NHTSA Complaint #10109937 — 1995 HONDA DEL SOL

I WAS DRIVING ON I-95 N IN NORTHERN VA AROUND MILE MARKER 145, AROUND NOON, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS ON FLAT SMOOTH SURFACE ROAD AND DID NOT STRIKE ANY OBSTACLES IN THE ROADWAY. AFTER REGAINING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, I PULLED IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AVOIDING CONTACT WITH OTHER VEHICLES. I HAVE A CLAIM FILED WITH NORTH AMERICAN HONDA(VEHICLE-1995 HONDA DEL SOL VTEC). THE DEALERSHIP(POHANKA HONDA FREDERICKSBURG, VA), AT FIRST, SAID THAT THEY "DID NOT HAVE AN OPINION ON WHAT TRANSPIRED", BECAUSE "THIS MATTER IS TOO LEGALLY SENSITIVE." AFTER PUTTING PRESSURE ON NORTH AMERICAN HONDA, THEY HAD THE DEALERSHIP PUT THE CAR ON A LIFT FINALLY, AND TOOK PICTURES TO EMAIL THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE IN CALIFORNIA. THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE THEN CALLED ME AND STATED THAT THEY FELT IT WAS REASONABLE THAT THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED BECAUSE THEY FOUND SCRATCHES ON OIL PAN AND EXHAUST SYSTEM. THESE SCRATCHES ARE OBVIOUSLY OLD AND HAVE HEAVY RUST, AND THEY DEFINITELY SHOULDN'T HAVE CAUSED THE AIRBAGS TO HAVE DEPLOYED. HONDA HAS SAID THAT TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE THEY WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE IN ADDITION TO BOTH AIRBAGS, WHICH SEEMS ODD TO ME IF THEY WONT TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *JB