NHTSA Complaint #10654607 — 2015 ACURA MDX

MY BRAND NEW 2015 MDX HAD SIGNIFICANT GAPS (APPROX 1/2 INCH) BETWEEN THE DASH WHERE IT MEETS THE BASE OF THE A-PILLARS AND THE A-PILLAR/AIRBAG COVERS WERE OUT OF ALIGNMENT ALONG FRONT EDGE OF WINDSHIELD. WHEN I ASKED THE SERVICE WRITER ABOUT IT HE DISCOURAGED ME FROM HAVING THE PROBLEM ADDRESSED OR CORRECTED BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE THE DASH TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM AND IT MIGHT CAUSE OTHER PROBLEMS AND RATTLING LIKE I WAS ALSO EXPERIENCING WITH THE PASSENGER DOOR. AFTER SEVERAL VISITS REGARDING SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS I SPOKE TO SERVICE MANAGER WHO SAID I SHOULD HAVE THE PROBLEM ADDRESSED. IT SEEMED TO ME THAT THE A-PILLAR COVERS WERE UNSECURED AT THE BASE AND ASIDE FROM THE AESTHETIC ISSUE, IN THE EVENT OF A SERIOUS ACCIDENT THE AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY OR THE ENTIRE COVER MAY BE PROPELLED INTO THE OCCUPANTS CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. I DO NOT KNOW HOW THESE GAPS WERE MISSED BY ACURA QUALITY CONTROL. I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL VEHICLES WITH VARYING DEGREES OF IMPROPER ALIGNMENT OF THESE COVERS ALTHOUGH NONE AS SERIOUS AS MINE. I HAVE ONLY INSPECTED A FEW BUT THIS MIGHT BE A PROBLEM WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF VEHICLES BASED ON THE POOR QUALITY CONTROL EXHIBITED IN MY MDXS AND NUMEROUS OTHER ISSUES WITH THE MDX SINCE 2014. I THINK THIS ISSUE AND ACURA'S QUALITY CONTROL PROCESS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED ASAP TO DETERMINE WHETHER THIS PROBLEM POSES A RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH TO THE OCCUPANTS OF THE MDX. *TR