NHTSA Complaint #10306057 — 2002 HONDA CIVIC

THE SRS (SECONDARY RESTRAINT SYSTEM) LIGHT IN OUR 2002 HONDA CIVIC HAS COME ON. THIS IS AT LEAST THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED. THE FIRST TIME BEFORE WE OWNED THE VEHICLE AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES. THE SECOND SOME TIME IN BETWEEN. THIS LAST TIME AT ABOUT 70,000 MILES. THE HONDA DEALERSHIP SAID THE COMPUTER TELLS THEM THE LIGHT COMES ON BECAUSE OF THE BUCKLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SEA BELT IS DEFECTIVE. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE BUCKLE AT LEAST TWICE. THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE IT AGAIN BECAUSE THEY CLAIM THAT IS NOT THE PROBLEM, THE SEAT BUCKLE WARNING LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON WHEN A PASSENGER IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, WITHOUT THE SEAT BELT BEING LATCHED. I BELIEVE THIS MEANS THE AIRBAGS ARE NOT OPERATIONAL. THE HONDA DEALERSHIP DOES NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THEY CLAIM THAT THE PROBLEM IS EITHER IN THE WIRING HARNESS OR THE COMPUTER. ONE FIX WOULD COST $400, THE OTHER $600. THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING FURTHER, ALTHOUGH THEY OFFERED TO SPLIT THE COST OF REPLACING THE HARNESS OR COMPUTER. THEY CLAIM A LIFETIME WARRANTY ON THE SEAT BELTS BUT ARE NOT HONORING IT IN THIS CASE. *JB