NHTSA Complaint #10415465 — 2004 HONDA ELEMENT

I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 HONDA ELEMENT TO WORK ON THE MORNING OF MAY 27, 2011 WHEN THE (DRIVERS SIDE) SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO COLLISION OR KNOWN REASON FOR IT TO DEPLOY. IT STARTLED ME BADLY, NEARLY CAUSING ME TO GO OFF THE ROAD. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A GUN SHOT. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE, GOT OUT AND CHECKED FOR DAMAGE, HOLES. I ONLY NOTICED THE BAG HANGING FROM THE SIDE OF THE SEAT WHEN I WENT TO ENTER THE VEHICLE AGAIN. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAD HAPPENED UNTIL I SAW THAT BAG. MY LEFT UPPER ARM FELT AS IF I HAD BEEN PUNCHED HARD. NETHER MY INSURANCE COMPANY(SAFETY) NOR AMERICAN HONDA WILL COVER THE DAMAGE WHICH WAS ESTIMATED AT A BIT OVER $1500. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO MY HONDA DEALER. THEY COULD FIND NO "CODES" OR OTHER REASON FOR THE BAG DEPLOY. MY INSURANCE COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE STATED IT COULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED AS I REPORTED AND INFERRED I MIGHT BE TRYING TO DEFRAUD THE COMPANY. ALL IN ALL, THIS WAS A VERY BAD EXPERIENCE. *TR