NHTSA Complaint #10030666 — 2002 HONDA ACCORD

SUBJECT: FRONT SEAT BREAKS OFF IN REAR END COLLISION ON HONDA ACCORD SEDAN. O WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2002 HONDA ACCORD LX SEDAN FROM BLOOMFIELD HONDA IN BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MICHIGAN ONE YEAR AGO.*AK MY WIFE WAS REAR ENDED BY A LARGE FORD TRUCK WHILE SHE WAS STOPPED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ONTO A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET. I TRUCK DIDNT EVEN BRAKE AND DROVE THE TRUCK ALL THE WAY UP TO THE BACKSEAT. LUCKILY SHE WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT. HER DRIVER SEAT, HOWEVER, BROKE OFF ITS MOORINGS AT THE FLOORBOARD GIVING HER NO SUPPORT AS SHE WAS FLUNG BACKWARD IN THE CRASH. IT WAS LIKE THE FRONT SEAT WAS A ROCKING CHAIR AFTER THE CRASH. NO PART OF THE FRONT END WAS DAMAGE EXCEPT THE DRIVER SEAT (ONLY THE REAR END HAD BEEN STRUCK). THE TRUNK AND REAR-END ARE DESTROYED. ARE DRIVERS SEATS SUPPOSED TO COME LOOSE OR BREAK OFF IN CRASHES??? IS THIS THE HONDA WAY? WE HAVE OWNED HONDAS FOR YEARS AND THIS IS A MAJOR QUALITY BREECH AND A DANGER. IF MY WIFE WASNT WEARING THAT SEAT BELT SHE MIGHT BE DEAD. THE MANAGER OF THE DEALERSHIP SAID THIS SOMETIMES HAPPENED IN THE HONDA ACCORD IN REAR END COLLISIONS...THIS IS ACCEPTABLE???? THE DRIVERS SEAT WOULD HAVE DRIVEN HER INTO THE DASH. I WOULD ALSO RETHINK NOT HAVING THE AIRBAG DEPLOY IN A SEVERE REAR-END COLLISION. IT WOULD HAVE HELPED IN THIS INCIDENT.