Front spring failure

My wife's 2001 Acura MDX just had to have the front suspension redone at a cost of $1300 due to TWO broken front springs Eek!

This vehicle has never been in accident and never used offroad but Honda just says it is out of warranty and therefor it's my problem. The Dealership - Erin Mills Acura - also say there is nothing they can do although we bought it there for $50,000 and have had every service done there - they didn't even offer to cover part of the costs so i guess they have lost a customer.

I am going to go to Transport Canada and see if i can start the ball rolling on a recall in Canada and the USA. I will be posting on all the Acura forums i can find I see at least a couple of other people who have had this problem but i welcome input from anyone who has had spring failure on a Honda of any type.

I am going to go a metalurgy(sp?) lab and get the springs checked out for crystalization and if it is found I'm going to make their lives a misery - anyone know Ralph Nader's phone number.

This really pisses me of as SPRINGS DON"T JUST BREAK - even in an accident and it is a huge safety issue if something lets go.
KWKSLVR

AcuraImport · Site Admin Joined: Mar 11, 2003 Posts: 485

Sorry to hear that...
The springs just broke? If never seen springs break outside of a lab. And that was the purpose of the experiment and even then those where some extreme conditions.

PS. remind me to stay on your good side. I'd hate to be on the recieving end of one of your vengenc campaigns

_________________
If you feel like you're in control, you're not going fast enough. ~ Mario Andretti
Pics of Lucielle - That's right I named my car... what of it

GordonD · Newbie Joined: Feb 09, 2005 Posts: 6

I actually don't know how/when they broke. My wife had commented once in a while about 'knocking' in the front over slow bumps but I never could hear it.

We asked Acura to look at it at a service and they announced both springs were broken.

We got it back last night and now we have the parts can see both the springs are broken cleanly near the top with a very sharp diagonal break - almost like they were cut with a knife.

I am not usually a vindictave person but i cannot stand being patronised or lied too. The dealer kept asking about our usage; making comments like it's very dirty underneath Well it's February in Toronto

so what else would you expect. These are macpherson struts and the shocks are not blown so how would one do enough damage to break two springs without destroying the shocks or a wheel or a tire or the bodywork

burden · Newbie Joined: Feb 19, 2005 Posts: 2

Interesting!
The right front spring broke on our 2001 MDX on 02/26. The vehicle has 106K kms on it. Now I find, as I wait for it to be fixed, that both struts are leaking as well. Luckily, the vehicle was basically stationary when the spring went. I was in a parking lot, put the vehicle in Drive and the spring went when the MDX rolled forward. Sounded like a gunshot! It damaged the strut and the speed sensor as well.

Guess what? Silverhill Acura in Calgary tells me it is not a warranty item. Funny, my wife's company is a seismic surveying company that has been around for 20 years. Their trucks are off-road and up cut lines all the time requiring a myriad of repairs over their short lease life. In 20 years though, they have never had a broken spring.

This MDX has never been off the pavement. Consider me substantially grumpy!

Les Burden

AcuraImport · Site Admin Joined: Mar 11, 2003 Posts: 485

So how is the 'good fight' coming?
_________________
If you feel like you're in control, you're not going fast enough. ~ Mario Andretti
Pics of Lucielle - That's right I named my car... what of it

Guest · Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2005 11:00 am Post subject:

After my chat with the enginerr i got a reference to a testing lab but they would charge me between $1,500 and $3,000 to do a formal analysis so I have given up on that route.

I am now talking to Transport Canada and have written an empassioned plea to Honda Canada for reimbursement

I'll keep you all posted as anything happens.

burden · Newbie Joined: Feb 19, 2005 Posts: 2

Just a note regarding the front spring failure on my MDX. I can't say enough about the class and professionalism shown by Silverhill Acura in Calgary. My right front spring broke in Lethbridge a few weeks back and the vehicle was repaired in Lethbridge by the local Honda dealership. Althought the vehicle is over warranty, Silverhill elected, without my request I add, to pick up the cost of that repair for me. We also own a 2000 3.2TL with which we have had no problem. Enough cannot be said about this classy dealership. When I buy a new car next year I guess its going to have to be another Silverhill Acura. How could I consider an alternative when they treat their customers in this fashion.

GordonD · Newbie Joined: Feb 09, 2005 Posts: 6

I now have an open file at Transport Canada about the spring failures - would anyone who has had a failure contact them 1-800-333-0510 and ask for a defect investigator.

They are in close contact with the US safety agency so hopefully they will act together.

If people start reporting this problem hopefully a recall will be started and the problem will get solved and those of us who are out of pocket will get reimbursed.

GordonD · Newbie Joined: Feb 09, 2005 Posts: 6

Well I got a reply from Acura last night on my problem and they have asked me let them look at the springs.

Obviously not an admission of guilt - YET - but an encouraging step in the journey.