NHTSA Complaint #10355096 — 2006 HONDA ELEMENT

ON 9/7/10 WHILE DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON I-15 SOUTH OF LAS VEGAS, NV THE RIGHT FRONT. PASSENGER AIRBAG ON MY 2006 HONDA ELEMENT INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO IMPACT OR COLLISION OF ANY KIND. MY WIFE WAS SITTING IN THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT BLEW A HOLE THROUGH A BLANKET MY WIFE HAD WRAPPED AROUND HER INJURING HER RIGHT ARM AND SHOULDER. UPON RETURNING TO MY HOME IN VENTURA, CA I CONTACTED A LOCAL HONDA DEALER IN OXNARD, CA. THEY WERE VERY CIRCUMSPECT IN THEIR DISCUSSIONS WITH ME AND I WAS ASKED TO VISIT THEM ON 9/13/10 WITH ANY "ADDITIONAL INFORMATION" I MAY HAVE. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH SINCE THE INCIDENT IN QUESTION AND HAVE DISCOVERED THAT OTHER INCIDENTS SUCH AS MIN E HAVE OCCURRED IN THE PAST AND HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO YOUR AGENCY, BUT WITH LITTLE OR NO RESULTS. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT NORTH AMERICAN HONDA HAS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT IN THEIR AIRBAG SYSTEM(S). SO FAR AS I CAN TELL FROM MY RESEARCH NO ONE HAS BEEN KILLED YET BY PREVIOUS INCIDENTS IN A HONDA ELEMENT SUCH AS MINE. IT IS MY CONTENTION THAT IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE YOU CAN PUT AN "X" IN THE DEATH OR FATALITY BOX ON YOUR FORM. IT'S TIME YOUR AGENCY STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE AND DID SOMETHING TO FORCE HONDA TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECT. *TR