NHTSA Complaint #10170032 — 2004 HONDA ACCORD

DRIVING DOWN ROAD @ 40 MPH, IN A 2004 HONDA ACCORD LX, THE PASSENGER SEAT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON, INJURING THE PASSENGER. AT THIS POINT, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO REPAIR THE DAMAGES BY HONDA OF AMERICA OR STATE FARM INSURANCE COMPANY DUE TO IT'S RARE CIRCUMSTANCES. HONDA TECHNICIANS AND THEIR DISTRICT MANAGER SAID THEY FOUND NO GOOD REASON FOR DEPLOYMENT. THEY TESTED THE AIRBAG PARTS AFTER THE DEPLOYMENT, AND THEY ARE CURRENTLY STILL FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THEORIZING, THEY COMMENTED THAT A BOLT MAY HAVE SMACKED UP UNDER THE CAR AND HIT A SENSOR, CREATING A FREQUENCY MIMICKING THE SOUND OF AN IMPACT. ACCORDING TO THE HONDA TECHNICIANS, THESE SIDE AIR BAGS ARE ACTIVATED/ACTUATED ON FREQUENCY SO THE SECOND THEY HEAR A CRUNCH OR GLASS BREAK, THEY SHOOT OUT. HE SAID THAT IF SOMETHING CREATED A SOUND SIMILAR TO THAT OF AN ACCIDENT OR VEHICLE IMPACT, THAT THEY COULD GO OFF. SO, CAR STILL IS NOT REPAIRED, AND HAS BEEN CHECKED BY HONDA AND STATE FARM ADJUSTORS. NEITHER HAS FOUND ANY AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO SUGGEST ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY WAS HIT ON THE ROADWAY, JUST A SMALL SCRATCH ON THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THE CULPRIT. *NM