2001 Honda Accord Engine Problems

Your engine is overheating above 230 degrees and has caused the car to break down four times on major highways in unsafe areas. The dealer says this is a known defect in the coolant system and that the thermostat is on backorder with a 1-4 month wait, and they've indicated the problem will recur even after repair. The fix will likely involve replacing the thermostat and checking the coolant system components.

I AM WRITING TO YOU IN REGARDS TO A SAFETY CONCERN WITH MY 2001 HONDA ACCORD. THE ENGINE SUBFRAME OF MY 2001 HONDA ACCORD LX HAS 1/4 ENGINE CONNECTIONS ROTTED THROUGH. THIS IS LOCATED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE NEAR THE STRUT ASSEMBLY, BENEATH THE AIR CONDITIONER DRAIN, AS NOTED BY OTHERS ON POSTING ON THE INTERNET. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION OTHERWISE, ESPECIALLY WITH VERY LOW MILES (156,000) THERE IS VERY LITTLE RUST ON THE VEHICLE CONSIDERING IT'S AGE. MY MECHANIC SAYS IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HE WRITES: 'DURING DEGREASING (AND REPAIR OF RADIATOR) FOUND ENGINE SUB-FRAME RUSTING OUT AND COMING APART. ADVISED CLIENT THE VEHICLE IS A SAFETY RISK TO DRIVE IN THIS CONDITION'. IT APPEARS TO BE THE RESULT OF A DESIGN FLAW RELATING TO THE LOCATION OF THE AIR CONDITIONER DRAIN. HONDA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DESIGN FLAW AND HONDA SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO REPAIR THIS UNSAFE SITUATION. I AM SHOCKED THIS CATASTROPHIC SAFETY CONDITION WAS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE WITHOUT WARNING BY HONDA AND/OR THE NHTSA!!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT START AND THE OVERHEATING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000.

THE ENGINE IS KNOCKING

HELLO THE VEHICLE STOPS AND STALLS WHILE DRIVING AND THERE IS A STRONG POSSIBILITY OF CRASHING THIS VEHICLE IF THIS IS NOT RESOLVED. THIS HAS OCCURRED TWICE AND IT'S VERY SCARY WHILE DRIVING. I SAW A SIMILAR RECALL FOR 2010 HONDAS THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. PLEASE HELP! *TR

MY TRANSMISSION STARTED SHOWING SIGNS OF SLIPPAGE THAT CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT TO BLINK AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO GO ON AFTER HEADING DOWN A SIDE STREET LEAVING MY OFFICE FOR THE DAY. THE NEXT MORNING I DROVE TO SERVICE CENTER AND THEY SAID TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. THIS IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS (AND APPARENT LAW SUIT FROM 2006) INVOLVING 2001 ACCORDS. HONDA WILL NOT HONOR PARTICIPATING IN THE COST TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION DUE TO CONSTRAINTS OF LAWSUIT EVEN THOUGH THERE IS PRECEDENT OF GOODWILL REPAIR GESTURES THAT HAVE EXTENDED BEYOND THE SUIT (TO WHICH I DID NOT OPT IN TO PARTICIPATE). I HAVE NOT OPTED TO REPAIR THE CAR AS OF YET DUE TO THE COST. *TR

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW IN NOVEMBER 2001. I NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND READ SOME COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. THE PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED SINCE AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE AS IT GETS OLDER. PLEASE ADVISE OF ANY KIND OF RECOURSE I MAY HAVE SHOULD A TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT BE NECESSARY. I DID HAVE ONE SOLENOID ON THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED A YEAR OR SO AGO AS WELL AS A MOTOR MOUNT. *TR

WHEN CAR TURNED ON, RPM NEEDLE ZOOMED UP TO 4 AND WOULD NOT GO DOWN. TOWED CAR AND FIXED TRANSMISSION FOR $2000. JUST A LITTLE OVER A YEAR LATER, DELAY IN SHIFTING. ELECTRONICS OF TRANSMISSION WERE FIXED. ONE MONTH LATER, RPM NEEDLE JERKING AND HOPPING, CAR NOT RESPONDING WELL TO GAS INPUT. THANK GOODNESS ALL THESE INCIDENTS WERE ON LOCAL ROADS AND LOTS BY MY HOME. IMAGINE ON THE FREEWAY OR BUSY ROADS WITH MY 6 YEAR OLD IN THE BACK. TIME FOR A RECALL! *KB

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AT 34,000 AND NOW AGAIN AT 120,000. THIS CAR WILL BE ON IT'S 3RD TRANSMISSION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA ACCORD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND THE TECHNICIAN DETECTED A POROUS ENGINE BLOCK. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000.

