NHTSA Complaint #10124443 — 2002 HONDA ODYSSEY

SHORTLY AFTER 3 YEARS SINCE THE PURCHASE OF A NEW HONDA ODYSSEY EX-L, THE SRS INDICATOR WAS TURNED ON ALL THE TIME. WE BROUGHT THE MINIVAN TO THE DEALER IN FREMONT AND THE DEALER SAID THERE ARE TWO COMMON CAUSES (AFTER SPENDING $130 INVESTIGATION FEE): DEFECT IN THE SRS CONTROL MODULE THAT CONTROLS WHETHER THE AIRBAGS SHALL BE RELEASED IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, OR LOW BATTERY OUTPUT. FOLLOWING THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE DEALER WE HAVE THE BATTER REPLACED ($85). THE DEALER THEN RESET THE SRS INDICATOR. WITHIN A WEEK THE SRS INDICATION IS NOW ON AGAIN ALL THE TIME. WE BROUGHT THE MINIVAN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY ASKED US TO HAVE THE SRS MODULE REPLACED FOR ADDITIONAL ~$500. HONDA PROVIDES LIFETIME WARRANTEE ON SAFETY BELT, BUT NOT THE SRS SYSTEM THAT CONTROLS THE AIRBAG. WE BOUGHT THIS MINIVAN BRAND NEW AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENT. WE HAVE 2 YOUNG CHILDREN SO SAFETY WAS OUR PRIMARY REASON TO BUY THE HONDAY ODYSSEY - WELL NOW IT SEEMS THE SRS/AIRBAG OF THIS MINIVAN IS REALLY TROUBLESOME. IT SEEMS THIS SRS MODULE PROBLEM IS COMMON FOR LATE HONDAY ACCORD AND ODYSSEY FROM THE USER GROUP DISCUSSION - WHILE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY FEATURE, HONDA REFUSES TO PROVIDE THE EXTENDED WARRANTEE AS THE CASE FOR SAFETY BELT. MY 3-YR OLD ODYSSEY IS BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN TODAY FOR THIS SRS THING.