NHTSA Complaint #10158816 — 2004 HONDA CIVIC

I OWN A HONDA CIVIC SEDAN AUTOMATIC 4 WHEEL DRIVE PURCHASED BRAND NEW 2004 MODEL. FIRST OF ALL, YESTERDAY I NOTICED THE LIGHT ON MY CONSOLE THAT MEANT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WAS TURNED OFF. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO ASK WHY IT WENT ON THEY SAID IT WAS BECAUSE MY PURSE WAS ON THE SEAT AND IT THINKS A CHILD UNDER 60 POUNDS IS SITTING THERE SO IT AUTOMATICALLY TURNS OFF THE AIR BAG. THEY SAID IT WILL GO AWAY WHEN I TAKE EVERYTHING OFF THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE LIGHT DID NOT GO AWAY AND WHEN MY SISTER WHO IS 130 POUNDS SAT ON THE SEAT AND DROVE WITH ME THE LIGHT NEVER WENT OFF, MEANING THAT IF I HAD GOTTEN INTO A CAR ACCIDENT HER AIRBAG WOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. SECOND, TODAY WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE 101 FREEWAY GOING BETWEEN 65 AND 70, THE GAS PEDAL BECAME LOOSE AND MY CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE VERY QUICKLY EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT EVEN TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL. WHEN I TRIED TO BRAKE THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY, TRAFFIC WAS BUILDING SO I KEPT TRYING TO BRAKE AND THE CAR SHOOK SO BADLY THAT I STARTED LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. LUCKILY I THOUGHT OF USING THE NEUTRAL DRIVE TO STOP THE ACCELERATION OF MY VEHICLE. THE CAR CONTINUED TO MAKE THE NOISE LIKE I WAS HITTING THE GAS BUT THE CAR SLOWED DOWN ENOUGH AND I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY AND PARK. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR ME THINKING OF USING THE NEUTRAL SHIFT, I WOULD HAVE HIT A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I GOT MY CAR TOWED TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD SINCE THEN. *JB