NHTSA Complaint #10148762 — 2001 HONDA CIVIC

SRS SENSOR FAILURE IN PASSENGER SEAT. THE VEHICLE IS NOT EVEN 5 YRS. OLD YET. I DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG SRS SENSORS ARE SUPPOSED TO LAST, BUT ACCORDING TO THE WARRANTY COMPANY, WHICH DID NOT COVER REPLACEMENT OF THE INEFFECTIVE DEVICE, THIS PART DOES NOT TYPICALLY GO OUT ON A HONDA. I FEEL, IN THE CASE THAT THE LIFETIME OF THIS PIECE OF EQUIPMENT WAS SHORTER THAN EXPECTED, THAT THIS COULD POSE A POTENTIAL THREAT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. AS I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER, THE SRS SENSOR DETECTS WHETHER A PASSENGER IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND SENDS A SIGNAL TO THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. OBVIOUSLY WHEN THE SENSOR IS FAILING TO DETECT A PASSENGER THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO AFFORD THE REPAIR BUT I HAVE CONCERN FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT. IN ADDITION, I FEEL IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE FOR ANY WARRANTY COMPANY TO EXCLUDE SUCH AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT IN A SAFETY SYSTEM ON A VEHICLE. THE DIAGNOSTIC CODE IS 15-3.*AK