I have a 2,5 month young 3.500 miles driven 2005 S2000. Besides the known 2nd gear problem I was nothing but happy. Since Saturday night I'm happy being still alive.
On my way home on a empty freeway (rare condition in Southern California) my live was challenged without any warning.
A short sharp metallic bang and the S2000 were almost completely out of control at 68mi/h and were spinning several 360s. Finally I ended up in the soft bank in a huge cloud of dust after passing luckily the unforgiving concrete of a bridge.
The good news first: I was able to keep the car more or less on the road and the S2000 seem to be flipping over resistant.
The scary bad news: The right rear upper A-frame was broken off the Hub (the cause). The suspension is after this wild ride heavily damaged - I’m looking at ~ $10.000 repair.
Honda USA reacted insulting and of cause declined any responsibility.
I’m from Germany – use to drive fast but responsible and without accident for over 30 years – live now in California for 8 years (means I know the roads) and with 52 certainly not a silly punk.
At Honda USA they play the “Blame the customer” game and I’m seeking for help and information. Any similar events out there…?


PS. I checked the freeway on the next day at daylight for unusual road condition and was unable to blame the incident on CalTrans.

 

I have never heard this before...ever. Did you buy it used? Did you buy it on the private market? Was the suspension modified at all before you bought it?

If you bought it new...i dont know what to tell you man, you had the accident and the suspension is all torn to hell, chances are because this is such a freak accident and there are no recalls on the suspension setup...you'll probobly just have to pay your deductible and have insurance take care of the situation for you.

Your word against theirs, they will probobly win...unless you have a way to prove that the piece was faulty and broke BEFORE the accident...you really dont have many options.

 

never heard this happening EVER.. you are the first

 

I have never heard of this either. Honda will not be taking the blame for this unless you can prove it broken before the accident. This is something you cannot do. You will have to let your insurance pay for the repairs

 

I've never heard of this as well, having a '05 model also. I beat on the suspension pretty regularly, and nothing has broken. Yet. I do drop a tire off every now and then, plus driftdays isn't all the kind on the suspension parts either. I hope they resolve it in your favor, because it doesn't sound like it's your fault. You have less miles than me even, (6800).

 

Somehow I find it hard to believe that it would just randomly break off the hub like that. I could only see that happening if you hit a huge pothole or something.

 

To anwer some questions here ...

- I did buy the S2000 brand new (30 miles) from a Honda Dealer
- I was investigating the freeway - no hint
- I was not sliding broadside into a curb

I'm just back from the work shop. The surface at the broken a-arm is 2/3 silver shiny at the crack and 1/3 is dark gray. I'm not a mechanical engineer - but what does that tell you?

 

Pics?

 

That it was already cracked before it got to you, or you cracked it already before the incident.

 

Yup...my guess though (and no offense to you) but with the mileage you bought it at...im guessing the damage was caused while you owned it. With that kind of deteoration, im thinking if it WAS from the factory like that, this problem would have happened quite a while back...so just from my view of it, based solely off what you've told us, it seems the damage did in fact happen while you owned it.

And i can tell you this without question...if someone like me with the little knowledge i have on metal stress and fracture characteristics...a Honda rep wont even hear it.

Call your insurance man...pay your deductible and get your car fixed, fighting this is going to cost you more than its worth in the end. I can assure you of that.

 

sounds like a hairline crack in the structure already, the discoloration takes some time to set in, it is however an indication that the arm had structural damage before your accident occurred. There are ways to test the arm with an infrared dye and ultaviolet light, it will reveal other structural inperfections which can be proof of premature metal fatigue. Go to a large airline maintenance hangar and ask them to structure test the part, bet they can help you out in getting some kind of proof to show your dealer. We test our complete aircraft like this every year and more extensively every 5 years. give it a shot, worth trying

 

Thanks for the actually very good advise. Since I'm a pilot I should be able to find a mechanic who can do this
Sometimes you don't see the tree in the forest ....

 

hey me tooo..........

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NicoSommer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thanks for the actually very good advise. Since I'm a pilot I should be able to find a mechanic who can do this
Sometimes you don't see the tree in the forest ....</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, but all Honda is going to say is that you hit a pothole or something first and then over time it eventually broke. It's really hard to prove these things and large corporations have lawyers that cost more than any of us probably make in a lifetime.

The only way you would get anything out of them is if multiple people had the same exact problem, then you might have something.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RyanCivic2000 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Yeah, but all Honda is going to say is that you hit a pothole or something first and then over time it eventually broke. It's really hard to prove these things and large corporations have lawyers that cost more than any of us probably make in a lifetime.

The only way you would get anything out of them is if multiple people had the same exact problem, then you might have something.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I agree but thourough structure tests can reveal how long it has been there or if it was a fault in the casting/ forging process, since he has the car only 2.5 months and if it turns out to be a forging fault, he's got a chance.....

no guts, no glory........

 

if he hit a pothole wouldnt there be some evidence on the rim or something.

if the control arm is in normal condition and a severe impact caused it to break you would think that the wheel would have taken some of the abuse as well. this would be like walking around with an egg duct taped to your foot. its easy to hit something hard enough to break the egg. but to hit something hard enough to break your foot, the egg sureley would not be unscathed.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mr.E.G. &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if he hit a pothole wouldnt there be some evidence on the rim or something.

if the control arm is in normal condition and a severe impact caused it to break you would think that the wheel would have taken some of the abuse as well.</TD></TR></TABLE>
agree.....

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mr.E.G. &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">this would be like walking around with an egg duct taped to your foot. its easy to hit something hard enough to break the egg. but to hit something hard enough to break your foot, the egg sureley would not be unscathed.

</TD></TR></TABLE>


good analogy

 

abslutely correct....

 

thanks fellas,

if i were the original poster i would mention that to honda and see what they say.

 

everything in this case is worth a shot I guess

 

That sucks man, glad you are okay.

Welcome to HOnda's warranty:

Everything is the CUSTOMERS FAULT.

 

grammar sucks just as badd as a wrecked s2k

 

NicoSommer

any updates on your situation?

 

yeah, any updates?.. glad your ok.