NHTSA Complaint #10924030 — 2011 HONDA ODYSSEY

I PARKED MY CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY OF MY DAUGHTER'S PLAYDATE'S HOUSE AND STEPPED OUT FOR LESS THAN 5 MINUTES TO PICK HER UP, LEAVING MY 8 YEAR OLD SON IN THE THIRD ROW IN THE VAN. AFTER HELPING HER WITH SHOES AND A JACKET MY DAUGHTER RAN OUT IN FRONT OF ME THEN TOLD ME MY SON WAS SCREAMING. I THOUGHT HE WAS SCREAMING BECAUSE HE WAS UPSET WITH ME. I RETURNED TO FIND MY SON WITH A RED FACE, STREAMING TEARS AND HOLDING ON TO THE SEAT YELLING, "MOM! I CAN'T BREATHE! THE BELT'S AROUND MY NECK! HELP ME!" INDEED MY SON'S NECK WAS ENTANGLED IN THE SECOND ROW MIDDLE SEAT BELT. TRYING TO REMAIN CALM I TRIED TO RELEASE THE BELT AT THE ANCHOR POINT ATTACHED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT WITH THE MALE END OF THE BUCKLE BUT IT COULD NOT REACH BECAUSE THE BELT HAD RETRACTED TOO FAR AND LOCKED. I TRIED TO GET HIM TO TURN TO UNTANGLE BUT THE BELT WAS TOO TIGHT AND CONTINUED TO RETRACT AND LOCK FURTHER WITH ANY ADDITIONAL MOVEMENT. I RAN BACK TO THE FRONT DOOR OF THE HOUSE, BANGED ON IT AND YELLED FOR A PAIR OF SCISSORS. SCISSORS IN HAND I RAN BACK TO THE VAN. THE OTHER MOTHER RAN BEHIND ME, SAW MY SON ENTANGLED (NOW PALE-FACED BUT STILL BREATHING) AND WATCHED ME CUT THE SEAT BELT TO RELEASE HIM. THE BELT WAS SO TIGHT THE CAPILLARIES AROUND HIS EYES, ON HIS FACE AND NECK HAD BURST LEAVING RED SPOTS. RED LINES WERE EVIDENT AROUND HIS NECK AND A BRUISE THE SIZE OF A HALF DOLLAR WHERE THE BELT HAD TWISTED WAS VISIBLE. HE DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION AS HE DID NOT LOOSE CONSCIOUSNESS. THE NEXT DAY I EXPLAINED THE SITUATION TO THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL AND NURSE; HIS TEACHERS FOLLOWED SUIT. WHILE THE BUCKLE IS USED TO RELEASE THE BELT AT ITS PRELIMINARY ANCHOR POINT THERE ALSO NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING ON THE SIDE OF THE SEAT ITSELF THAT CAN BE USED TO RELEASE IT INSTEAD OF OR IN ADDITION TO THE ACTUAL BUCKLE ITSELF. THAT WAY IF IT LOCKS THE BELT CAN STILL BE RELEASED. *TR