NHTSA Complaint #10489089 — 2004 HONDA PILOT

THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT ABRUPTLY FLIPPED UPWARD AND STARTLED THE DRIVER WITH MOMENTARY DISORIENTED AND LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE DEALER DENIED EVER WITNESSING THIS PROBLEM ON A HONDA PILOT, QUOTED $1500 TO REPLACE THE SEAT, AND COMMENTED I WAS A BIG GUY PUTTING A LOT OF STRESS ON THE SEAT. I AM 6'3" TALL AND 200 POUNDS. IT IS CLEAR THE HONDA DEALERSHIP AT DECATUR, ALABAMA DOES NOT FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND WENT ON TO BOAST HONDA IS THE ONLY COMPANY THAT REPLACES DEFECTIVE SEAT BELTS. MY WIFE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SAME DEALER COMPLAINING ABOUT THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT RANDOMLY LOCKING WHEN PULLING THE SAFETY BELT OUT FOR ENGAGEMENT AND LOCKING AND TIGHTENING RANDOMLY WHILE WEARING THE SEAT BELT WITH THE VEHICLE IN MOTION. THE DEALER MADE NO COMMENT TO THIS STATEMENT. A QUICK SEARCH ON THE INTERNET REVEALED OTHER HONDA PILOT OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THE BRACKET HOLDING THE FRONT LEFT CORNER OF THE DRIVER SEAT WAS BROKEN NEAR THE RIVETS THAT HOLD THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT. THIS IS THE SAME DEFECT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH OUR FRONT DRIVER SEAT WHERE THE FRONT LEFT BRACKET HOLDING THE SEAT TO THE ADJUSTMENT RAIL IS COMPLETELY TORN THE FULL LENGTH OF THE SEAT BOTTOM MOUNTING BRACKET. WE FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND THE DEALER CLEARLY DOES NOT SUPPORT THAT IDEA. MY WIFE AND I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED A SEAT BREAKING IN SUCH A MANNER IN ANY VEHICLE WE HAVE OWNED. *TR