NHTSA Complaint #10164131 — 2006 HONDA ELEMENT

JULY 28TH 2006 @ ABOUT 3 PM. I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE FREEWAY @ NORMAL RATE OF SPEED (65 OR SO MPH) WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. I WAS DRIVING IN THE SECOND FROM THE FAST LANE. IT WAS A NORMAL SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DAY, SUNNY, CLEAR AND HOT. AFTER ABOUT 40 MINUTES OF MY 1 HOUR COMMUTE THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING DEPLOYED WITH A EXTREMELY LOUD AND DISORIENTING BANG! I WAS QUITE STARTLED BY THE DEPLOYMENT BUT WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE BAG WENT OFF MY LEFT ARM WAS RESTING ON THE WINDOW LEDGE. I RECEIVED A NASTY WELT ON MY UPPER FOREARM AS A RESULT OF THE BAGS SUDDEN DEPLOYMENT. I THEN PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY TO INSPECT MY VEHICLE. I FOUND NO SIGNS OF DAMAGE ON THE EXTERIOR AND NONE ON THE INTERIOR EXCEPT FOR THE RATHER LARGE RIP IN MY DRIVERS SIDE SEAT AND THE NOW DEPLOYED AIRBAG HANGING OFF THE SIDE OF MY SEAT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER ON SATURDAY LEFT IT FOR THE TECH TO EVALUATE. I WAS CALLED THAT AFTERNOON AND INFORMED THAT I WOULD NEED TO BRING IT BACK AND LEAVE IT DURING THE WEEK SO THEY COULD CONSULT THE CORPORATE ADVISORS/SPECIALIST IN THE MATTER. I RETURNED THE CAR ON TUESDAY AUG 1 2006 FOR THE EVALUATION. I RECEIVED A CALL LATER IN THE DAY INFORMING ME THAT HONDA WOULD NOT BE REPAIRING THE VEHICLE AS I HAD HIT OR RUN OVER SOMETHING CAUSING THE DEPLOYMENT. AS I SAID EARLIER THERE WAS NO IMPACT AND NOTHING WAS RUN OVER PRIOR TO THE DEPLOYMENT. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE MILE 7 ON THE ODOMETER AND HAVE BEEN THE ONLY DRIVER FOR IT'S 18000 MILES. I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS OCCURRENCE. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND AVOID AN ACCIDENT. MAYBE THE NEXT PERSON THIS HAPPENS TO WONT. I DON'T WANT THIS TO GO UNDOCUMENTED FOR FUTURE VICTIMS. ALSO, I DON'T THINK A SENSOR SHOULD BE PLACED ANYWHERE UNDER THE VEHICLE WHERE IT COULD BE STRUCK AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENTAL DEPLOYMENT ANYWAY!*JB