# 2003 HONDA TRX650 — SUSPENSION
> NHTSA complaint `594542` · 2006-08-30 · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 1
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** HONDA
- **Model:** TRX650
- **Year:** 2003
- **Manufacturer:** Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
- **Component:** SUSPENSION
- **Miles at failure:** 1,000
- **Speed:** 15 mph
## Narrative
THIS INVOLVES A 2003 HONDA TRX350 RANCHER ATV. MY WIFE WAS RIDING DOWN A TRAIL AND BOTH FRONT SHOCKS BROKE CAUSING HER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE . SHE WENT OFF OF THE ROAD AND DOWN A SLIGHT EMBANKMENT CAUSING BUMPS AND BRUISES. FORTUNATELY SHE WAS NOT TRAVELING FASTER OR DOWN A STEEPER ROAD OR IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. AFTER RETRIEVING THE VEHICLE WE ORDERED NEW SHOCKS AT THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER AND HE TOLD ME IT WAS A FLUKE THAT THE SHOCK BROKE. WHEN I GOT HOME I CHECKED THE SHOCKS ON MY SONS 4-WHEELER WHICH IS ALSO A 2003 HONDA 350 RANCHER AND FOUND THAT ONE OF THOSE SHOCKS WERE BROKEN ALSO. I HAVE JUST ORDERED A NEW SHOCK FOR IT ALSO .  I ALSO CUT THE SHOCK OPEN TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS FIGURING THAT IS WAS PROBABLY METALS FATIGUE, BUT TO MY AMAZEMENT I SAW THAT THE NUT THAT HOLDS THE PISTON ON INSIDE HAD COME UNSCREWED. THESE ARE NORMALLY SPOT WELDED OR RIVETED TO HELP KEEP THEM IN PLACE, MINE HAD BROKEN.   I AM WRITING BECAUSE I FEEL THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION AND IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED AT A HIGHER SPEED MY WIFE OR SON COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.   *JB
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*