NHTSA Complaint #10463151 — 2008 HONDA CR-V

WHEN BACKING OUT OF AN UNPAVED PARKING AREA I HIT A LARGE PONDEROSA PINE TREE WITH THE REAR BUMPER. THE BUMPER ABSORBED THE IMPACT WITH A SMALL SCRATCH TO THE BUMPER COVER. UPON IMPACT, THE CAR WAS NO LONGER IN MY CONTROL FOR IT LURCHED FORWARD ABOUT 40 FEET INTO THE PARKING SPACE I HAD LEFT AND HIT ANOTHER LARGE TREE WITH THE CENTER OF THE CAR. THE CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD SO QUICKLY I DO NOT RECALL WHEN THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE COLLISION ALL FOUR WHEELS CONTINUED SPINNING AND DUG SMALL DEPRESSIONS IN THE DIRT UNTIL THE ENGINE STOPPED. I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE AFTER BACKING INTO THE TREE. I SUFFERED BRUISED RIBS AND A SEVERE BURN TO MY HAND FROM THE AIRBAG. A SHERIFF ASSESSED THE ACCIDENT AND CALLED AN AMBULANCE TO ASSESS MY CONDITION AND I DID NOT REQUIRE HOSPITALIZATION. THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE (ESTIMATED $11,000) TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR. THIS WAS MY FIRST ACCIDENT AND I'M CONCERNED THAT MY HONDA CR-V IS UNSAFE FOR THE ABOVE REASON. *JB