HONDA 2001 ACCORD V6 HAS STUTTERING START PROBLEM , OCCASIONALLY ENGINE STOPS AFTER STARTING. I CONTACTED HONDA USA WHO SAID THAT THERE WAS AN ADVISORY ABOUT IT BUT REFUSED TO COMPENSATE ME FOR REPLACING THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM). I WENT AHEAD AND HAD THE ECM FIXED AS I WAS CONCERNED THAT THE CAR WOULD "DIE" ON THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING. I NOW READ THAT OTHER MANUFACTURERS ARE REPLACING THE ECM AS PART OF A RECALL BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY IMPLICATION OF THIS ISSUE. THE DATE OF THE INCIDENT IS AN APPROXIMATE DATE INSERTED FOR YOUR ADVISORY COMPLETION. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND THE PROBLEM OCCURS IN SPRING AND FALL DUE TO GAS FORMULATION CHANGES. *TR

MY CAR SUDDENLY STARTED TO STOP SHIFTING INTO GEAR. DRIVING, IT WOULD SLIP OUT OF GEAR AND I WOULD HAVE TO SHIFT IT INTO ANOTHER GEAR TO GET IT TO MOVE. THIS WOULD FAIL AND I WOULD SHIFT IT INTO ANOTHER GEAR. STARTING FROM RED LIGHT--10 TO 15 SECONDS WITH NO RESPONSE FROM CAR--VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO BE IN. TOOK TO HONDA DEALER--NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION--COST $3,400. RIDICULOUS. CAR HAS ONLY 58,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WAS 97,000.

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 10 MPH, THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING AN UNUSUAL NOISE. AS THE CONTACT INCREASED SPEED, THE NOISE BECAME LOUDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,655 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,000. UPDATED 6/3/10 *CN UPDATED 07/2710*JB

HONDA ACCORD 2001 TRANSMISSION AND COOLANT SYSTEM. *TR

WHILE TRYING TO PARK THE 2001 HONDA ACCORD IN THE GARAGE, THE DRIVER ONLY RECOLLECTS A SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE MOUNTS HAVE FAILED PREMATURELY DURING NORMAL DRIVING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE REPAIR WOULD COST $580. ANOTHER MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON AMONG HONDA VEHICLES. THE CONTACT DRIVES AT MODERATE SPEEDS AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 7/3/08 *CN UPDATED 07/03/08

ENGINE HESITATES IN APPROXIMATELY THE 1500-2000 RPM RANGE. FURTHER DEPRESSION OF THE ACCELERATOR CAUSES RAPID, UNEXPECTED AND DIFFICULT TO CONTROL ACCELERATION. RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR THEN CAUSES THE ENGINE TO STALL. CAR HAS BEEN LEFT WITH A DEALER TWICE WITHOUT RESOLUTION. ENGINE CODE INDICATES EGR SYSTEM. PROBLEM PERSISTS. *JB

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS MISSING AND KNOCKING. THE MALFUNCTION LOCKS UP THE TRANSMISSION WHILE IN MOTION AND CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL ON THE FREEWAY AND SOMETIMES UNABLE TO DOWNSHIFT MAKING HARD TO SLOW DOWN. THE EGR VALVE SYSTEM IS ALSO CLOGGED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE POORLY AND POLLUTING THE AIR. *JB

IT SEEMS THAT MY HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM AND ONLY BRIGHT WHEN I USE MY HIGH BEAMS. MY HONDA SEEMS TO CUT OFF BY ITSELF AND I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE BATTERY TESTED AND IT SEEMS NOT TO REPLICATE ITS ACTIONS FOR THEM. IT SEEMS THAT MY CAR WILL ACT AS IF IT IS STALLING SOMETIMES AND THEN WILL NOT TURN OVER. I HAVE HAD MY STARTER CHECKED AND THAT IS NOT THE ISSUE SO THE MECHANIC STATED. IT SEEMS THAT MY DEFROSTER DOESN'T WORK AT THE NORMAL TIME THAT IT SHOULD TAKE TO DEFROST. IT TAKES AT LEAST 30 MINUTES TO CLEAR. I HAVE PROBLEMS IN THE REAR SEAT WITH PASSENGERS GETTING OUT OF THE LEFT PASSENGER SEAT BELT. IT SEEMS TO GET STUCK. AND THERE ARE NO OTHER ARTICLES IN THE SNAP TO CAUSE THAT. MY SRS AND ABS LIGHT SEEMS TO STAY ON FOR A COUPLE MINUTES AFTER THE CAR IS STARTED. THEN WHILE DRIVING MY CAR AND APPLYING BREAKS IT SEEMS THAT THE CAR STILL CONTINUES TO SLIDE, IT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT ON 9-13-04. I HAVE TAKEN THE BRAKES TO GET CHECKED. AND THE MECHANIC HAS CLEARED THEM. I AM GETTING REALLY FRUSTRATED WITH THIS CAR. AND JUST WANT TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS THAT HAVE COME ON MY CAR AND WHEN WILL I BE NOTIFIED OF THESE RECALLS. ALSO WHAT DO I DO IN SUCH A CASE THAT I HAVE RECALLS ON A NUMBER OF PARTS AND NOT JUST 1 THING? *JB

