NHTSA Complaint #10149086 — 2004 HONDA ODYSSEY

THE SAFETY DANGER I WANT TO REPORT IS LOCKING A CHILD IN A VEHICLE WITH IGNITION TURNED ON AND NO WAY TO GET INSIDE THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE: HONDA ODYSSEY MINIVAN 2004 LX MODEL. THIS MODEL HAS AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK ONCE IGNITION IS TURNED ON. HOWEVER, UNLIKE MOST OTHER VEHICLES WHERE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK OPERATES AND LOCKS DOORS WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, ON HONDA ODYSSEY - THERE IS SIMPLY A FIXED TIME DELAY ~10 SEC BETWEEN START OF IGNITION AND LOCKING OF ALL DOORS. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS IS: (A) IN A PARKING LOT - I STARTED THE CAR BY SITTING ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND WITH ALL DOORS CLOSED, AND IMMEDIATELY DECIDED TO OPEN THE DOOR AND STEP OUT TO VERIFY THAT I HAVE PUT ALL THE GROCERIES BACK IN THE VAN - THE VAN DOOR SHUT LOCKED - THERE WAS AN ADULT INSIDE THE CAR WHO COULD OPEN THE DOOR FOR ME - BUT THERE WAS ALSO A 18 MONTH OLD BABY IN THE CAR SEAT - AND I AM WORRIED THAT THIS CAN HAPPEN TO OTHERS. (B) ON 22ND JANUARY MORNING, I STARTED MY CAR IN THE MY GARAGE AND SINCE IT IS COLD GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO COME IN THE HOUSE - BUT TODAY I DID THIS TOO QUICKLY (WITHIN 10 SEC?) AND ENDED UP LOCKING MYSELF OUT OF MY VAN WITH VAN ENGINE RUNNING. I GOT MY SPARE KEY TO OPEN THE LOCKED DOORS. AGAIN - AM VERY CONCERNED THAT NOT EVERYONE HAS SPARE KEYS EASILY ACCESSIBLE (COULD BE WITH SOME OTHER MEMBER OF THE FAMILY). THE GREATEST SAFETY DANGER IS LOCKING A CHILD IN A VEHICLE WITH IGNITION TURNED ON AND NO WAY TO GET INSIDE THE VEHICLE. *NM