NHTSA Complaint #10596819 — 2006 HONDA CIVIC

HEAVY, LOOSE OBJECTS IN TRUNK STRUCK & BROKE OFF TRUNK LATCH ASSEMBLY, PREVENTING REAR HATCH FROM BEING OPENED IN ANY WAY, INCLUDING REMOTE. (NO EXTERNAL TRUNK KEYHOLE EXISTS.) SINCE REAR SEAT FOLD-DOWN RELEASES ARE LOCATED IN THE TRUNK, ONE OF THE REAR SEATS NEED TO BE UNBOLTED TO BE ABLE TO PULL THE SEAT RELEASE, REMOVE THE SEAT, AND MANUALLY UNLATCH THE TRUNK. THE DESIGN OF THE REAR LATCH IS NOT PROTECTED AGAINST STRIKES FROM HEAVY OBJECTS AND IS THEREFORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. IF THE LATCH WERE TO BREAK, THE VEHICLE GET A FLAT TIRE, AND THE DRIVER UNABLE TO REMOVE THE REAR SEAT FOR LACK OF TOOLS OR KNOW-HOW, THE DRIVER WOULD BE UNABLE TO ACCESS THE SPARE TIRE AND BE STRANDED. *TR