NHTSA Complaint #10029323 — 1997 HONDA CIVIC

I OWN A 97 HONDA CIVIC LX 4DR AND HAVE BEEN IN 3 ACCIDENTS W/O AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. IN 9/98 I WAS REAR-ENDED AT 40 MPH WHICH BENT THE FRAME OF MY CAR AND COST SEVERAL THOUSAND TO REPAIR. HONDA SERVICE SAID THAT THE AIRBAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY UNLESS THERE WAS A SUDDEN DECEL AND/OR FRONTAL IMPACT. A FEW MOS LATER IN 01/99, I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE POLICE RPT STATES THAT I BROADSIDED A 81 CADILLAC ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AT APPROX 35 MPH. THE FRONT END OF THE CADILLAC WAS DETROYED. I INJURED MY NECK, BACK, AND SHOULDER AS THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK WHEN I FLEW FORWARD. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, I WENT TO HONDA CARS OF MESA FOR BODY REPAIR. IT COST SEVERAL THOUSAND $, W/ SIGNIFICANT FRONT END DAMAGE AND A BENT FRAME. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN THIS ACCIDENT. I REQUESTED AN AIR BAG FCHECK AND MY FRIEND AND I WERE TOLD BY THE MGR OF SERVICE THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE OK AND THE SRS KNOWS WHEN TO DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS. HE SAID THAT THE COLLISION WAS NOT ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY; HOWEVER, I HAD DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT AT 35 MPH. MY CAR WAS ALSO BACKED OVER BY A GARBAGE TRUCK IN5/99 W/O AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. IN 04/03, I BEGAN TO HAVE PROBS WITH THE SRS LIGHT COMING ON AND STAYING ON. THE LIGHT WAS STAYING ON UNTIL THE CAR WAS RESTARTED. WITHIN 2 WKS, MY SRS LIGHT STAYED ON. I TOOK MY CAR TO A HONDA CERTIFIED MECHANIC. HE SAID THE SRS UNIT WAS BAD AND THE CODE GIVEN WAS 7-2, 7-3 WHICH INDICATES A BAD UNIT AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT. THE PART COST WAS $370. AND THE LABOR WAS $75. THE DAY AFTER THE REPAIR, THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. WITHIN 2 MOS THE PART WENT BAD AND THE UNIT GAVE THE CODE 7-2, WHICH INDICATES REPLACEMENT W/O DIAGNOSTICS. HE FELT THE INITIAL PART MAY HAVE BEEN BAD AND REPLACED IT W/ HONDA'S PARTS WARRANTY, BUT IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN, THERE WAS ANOTHER CAUSE FOR THE MALFUNCTION.THE PROB HAPPENED THE DAY AFTER I LEFT THE SHOP AND THE LIGHT IS ON AGAIN DURING MOST TRIPS. MY MECHANIC STATED THAT THE DEALER WILL NEED TO CONTACT THEIR TAC.