Customer Letter

Example of Customer Letter

June 1996

Safety Recall: Civic Power Brake Booster Check Valve

Dear Civic Owner:

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in the brake booster vacuum hose of certain 1996 Civics. Our records indicate that you may own one of the affected vehicles.

what Is the defect?

The brake booster check valve in certain 1996 Civics may stick, which could result in a loss of the brake's power assist without prior warning. A loss of power assist would require greater than normal brake pedal force, resulting in a reduction in braking performance. This could lead to a vehicle crash.

what should you do?

Call any authorized Honda automobile dealer and make an appointment to have your car repaired. They will clean the brake booster vacuum hose to prevent this problem from happening. This procedure will be done free of charge. No parts are required. This procedure takes approximately half an hour; but please plan to leave your car with the dealership for half a day to allow them flexibility in scheduling.

Check your brakes. Until the dealer repairs your car, you and anyone else who drives your car must check the brakes every time before you begin driving.

1. Before starting the engine. fully depress and release the brake pedal five times.

^ You will feel the brake pedal get harder to push each time you depress it.

2. Then, press on the brake pedal as you start the engine.

^ The pedal should go down at least another inch as the engine starts.

- If it does, the check valve is working and you may drive the car.

- If it does not, and the pedal is still very hard to depress, the check valve is stuck. contact your Honda dealer, and do not drive the car.

WARNING
Have your car fixed as soon as possible. until you do, you must check the brakes every time before driving. Failure to do so could result in a crash in which you could be seriously hurt or killed.

Who to contact If you experience problems.

If you are not satisfied with the service you receive from your Honda dealer, you may write to:

American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Customer Information Service, Mail Stop 540-2S-2A
1919 Torrance Blvd., Torrance, CA 90501-2746

If you believe that American Honda or the dealer has failed or is unable to remedy the defect in your car, without charge, within a reasonable period of time (60 days from the date you first contact the dealer for an appointment), you may submit a complaint to:

Administrator
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
400 Seventh St, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590

Or call the toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at (800) 424-9393 (residents of Washington D.C. should call 366-0123).

what to do if you feel this notice is in error.

This notice was mailed to you according to the most current information we have available. If you no longer own a Civic, or the name and address information in this notice is incorrect, please fill out and return the included Information Change Card. This will help us to update our records.

If you have questions.

If you are not sure how to contact a Honda dealer, or have questions about this notice, please call the Honda Customer Information Service Office at (800) 999-1009.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.