NHTSA Complaint #10157509 — 2006 HONDA CIVIC

MY HUSBAND AND I JUST FINISHED AND EXTENSIVE SEARCH FOR A NEW CAR. I FOUND VERY FEW CARS THAT WERE COMFORTABLE TO ME DUE TO THE ACTIVE HEAD RESTRAINTS. I AM FIVE FEET FOUR INCHES TALL AND I LIKE MY SEAT TO BE MORE UPRIGHT. UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN YOU PUT THE SEATS IN THIS POSITION, THE HEAD REST FORCES YOUR HEAD DOWN, CHIN TO CHEST. THIS WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM IF I WERE A MAN WITH LARGE SHOULDER MUSCLES OR IF I LIKED MY SEAT TO BE IN A RECLINING POSITION. MY REACTION TO THE RESTRAINTS IS THAT THEY FEEL VERY UNSAFE. WHEN I CHECKED THE FEDERAL WEB SITE, I FOUND THAT THE GOVERNMENT TESTED ONLY FOR THE SIZE OF AN AVERAGE MAN. WILL THE REST OF US DIE OR SUSTAIN INCREDIBLE INJURY? I AM REALLY WORRIED ABOUT THIS, ESPECIALLY AFTER READING THAT THE RESTRAINTS COME FURTHER FORWARD IN THE EVENT OF A REAR COLLISION. CAN YOU CHECK INTO THIS PROBLEM? I HAVE BOUGHT A HONDA CIVIC, BUT I WILL HAVE TO HAVE A PILLOW BEHIND MY SHOULDERS TO KEEP MY HEAD FROM BEING IN AN IMPOSSIBLE POSITION FOR DRIVING. THIS IS NOT ABOUT AN ACCIDENT BUT I AM AFRAID THEIR WILL BE PROBLEMS. I WILL PUT TODAY'S DATE IN YOUR FORM TO MAKE IT WORK. *JB