NHTSA Complaint #10397166 — 2004 HONDA ACCORD

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT EXPLANATION (BOTH THE BAG THAT DEPLOYS THROUGH THE CEILING LINER AND THE BAG THAT DEPLOYS THROUGH THE SIDE OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT). DUE TO THE VIOLENCE AND CONFUSION OF THE DEPLOYMENT EXPLOSION, I FIRST THOUGHT THAT THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY VEHICLE MUST HAVE BEEN CRUSHED IN A COLLISION WITH AN UNSEEN SEMI-TRAILER TRUCK. EARS RINGING FROM THE CONCUSSION, I INITIALLY FOUGHT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, BUT SOON REALIZED THAT THE TIRES WERE STILL INTACT. AS THE SMOKE CLEARED, I SAW THAT THE NEAREST VEHICLES WERE 100+ YARDS AHEAD OR BEHIND MY VEHICLE. AT THE NEXT EXIT, I INSPECTED THE VEHICLE UNDER A STREET LIGHT. THERE WAS NO APPARENT DAMAGE TO THE EXTERIOR. DURING LATER INSPECTIONS BY AN INSURANCE ADJUSTOR AND THE HONDA DEALERSHIP, NO CAUSE FOR DEPLOYMENT WAS FOUND. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND HENCE NO EVIDENCE THAT AN OBJECT HIT THE UNDERCARRIAGE TO TRIGGER THE DEPLOYMENT. THE ONLY EXTERNAL DAMAGE WAS A SMALL GOLF-BALL SIZED DENT IN THE ROOF OVER THE RIGHT CENTER PILLAR. THE DENT WAS APPARENTLY CAUSED BY THE STRONG TORQUE THAT THE DEPLOYING SIDE-CURTAIN AIRBAG APPLIED TO THE WELDED ROOF MOUNT TO WHICH THE AIR BAG PACKAGE BOLTS. HENCE, ALL INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE (>$3000 USD) WAS CAUSED BY THE FALSE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT ITSELF. THE INSURANCE COMPANY CONCLUDED THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A COLLISION AND REFUSED TO COVER THE DAMAGES. THE HONDA DEALERSHIP SIMILARLY REFUSED TO COVER THE DAMAGE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE DEALERSHIP FURTHER CLAIMED THAT THE AIR BAG CONTROLLERS DO NOT SAVE THE STATE OF THE SENSORS WHEN A DEPLOYMENT IS TRIGGERED, AND HENCE IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO DIAGNOSE FAILURES. I FIND IT DISTURBING THAT SO-CALLED 'SAFETY' EQUIPMENT IN A PROPERLY MAINTAINED VEHICLE CAN SELF-DESTRUCT AND POTENTIALLY KILL THE OCCUPANT AND NEITHER THE INSURANCE COMPANY NOR THE MANUFACTURER TAKES ANY RESPONSIBILITY. *TR