NHTSA Complaint #10088665 — 2001 HONDA CIVIC

2001 HONDA CIVIC EX, SRS LIGHT STAYS ON. CODE 15-3. OPD SYSTEM SENSOR WAS REPLACED 9/21/01 UNDER WARRANTY. LIGHT WENT BACK ON A SHORT TIME LATER. SOMEONE IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD MY DAUGHTER THAT IT WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT, BECAUSE THIS LIGHT SOMETIMES WENT ON FOR NO REASON. UNFORTUNATELY, HE DID NOT EXPLAIN THAT THE AIRBAGS ARE DISABLED WHEN THIS LIGHT IS ON. SHE HAS BEEN DRIVING IT WITH THE LIGHT ON SINCE 2001. (SHE ASSUMED IT WAS ONLY A DUMMY LIGHT, LIKE "MAINTENANCE REQUIRED"). YESTERDAY, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CHARGED $79 TO DIAGNOSE THE SAME PROBLEM, AND WANT $810 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE SENSOR, SINCE IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THIS MORNING, I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET (WWW.AUTOFAN.COM/FORUM) AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH HONDA, AND THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER HONDA CIVIC OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, IT SEEMS AS IF A NEW SENSOR WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM, SINCE OTHER OWNERS REPORT ADDITIONAL FAILURES EVEN WHEN THE ORIGINAL SENSOR IS REPLACED. I AM VERY CONCERNED, I CONSIDER THIS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *AK