REGARDING OIL FIRE DANGER IN HONDA CRVS AND ACCORDS. I OWNED A 2001 HONDA ACCORD COUPE THAT HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM TO THE PROBLEM DISCOVERED IN HONDA CRVS. THIS AFFECTS MILLIONS OF HONDAS AND IS A FUNDAMENTAL DESIGN FLAW. *AK THE OIL FILTER IS LOCATED DIRECTLY OVER A FLEXIBLE, WOVEN-METAL HOSE THAT IS PART OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE HOSE IS POROUS. WHEN THE FILTER IS CHANGED, THE HOSE -- WHICH IS OFTEN EXTREMELY HOT WHEN ONE PULLS INTO A SERVICE STATION FOR AN OIL CHANGE -- MUST BE COVERED WITH A LEAK-PROOF MATERIAL SO THAT OIL DOESN'T DRIP ONTO THE FLEXIBLE HOSE. IF OIL GETS INTO THE WOVEN METAL OF THE HOSE, IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GET OUT -- THE ONLY PRACTICAL OPTION IS TO LET IT BURN/BAKE OUT. MANY NEW HONDA OWNERS EXPERIENCE A STRONG OIL ODOR AFTER GETTING THEIR OIL CHANGED FOR THE FIRST TIME -- THIS IS THE SYMPTOM OF THE PROBLEM. ANYONE EXPERIENCING SUCH AN ODOR IS AT RISK OF FIRE, DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH OIL DRIPPED ONTO THAT HOSE. MY MECHANIC CLEANED OFF THE EXCESS OIL WITH A RAG, BUT SOME ODOR OF BURNING OIL REMAINED FOR MORE THAN 1,000 MILES. HONDA KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND ADVISES ITS SERVICE TECHS TO COVER THE HOSE WHEN THEY CHANGE THE FILTER. BUT THIS IS NOT KNOWN OUTSIDE OF THE HONDA COMMUNITY, SO PEOPLE WHO CHANGE THEIR OWN OIL, OIL-CHANGER CHAINS AND LOCAL GARAGES GENERALLY DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. (CONSUMERS THEN THINK THAT THEY GOT POOR SERVICE FROM THE NON-HONDA GARAGE, WHICH ENCOURAGES THEM TO BRING THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP THE NEXT TIME AND PAY HIGH RATES FOR OIL CHANGES.) HONDA OWNERS WHOSE CARS HAVE THIS DESIGN CAN AVOID THE PROBLEM BY HAVING THE PIPE COVERED DURING THE OIL CHANGE -- BUT IT IS DIFFICULT TO ACCESS THE AREA WHEN CHANGING YOUR OWN OIL. HONDA COULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM BY INSTALLING AN ALUMINUM SHEATH OVER THE FLEXIBLE PIPE TO PROTECT IT AGAINST DRIPPING OIL. IF OIL FELL ON THE SHEATH, IT COULD STILL SMELL FOR A WHILE, BUT THE RISK OF FIRE WOULD BE GREATLY REDUCED. THANK YOU

ROUGH IDLING AND HESITATION TO THE POINT OF STALLING. *PH THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A FAULTY EGR VALVE. *SC

WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK THE VEHICLE STALLED ON EVERY STOP. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND DRIFTED OFF THE ROAD ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. (ALMOST GOING INTO A LAKE) THREE DIFFERENT HONDA DEALERS CLAIMED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *SC *JB

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FROM 0 K.M. TO 80 K.M. WITHIN 15 FEET AND BECAME STUCK BETWEEN TWO HOUSES. THE LEFT TIRE BLEWOUT AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE. . ENGINE REVED HIGH WHEN TAKING FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL. THE DEALER ADJUSTED THE BASE IDLE BECAUSE IT WAS TOO HIGH. *TS *NLM

WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. *NLM PH *JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED.

