NHTSA Complaint #10898722 — 2016 HONDA ODYSSEY

THE DRIVER'S HEAD RESTRAINT CAUSES SIGNIFICANT NECK AND BACK PAIN BECAUSE THE RESTRAINT PUSHES MY HEAD FORWARD SO THAT MY CHIN TILTS DOWN TOWARD MY CHEST. THIS ALSO MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO LOOK STRAIGHT AHEAD AT THE ROAD. I HAVE TRIED ALL VERTICAL POSITIONS OF THE HEAD RESTRAINT. I HAVE TRIED ADJUSTING THE LUMBAR SUPPORT. I HAVE TRIED ADDING A NECK SUPPORT PILLOW. NOTHING HAS WORKED. THE OWNER'S GUIDE SAYS, "THE CENTER OF THE BACK OF THE OCCUPANT'S HEAD SHOULD REST AGAINST THE CENTER OF THE RESTRAINT. THE TOPS OF THE OCCUPANT'S EARS SHOULD BE LEVEL WITH THE CENTER HEIGHT OF THE RESTRAINT" (PAGE 42). I AM UNABLE TO SIT WITH THE RESTRAINT IN THE RECOMMENDED POSITION (OR ANY POSITION) WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT NECK AND BACK PAIN AND WITHOUT DIFFICULTY LOOKING FORWARD. THE OWNER'S MANUAL GOES ON TO GIVE THE FOLLOWING WARNING: "IMPROPERLY POSITIONING HEAD RESTRAINTS REDUCES THEIR EFFECTIVENESS AND INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD OF SERIOUS INJURY IN A CRASH." THEREFORE, I DO NOT FEEL SAFE ADJUSTING THE RESTRAINT IN ANY OTHER UNRECOMMENDED POSITION. ADDITIONALLY, THE OWNER'S GUIDE GIVES INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE HEAD RESTRAINTS TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED: "FOR A HEAD RESTRAINT SYSTEM TO WORK PROPERLY: ' DO NOT HANG ANY ITEMS ON THE HEAD RESTRAINTS, OR FROM THE RESTRAINT LEGS. ' DO NOT PLACE ANY OBJECT BETWEEN AN OCCUPANT AND THE SEAT-BACK. ' INSTALL EACH RESTRAINT IN ITS PROPER LOCATION" (PAGE 43). THEREFORE, PLACING ANY PILLOWS BEHIND THE DRIVER'S BACK OR NECK IS CONSIDERED UNSAFE. THE OWNER'S GUIDE GIVES ANOTHER WARNING, "SITTING IMPROPERLY OR OUT OF POSITION CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IN A CRASH. ALWAYS SIT UPRIGHT, WELL BACK IN THE SEAT, WITH YOUR FEET ON THE FLOOR" (PAGE 42). I AM UNABLE TO SIT "WELL BACK IN THE SEAT" BECAUSE THE RESTRAINT PUSHES MY HEAD, NECK AND SHOULDERS FORWARD.