Federal Regulators Investigating 1999-2001 Honda Accords for Possible Ignition Problem

DETROIT January 18, 2005; The AP reported that Federal regulators are investigating whether certain models of the Honda Accord have a faulty ignition system, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Tuesday.

NHTSA is investigating Accords from the 1999-2001 model year. There are about 1.2 million Accords on the road from those years.

Federal regulators have received complaints that the ignition system allows the driver to remove the key when the vehicle is in positions other than "park." If the vehicle is stopped but not in "park," it could roll and get into a crash, the agency said.

NHTSA said there have been 75 complaints about the ignition system to the government and Honda Motor Co. There have been 11 reported crashes but no injuries.

Honda Accords from the 1998 and 1999 model years were recalled in 2003 for the same defect. The Accords being investigated now weren't involved in that recall.

Honda spokeswoman Sara Pines said the company is cooperating with the investigation.

NHTSA investigations can lead to vehicle recalls.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov