NHTSA Complaint #10138080 — 2002 HONDA CIVIC

WE BOUGHT A NEW 2002 HONDA CIVIC LX IN DECEMBER OF 2002. IN CHICO, CALIF. IT HAD, I BELIEVE, A 30,000 MILE WARRANTY. AT NO MORE THAN 45,000 MILES,(I HAVE THE RECEIPT) THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON. TWO DAYS LATER, WE TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL HONDA DEALER IN REDDING, CALIF. THEY SAID THE COMPUTER SHOWED THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY UNLESS THE DEVICE IN THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THE HONDA COMPANY DID NOT FIND THAT PART, WHICH IS OVER $400.00 DOLLARS,TO BE UNDER WARRANTY AFTER THE 30,000 MILES WERE PAST. WE HAVE KEPT ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF SERVICE ON THE CAR. THE HONDA COMPANY STATED THAT IF IT HAD BEEN THE SEAT BELTS INOPERABLE, THEY WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE SAFETY GUARANTEE. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD BE EXCLUDED IN THIS SAFETY WARRANTY. WHY IS ONE SAFETY DEVICE ALWAYS COVERED FOR PROTECTION AND NOT THE OTHER? IS THERE SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE ON OUR BEHALF? WE WANT TO HAVE THIS DONE, BUT CANNOT AFFORD IT AT THIS TIME. WE HAD A TRIP PLANNED FOR LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER WE DISCOVERED THIS PROBLEM AND HAD TO HONOR OUR RESERVATIONS OR LOSE MORE MONEY, CONSEQUENTLY, WE DROVE TO OUR PLANNED DESTINATION, ALASKA, FROM REDDING, CALIF. WITH NO OPERATIVE AIR BAGS AND CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE CAR WITHOUT THEM. THIS CONCERNS ME GREATLY,I KNOW FIRST HAND THAT THEY WORK WELL TO KEEP YOU FROM HITTING YOUR STEERING WHEEL OR WINDSHIELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SEAT BELTS, BUT IT IS OUR ONLY AUTOMOBILE. *NM