NHTSA Complaint #10275612 — 2006 HONDA ELEMENT

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY TO SCHOOL WHEN SUDDENLY THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG EXPLODED INTO HER SIDE. SHE HADN'T HIT A POT HOLE AND HADN'T RUN OVER ANYTHING. SHE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND CHECKED TO SEE IF SHE HAD BEEN SHOT. SHE SAID SMOKE OR A GAS RELEASED FROM THE AIRBAG. SHE TOOK IT TO THE CLOSEST HONDA DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY. THE DEALERSHIP DID AN ASSESSMENT OF THE SENSORS AND EXAMINED UNDERNEATH THE CAR. THEY SAID THAT THE CAR MUST HAVE RUN OVER AN OBJECT THAT SET THE SENSORS OFF BECAUSE THEY SAID THERE WAS A SMALL GASH THAT RAN PARALLEL TO THE CAR;S BODY. MY DAUGHTER DID NOT NOTICE ANY DEBRIS ON THE ROAD. EVEN IF SHE DID RUN OVER ROAD DEBRIS, WHY ARE SENSORS PLACED IN THIS SPOT UNDER THE SIDESTEP WHERE ANY LITTLE BUMP CAUSES THE SENSORS TO MAKE THE AIRBAG EXPLODE. THEY OFFERED TO HAVE THE SENSORS AND SEAT AIRBAG REPLACE AT A COST TO US. WE DECLINED AS WE FEEL THAT HONDA SHOULD PAY FOR THIS SINCE THE SENSORS ARE PLACED IN A DANGEROUS ACCIDENT CAUSING POSITION WHERE ANY BUMP CAN SET IT OFF CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO EXPLODE WITHOUT NECESSARILY BEING IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR