NHTSA Complaint #10125370 — 2005 HONDA ELEMENT

I HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASED A HONDA ELEMENT VIN# [XXX]. NOT UNTIL LAST WEEK DID I OR A PASSENGER SIT IN THE BACK SEAT. WE BECAME AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL DANGER THAT THE DOOR DESIGN PRESENTS. YOU CAN NOT OPEN THE BACK DOOR UNLESS THE FRONT DOOR IS OPENED FIRST.THE "SUICIDE DOORS" DO NOT ALLOW EXIT FROM THE BACK SEATS (NOT THE ORIGINAL "SUICIDE DOOR" DESIGN). THIS DESIGN FLAW IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. I WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THIS DESIGN FLAW AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. ...SCROLL DOWN....THE SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY... 1. HOW COULD ANYONE GET OUT OF THE BACK SEAT IN AN EMERGENCY? 2. WHAT WOULD A CHILD DO IN CASE OF DRIVER INCAPACITATION? AN ADULT MIGHT BE ABLE TO CRAWL OVER THE DRIVER TO THE FRONT DOOR, BUT A CHILD WOULD BE AT A DISADVANTAGE IN THE BACK. 3. THERE IS NO EMERGENCY RELEASE HANDLE ON THE BACK HATCH DOOR TO ACCESS FROM THE INSIDE. 4. THE LITTLE WING WINDOWS ON THE BACK DOORS COULD BE KICKED OUT IN AN EMERGENCY, BUT A CHILD WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO DO SO. 5.WHAT WOULD PASSENGERS DO IF THE CAR WERE TO PLUMMET INTO A WATERWAY? HOW COULD ANYONE ESCAPE FROM THE BACK....WHICH IS WHAT IS LEFT FLOATING... 6. THERE IS NO WARNING SIGN IN THE CAR INDICATING THAT THE BACK DOORS DO NOT OPEN UNLESS THE FRONT DOOR IS OPEN. HOW MUCH TIME, VALUABLE TIME MIGHT BE LOST AS A PASSER-BY ATTEMPTS A RESCUE AND DOES NOT KNOW THE DOORS DO NOT OPEN? PERHAPS THEN, A SIGN, LIKE IN AIRPLANES, COULD BE POSTED BOTH INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE INDICATING THAT THERE IS NO EXIT THROUGH THE BACK DOORS. OR, A RECAL PUT INPLACE TO PUT IN A QUICK RELEASE EMERGENCY ACCESS WINDOW. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS CONCERN TO THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTS. I LOOK FORWARD TO A REPLY. THANK YOU, [XXX] *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)