NHTSA Complaint #10078675 — 2003 HONDA PILOT

ON SATURDAY NIGHT, 6/19/2004, WE PURCHASED A USED 2003 HONDA PILOT WITH APROX 17K MILES ON IT. AS PART OF THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT, HANLEES TOYOTA INCLUDED AN AFTERMARKET LEATHER UPGRADE FOR THE CLOTH INTERIOR. SUBSEQUENTLY, ON MONDAY (6/21/04) WE WERE INFORMED BY AMERICAN HONDA MOTORS THAT THE AFTERMARKET LEATHER UPGRADE WAS BOTH POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS AND WOULD VOID OUR MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. CONSEQUENTLY, ON TUESDAY, 6/22/04, WE RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND ADVISED THEM OF THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, WITH THE INTENTION OF A REFUND OF OUR $5000 DEPOSIT AND CANCELLATION OF THE SALE. HOWEVER, HANLEES WAS NON COOPERATIVE IN THIS REQUEST. REACHING AN IMPASSE, WE LEFT WITH THE CAR AND ARE NOW SEEKING YOUR ASSISTANCE. HERE IS THE INFORMATION FROM HONDA REGARDING THE SAFETY CONCERNS OF THE AFTERMARKET LEATHER UPGRADE: HONDA SERVICE NEWS, NO AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVERS WITH SIDE AIRBAGS, NEVER INSTALL AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVERS ON HONDA VEHICLES WITH SIDE AIRBAGS. HERE'S WHY: THE OCCUPANT POSITION DETECTION SYSTEM (OPDS) SENSORS ATTACHED TO THE SEAT-BACK FOAM ARE CALIBRATED TO SENSE THROUGH THE SEAT COVER. IF THE COVER MATERIAL CHANGES, THE ODPS COULD MALFUNCTION OR TURN ON THE SRS INDICATOR. SIDE AIRBAGS THAT DEPLOY THROUGH THE SEAT BOLSTER SEAM ARE SEWN WITH A SPECIAL THREAD THAT BURSTS AND POSITIONS THE SIDE AIRBAG TO PROTECT THE OCCUPANT. THIS THREAD ISN"T AVAILABLE TO THE AFTERMARKET, WHICH MEANS YOU MUST REPLACE THE SEAT COVER WHENEVER A SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYS OR A SEAT COVER IS DAMAGED. ALSO, WHEN I POINTED OUT THE SAFETY ISSUE OF THE AFTERMARKET LEATHER UPGRADE I WAS SOLD, THE RESPONSE FROM THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS MANAGER AT THE DEALER WAS WELL SIDE AIRBAGS ARENT EVEN MANDATORY, ANYWAY BOTTOM-LINE, I THINK IT IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THIS DEALER TO OFFER POSSIBLY HAZARDOUS AFTERMARKET UPGRADES TO ITS CUSTOMERS WITHOUT WARNING THEM OF THEIR UNSAFE NATURE. *AK THE ONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESOLVE THE SAFETY ISSUE AND AS PART OF THE RESOLUTION HE WOULD LIKE TO WITHDRAW HIS COMPLAINT. *NM