NHTSA Complaint #10114036 — 1995 HONDA ACCORD

ON NOVEMBER 12, 2004, I NOTICED THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON AND STAY ON THE ENTIRE TIME THAT I DROVE THE CAR. (IT STILL DOES TO THIS DAY.) ON NOVEMBER 16, I TOOK IT TO CLASSIC HONDA OF SAN MARCOS, TX--DEALER #208339--FOR A CHECK UP. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE SRS CONTROL UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS A 1995 HONDA ACCORD STATION WAGON, MANUFACTURED IN JANUARY 1995. THE MILEAGE WAS 89,000 MILES WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES "WHEN THE CAR IS 10 YEARS OLD, HAVE THE DEALER INSPECT THE [SRS] SYSTEM." SO THE EXPECTATION IS THAT THE SYSTEM SHOULD FUNCTION NORMALLY FOR AT LEAST 10 YEARS. THE SRS SYSTEM IS ONE OF THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT, MUCH LIKE THE SEAT BELT. I KNOW HONDA HAS A LIFETIME WARRANTY ON THE SEAT BELT AND THE REPLACEMENT MUFFLER. I FEEL THAT THE SRS SYSTEM SHOULD CARRY A LIFETIME WARRANTY AS WELL BECAUSE IT PROVIDES ADDITIONAL SAFETY. I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER ON NOVEMBER 22, 2004 TO REPORT THE PROBLEM AND ASKED THEM TO PAY FOR THE CONTROL UNIT REPLACEMENT. THEY DENIED. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH THROUGH THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND FOUND THAT JUST LOOKING AT THE FIRST AND LAST FIVE PAGES OF THE COMPLAINTS SHOWS THAT THE SRS INDICATOR STAYING ON HAS BEEN QUITE COMMON (I FOUND 11 COMPLAINTS). I FOUND A COMPLAINT FILED AS RECENTLY AS JANUARY 24, 2005. THERE WAS A RECALL NOTICE 96V217000 OUT FOR REPLACING THE SRS CONTROL UNIT. WAS THAT RECALL OUT IN SEPTEMBER 1996, AND WHAT WERE THE CIRCUMSTANCES? *AK