Honda, Acura Owners' Manuals Steer Callers to Phone Sex Line for Questions

A toll-free number listed in more than a million Honda owners' manuals was supposed to direct callers to a government hotline - not to another number where the conversation is probably about anything but auto safety.
Honda Motor Co. said it incorrectly published an 800 prefix, rather than an 888, on a toll-free vehicle safety telephone number in 1.2 million manuals for 2006 model year Honda and Acura vehicles and Honda motorcycles. Owners who dial the 800 prefix hear a recorded message in which a woman's voice, speaking over a funky beat, urges them to call 1-800-918-TALK for "just 99 cents per minute."

In a letter last week to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Honda said it will send postcards to dealers and owners in August with the correct NHTSA hotline information - 1-888-327-4236 - along with instructions to insert the card into the proper section of the manual.

The manuals, which were printed from August 2005 through July 2006, were also used in 18,000 Honda Fit compact vehicles and about 8,000 motorcycles from the 2007 model year.

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rakamoo - 8/2/2006 3:18:58 PM

+1 Boost

Visionary? That implies creativity and courage! The Chinese are simply copying designs from respected companies, and selling ther cheap (3cents per hour labor) products in this consumption happy country of ours. They dump their crap on Americans - which then fills our landfills very shortly, taking our dollars so they can buy our treasury bills - not to mention, their Washington lobby is able to buy legislation (America is for sale to the highest bidder) - even if it is a communist country that violates all human rights policies and does not engage in fair trade. Thats capitalism, folks! Are the communists beating the capitalists? Well, I think Americans are smarter than that - We need to boycott Chinese products - they simply do not play on a level playing field - they get away with environmental violations, human rights violations, and trade violations - For God's sake, let your currency float on the world market! If you are stupid enough to buy a Chinese car, then maybe you deserve getting a Chinese car - the last Chinese product I bought was a sewing machine with the Singer brand name on it - it worked for 1 day befor breaking - it's the last Chinsese product I will buy - I realized that there are needs and wants - It it is Chinese, I don't need it. Maybe the Chery car can get from the dealership to your home before breaking down? - wishful thinking? Anyway, as long as america is for sale (congress, senators, etc.) then americans will lose - We need to keep this country strong - not flooded with cheap crap with jobs lost to unfair trade practices!

MercBasher - 8/2/2006 5:20:26 PM

+1 Boost

Acura wants me insert what, where?