NHTSA Complaint #10670178 — 2006 ACURA TL

DASHBOARD BEGAN TO CRACK AROUND THE PASSENGER DASH AIRBAG HOLE. THIS IS A KNOWN MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN AS IT RELATES TO THE PROPER DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. AIRBAGS ARE INTENDED TO BE DEPLOYED THROUGH THE DASHBOARD PORT. THAT PORT IS DESIGNED TO BE THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE FOR THE AIRBAG. DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG IN AN UNEMPEDED PATH IS IMPORTANT WHEN A SUCCESSFUL DEPLOYMENT IS REQUIRED. THE CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD MAY RESULT IN AN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT DEFLECTION AWAY FROM THE OCCUPANT WITHIN THE MILLISECONDS REQUIRED TO DEPLOY AND THAT WHICH MAYBE NECESSARY TO PREVENT UNNECESSARY INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT. THE CRACKS MAY ALSO RESULT IN FLYING DEBRIS THAT COULD INJURE THE OCCUPANT UPON AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *TR