I HAVE JUST TRADED MY 2001 HONDA ACCORD LX MANUAL TRANSMISSION VIN#[XXX] BECAUSE OF A SEVERE IDLING PROBLEM. THE CAR HAD ONLY 12,000 MILES AND HAD ALL THE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED AS RECOMMENDED BY HONDA. IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE OWNED A HONDA FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND HAVE DRIVEN A STICK SHIFT FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS. I AM VERY WELL AWARE OF THE PLACEMENT OF THE PEDALS. ALSO, THE FLOOR MAT WAS ATTACHED TO ITS PIN NEAR THE FRONT OF THE SEAT SO IT DID NOT IMPEDE MY USE OF THE PEDALS. I HAD THE IDLE GO ABSOLUTELY NUTS, ALMOST RED LINE, AFTER HAVING PARKED THE CAR FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN RESTARTING THE CAR. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES OVER ABOUT 6 MONTHS. THE FIRST TWO TIMES, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD. LUCKILY, NO ONE OR ANY PROPERTY WAS DAMAGED. I HAD BOTH CROWN HONDA OF CHAPEL HILL, NC AND FLOW HONDA OF WINSTON-SALEM, NC CHECK THE CAR OUT. IN FACT, FLOW HAD THE CAR 3 WEEKS AFTER THE 3RD INCIDENT. NEITHER DEALER SAID THEY FOUND A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR ALTHOUGH I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT WHEN I WAS ACTUALLY DRIVING THE CAR. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS CAR WILL BE SOLD TO SOMEONE WHO WILL NOT BE TOLD OF THE PROBLEM I HAVE EXPERIENCED. I FEEL THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS AND SOMEONE MAY HAVE AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED HONDA CORPORATE. I HOPE YOU WILL LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE INTERNET TO FIND IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL. HONDA SAYS THEY HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS AN EASY OR HARD FIX. I DO BELIEVE THIS CAR HAS A MAJOR PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE MECHANIC FAILED TO REPLACE OIL DURING MAINTENANCE PROCEDURE, CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT.*AK *JB

I HAD A PROBLEM AFTER 200 MILES (AFTER FIXED). I WAS DRIVING ON NOV. 28, 2002 (THANKSGIVING DAY) ON I-77 / I-64 (WEST VIRGINIA) IT IS A MOUNTAIN AREA. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 65MPH. IT WAS DOWN GRADE ROAD AND ALL OF SUDDEN MY CAR WAS MAKING BIG JERKS IN ENGINE (LIKE STALLING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT) AND ENGINE SHUT OFF ON MIDDLE OF INTERSTATE AT THAT PLACE NO SHOULDER LINE. ME AND MY FAMILY WERE IN CAR AND WE WERE SO LUCKY, THAT TIME NO ONE BEHIND ME CAR / TRUCK, OTHERWISE SOMEONE CAR / TRUCK CAN HIT MY CAR FROM BACK AND YOU CAN THINK ABOUT WHAT COULD HAPPEN AT THAT TIME. DT

ONCE ENGINE IS WARM, EXHAUST FUMES AND RAW FUEL GET INTO CAB. WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC CONSUMER FEELS DIZZY. ENGINE HAS TO BE SHUT OFF. IT IS VERY UNHEALTHY TO BREATH. *AK THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AFTER PERFORMING SHORT AND LONG TERM TEST, FUEL PRESSURE CHECK, VALVE TIMING CHECK AND VALVE CLEARANCE CHECK. *YH

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH WATER FAN WAS SUCKED INTO RADIATOR, CAUSING ENGINE TO RUN HOT . DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE CAM CHAIN TENSIONER HAS FAILED TWICE AND IS SCHEDULED TO BE WORKED ON A THIRD TIME. NO ACCIDENT (THANKFULLY) HAS HAPPENED YET. THE MECHANIC AT THE SHOP SAYS IT IS VERY POSSIBLE FOR THE CAM CHAIN TO 'JUMP TIME'. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN AT SAY 55MPH THE REAR TIRE OF THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD PROBABLY LOCK UP AND THEREFORE CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO THE RIDER. I HAVE SPOKEN TO NUMEROUS OWNERS OF THIS MOTORCYCLE AND THERE SEEMS TO BE SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. HONDA NEED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED BECAUSE OF AN APPARENT DESIGN FLAW.*AK

THIS MODEL HONDA MAKES A LOUD NOISE, COMING FROM THE UNDERNEATH THE CAR, WHEN FIRST STARTED COLD. THE SOUND IS MORE LIKE A "THUMP" AND IS SUPSPECTED (ALTHOUGH I'M NOT CERTAIN) TO BE EITHER THE TRANSMISSION OR THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. I TRIED SEVERAL DIFFERENT CARS AND THE NOISE WAS CONSISTENT. THE DEALER TELLS ME THE NOISE IS "NORMAL" WHICH IS ABSURD. HONDA HAS A RECALL PENDING ON EARLIER MODEL CARS FOR AN EXHAUST SYUSTEM PROBLEM--I'M WONDERING IF THIS COULD BE RELATED. I AM NOT AN EXPERT SO DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER OR NOT.*AK