NHTSA Complaint #10895986 — 2003 ACURA MDX

THE SRS (AIR BAG) MAY FAIL TO DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT IF THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT IS UNBUCKLED AT ANY POINT DURING THE DRIVE, EVEN IF IT IS SUBSEQUENTLY BUCKLED PRIOR TO AND DURING THE ACCIDENT. WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, IF I UNBUCKLE THE SEAT BELT, THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT DOES NOT ILLUMINATE, HOWEVER, THE SRS (AIR BAG) WARNING LIGHT DOES ILLUMINATE. WHEN I START THE VEHICLE THE SRS AND SEAT BELT LIGHT ARE USUALLY BOTH ILLUMINATED FOR THE IGNITION TEST PERIOD OF 3-5 SECONDS. IF I DON'T BUCKLE THE SEAT BELT, THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT WILL REMAIN ILLUMINATED AND THE SRS LIGHT WILL GO OUT AFTER THE 3-5 SECOND TEST PERIOD AFTER THE IGNITION IS TURNED ON. ONCE I BUCKLE THE SEAT BELT, THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT GOES OUT. IF I THEN UNBUCKLE THE SEAT BELT WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING (IGNITION REMAINS ON) THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON, BUT THE SRS WARNING LIGHT DOES COME ON. IF I THEN BUCKLE THE SEAT BELT AGAIN, THE SRS WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON UNTIL I TURN OFF THE IGNITION. ONCE I RESTART THE ENGINE AND BUCKLE THE SEAT BELT, THE SRS WARNING LIGHT WILL GO OUT. IN ADDITION, I HAVE WITNESSED NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHEN THE SRS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITHOUT ANY ACTION TOWARDS THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE CASES WHERE THE SWITCH FAILS EVEN WHEN THE SEAT BELT REMAINS BUCKLED. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING, THAT WHILE THE SRS WARNING LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED, THE SRS (AIR BAG) WILL NOT DEPLOY DURING AN ACCIDENT. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN, EVEN THOUGH THE SEAT BELT IS BUCKLED, THE SRS WOULD FAIL TO DEPLOY. MY RESEARCH INDICATES THAT A FAILURE OF THE SWITCH IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE CAUSES THIS CONDITION AND THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY IS REQUIRED TO REMEDY THIS.