NHTSA Complaint #10151146 — 1997 HONDA CIVIC

THE SRS (AIRBAG) COMPUTER STOPPED WORKING ON MY 1997 HONDA CIVIC EX FOR NO REASON AND AFTER NO INCIDENT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THIS MEANS THAT THE AIRBAGS MAY OR MAY NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF A CRASH. THE COMPUTER PART NUMBER IS 77960-S04-N81. THE PRICE FOR THE PART ALONE IS $697 AND LABOR IS AN ADDITIONAL $150. I CONTACTED HONDA AND THEY OFFERED ME A 25% DISCOUNT BECAUSE I HAD MAINTENANCE PERFORMED BY THE DEALER. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT OFFER ANY MORE SINCE RECORDS INDICATE THAT I ONLY OWN ONE HONDA AND BECAUSE THEY COULD ONLY SHOW ME GOING TO THE DEALER FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS FOR MAINTENANCE. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY ON THE SEAT BELTS, BUT NOT THE AIRBAGS. THE CASE MANAGER (CAROLYN) TOLD ME THAT THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO OFFER ME THIS. WHEN ASKED WHY THE SEAT BELTS WERE COVERED AND NOT THE AIRBAGS (WHICH ARE AN IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURE OF THE CAR AND REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW), SHE SAID THAT IT WAS A BUSINESS DECISION. SINCE HONDA SELLS SO MANY CIVICS AND SINCE THE CAR IS DURABLE ENOUGH TO BE DRIVEN FOR MANY MILES, I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL SAFETY RISK TO MANY PEOPLE IF EVEN A SMALL FRACTION OF THESE COMPUTERS GO OUT. COMBINED WITH THE FACT THAT THE REPAIR IS A THIRD OF THE TRADE IN VALUE OF THE CAR AND HONDA'S UNWILLINGNESS TO ADEQUATELY REMEDY THIS PROBLEM, I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY.*JB