NHTSA ID Number: 10297445

Incident Date: 2009-12-18

Manufacturer's Name: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Vehicle/Equipment Make: ACURA

Vehicle/Equipment Model: RSX

Model Year: 2006
9999 If Unknown Or N/A

Vehicle Identification Number: JH4DC548X6S

Vehicle Mileage At Failure: 34520

Vehicle Speed: 45

Number Of Occurrences: 1

Was Vehicle Towed: No

Consumer Location: BLAIRSTOWN, NJ

Summary of Complaint

1. HAZARDOUS NIGHT DRIVING LOSS OF LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT DUE TO POOR LIGHT SOCKET DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION. THIS DEFECT APPEARS TO BE A BURNOUT LIGHT HALOGEN LIGHT BULB. 2.THE BULB BURNS OUT DUE VIBRATION, OR ARCHING CAUSED BY THE LIGHT BULB LOCKING MECHANISM ASSEMBLY FAILURE LEAVING THE BULB LOOSE, AND HELD IN PLACE ONLY BY THE PROTECTIVE RUBBER BOOT. THE LAMP SOCKET IS HELD IN PLACE BY A HIGH TENSION SPRING LOCKING INTO A SMALL HOOK PROTRUDING FROM APPROXIMATELY 2? DIAMETER THIN SOFT WHITE METAL CAST DISK ATTACHED WITH 2 SMALL SCREWS TO THE HEADLIGHT REFLECTOR. THIS TOOTH SHAVES OFF BY THE SPRING PRESSURE AS EVIDENCED BY METAL SHAVINGS PRESENT IN BASE OF THE REFLECTOR. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED OCCURRENCE, AND A BRIEF INTERNET SEARCH HAS TURNED UP MANY OF SIMILAR OWNER REPORTS. LOSS OF LIGHT IS OFTEN PRECEDED BY THE BLINKING HEADLIGHT. THERE IS A DANGER OF CRASH DUE TO LOSS OF LIGHTS ON AN UNLIT HIGHWAY. 3.THE SOFT METAL LIGHT SOCKET MOUNT SHOULD BE REPLACED BY A STAMPED SHEET METAL PART THAT WOULD NOT CRACK UNDER THE SPRING PRESSURE. THE CHOICE OF A VERY SOFT AND THIN METAL DIE CAST FOR THIS PART IS AN OBVIOUS ERROR. THE STAMPED PART SHOULD BE ALSO MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE THEN THE DIE CAST. THE ONLY FIX SO FAR IS A REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WITH 3 LIGHTS AT $619.53 BECAUSE ACURA REFUSES TO MAKE THE REPLACEMENT DIE CAST DISK AVAILABLE AS A REPLACEMENT PART. ACURA SERVICE STONEWALLS THE WARRANTY REPAIR REQUESTS. IN MY CASE, THE ORIGINAL DEALER HAS CLAIMED THAT THE LIGHT IS NOT ABLE TO BE FIXED UNDER THE WARRANTY BECAUSE CAR ?HAD AN IMPACT?. THE ACURA CASE MANAGER HAS ARRANGED OPINION FROM ANOTHER DEALER WHO HAS SAID THERE WAS ?NO IMPACT?, BUT THE USER ?MUST HAVE BROKEN THE RETAINING HOOK DURING THE LIGHT BULB REPLACEMENT?, HENCE NO WARRANTY SERVICE. THE ISSUE IS THAT THE LIGHT BULB HAS BEEN FOUND LOOSE IN THE SOCKET, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO BE REPLACED AT NIGHT. YOU NEED TO REQUIRE THAT ALL LIGHT BULBS MUST BE REPLACEABLE WITHOUT USE OF TOOLS. *TR

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Complaint 10297445 Documents

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CRASH: No
WAS VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A CRASH

FIRE: No
WAS VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A FIRE

INJURIES: 0
NUMBER OF PERSONS INJURED

DEATHS: 0
NUMBER OF FATALITIES

Was Medical Attention Required: No

Was Incident Reported To Police: No

Date Of Incident: 2009-12-18
(YYYY-MM-DD)

Date Added To File: 2009-12-29
(YYYY-MM-DD)

Date Complaint Received By NHTSA: 2009-12-29
(YYYY-MM-DD)

Date Purchased:
(YYYY-MM-DD)

Was Original Owner: No

Product Type: Vehicle

V = Vehicle
T = Tires
E = Equipment
C = Child Restraint

Specific Component's Description: EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Anti-Lock Brakes: No

Cruise Control: No

Number Of Cylinders:

Drive Train Type:
[AWD, 4WD, FWD, RWD]

Fuel System:

FI = Fuel Injection
TB = Turbo

Fuel Type:

BF = BiFuel
CN = CNG/LPG
DS = Diesel
GS = Gas
HR = Hybrid Electric

Vehicle Transmission Type [Auto, Man]:

(DOT) Department Of Transportation Tire Identifier:

Tire Size:

Location Of Tire:

FSW = Driver Side Front
DSR = Driver Side Rear
FTR = Passenger Side Front
PSR = Passenger Side Rear
SPR = Spare

Type Of Tire Failure:

BST = Blister
BLW = Blowout
TTL = Crack
OFR = Out Of Round
TSW = Puncture
TTR = Road Hazard
TSP = Tread Separation

Was Defective Tire Repaired:

Was Part Original Equipment:

Date Of Manufacture:
(YYYYMMDD)

Type Of Child Seat:

B = Booster
C = Convertible
I = Infant
IN = Integrated
TD = Toddler

Installation System:

A = Vehicle Safety Belt
B = Latch System

Dealer's Name:

Dealer's Telephone Number:

Dealer's City:

Dealer's State:

Dealer's Zipcode:

SOURCE OF COMPLAINT CODE:

CAG = Consumer Action Group
CON = Forwarded From A Congressional Office
DP = Defect Petition,result Of A Defect Petition
EVOQ = Hotline VOQ
EWR = EARLY WARNING REPORTING
INS = Insurance Company
IVOQ = NHTSA Web Site
LETR = Consumer Letter
MAVQ = NHTSA Mobile APP
MIVQ = NHTSA Mobile APP
MVOQ = Optical Marked VOQ
RC = Recall Complaint, Result Of A Recall Investigation
RP = Recall Petition, Result Of A Recall Petition
SVOQ = Portable Safety Complaint Form (PDF)
VOQ = NHTSA Vehicle Owners Questionnaire

Incident State Code:

Vehicle Operator's Name: