NHTSA Complaint #10276351 — 2006 HONDA ELEMENT

I NOTICED THAT THE SIDE DOORS LATCH ALONG THE RUNNING BOARD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF MY 2006 HONDA ELEMENT HAD COME LOOSE. THE TWO SIZABLE BOLTS THAT SHOULD SECURE THE LATCH TO THE VEHICLE BODY FLOAT FREELY WHEN THE LATCH CAN BE MOVED BY HAND. VISUALLY, THE ONLY THING THAT SEEMS TO BE KEEPING THE LATCH FROM FALLING ONTO THE STREET IS THE BLACK PLASTIC INTERIOR STRIPS THAT OVERLAP THE FLANGE OF THE LATCH. LOOKS TO ME THAT IF THAT LATCH COMES FREE FROM THE VEHICLE THEN BOTH DOORS COULD POTENTIALLY SWING OPEN CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR