR THE 2008 MODEL. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL.

MY 2008 HONDA RIDGELINE TRUCK IS IN VERY GOOD SHAPE, GARAGE KEPT, WELL MAINTAINED, WITH ONLY 72K MI. WE WERE DRIVING UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT ON I-83N FROM DE TO PA, DURING THE RAINY NIGHT OF NOV. 18,2015. WE HEARD A FLAP-RIP SOUND, AND THOUGHT IT WAS THE (AFTER MARKET) BED COVER FLAPPING AT THE CAB CORNER, BECAUSE A COVER CLIP HAD WEAKENED THERE DURING THIS HIGHWAY DRIVE FROM GA TO PA, ALLOWING THE COVER TO FLAP IN WIND, AND NEEDED REFASTENING WHENEVER WE STOPPED FOR GAS. IT WAS THE NEXT MORNING IN THE LIGHT WHEN WE REALIZED THE ENTIRE CAB TOP-REAR PANEL (BREAK LIGHT, WIRING & ALL) HAD DISLODGED COMPLETELY OFF THE TRUCK, AND DECIDED THIS WAS PROBABLY THE RIPPING SOUND WE HEARD ON I-83 THE NIGHT BEFORE, THOUGH WE DID NOT KNOW AT THE TIME, AND PRAY NO DANGER RESULTED BEHIND US. WE TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED, TO SEE WHAT THEY COULD DO TO COMPENSATE, WHICH WAS ONLY TO OFFER $50 DISCOUNT ON $400 OF PARTS, ALSO SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE ISSUE, EVEN THOUGH CARCOMPLIANTS.COM HAD A POSTING. WE INSTEAD HAVE A LOCAL MECHANIC WAITING ON THE PART TO REPLACE THE PANEL AT LESS COST, BECAUSE THE LIGHT IS NEEDED, AND WE HAVE TEMPORARY DUCT TAPE OVER THE WIRING HOLE FOR PROTECTION. OUR POSITION IS THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S SAFETY DEFECT, AND SHOULD BE RECALLED! NO MARKET BODY PART SHOULD JUST FLY OFF THE TRUCK, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT CAN RESULT IN ACCIDENTS, INJURY, AND POSSIBLY EVEN DEATH!

7 YEAR OLD VEHICLE I PURCHASED IN 09 WHILE STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY . POWER STEERING PUMP IS BEGINNING TO FAIL AS INTERMINTATLY WHEEL FEELS VERY STIFF IN 2 OR 3 INCH INCREMENTS OF TURNING. HOPE TO MAKE IT PAST NEW YEARS B4 REPLACING. FLUID WAS R&RED AT 39K BY HONDA. VEHICLE NOW HAS 44K. THESE INCEDENTS HAPPEN JUST AFTER CRANKING WITH SUFFICIENT WARM UP OF AT LEAST 30 TO 55 SECONDS AND PULLING OR BACKING OUT OF LOCATION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA RIDGELINE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE TOP PANEL ON THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE WHERE THE COURTESY LIGHTS AND WIRING WERE HOUSED DETACHED COMPLETELY ONTO THE ROAD. IN ADDITION, THE AIR CONDITIONER BECAME INOPERABLE AND THE WIRING HARNESS MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.