NHTSA Complaint #11047365 — 2012 HONDA ODYSSEY

2ND ROW SEAT FLIPPED FORWARD DURING MODERATELY HARD BRAKING, INJURING MY CHILD WITH A BUSTED LIP AND SCRATCHES. SHE WAS 6 YRS OLD AND SECURED IN A 5 PT HARNESS CHILD SAFETY SEAT THAT WAS SECURED INTO THIS 2ND ROW SEAT. THE SEAT FLIPPED FORWARD WITH HER IN IT CAUSING HER TO STRIKE THE BACK OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE SEAT CAN BE MANUAL UNLATCHED FOR REMOVAL AND TO SLIDE IT SIDEWAYS, WHICH WE HAD DONE. APPARENTLY IT NEVER LATCHED BACK PROPERLY, BUT IT APPEARED TO BE FULLY LATCHED. WE WERE TRAVELING BETWEEN 35 AND 40MPH WHEN WE HAD TO STOP UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN THE SEAT FLIPPED FORWARD. IT WAS IN AMARILLO TX ON A CITY STREET WHEN A SHORT GREEN LIGHT QUICKLY CYCLED TO YELLOW, THEN RED. THIS EVENT HAPPENED JUNE 27, 2015. WE NOW "CHECK" AND MAKE SURE BOTH KID'S SEATS ARE LATCHED (THE BEST WE CAN) BY PULLING FORWARD, WITH HEAVY FORCE, ON THE SEATS WHEN BUCKLING KIDS IN THOSE SEATS. THERE APPEARS TO NOW BE EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE LATCH MECHANISM WHEN PERFORMING THIS "CHECK" THAT I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH. I FEEL THESE SEATS NEED TO BE REPLACED AND ARE NOT SAFE. THESE SEATS USED TO SECURE TO THE VEHICLE TIGHTLY, BUT NOW THERE IS EXCESSIVE "PLAY" AND LOTS OF "COMPLIANCE" IN THE SEAT FASTENING SYSTEM THAT SECURES IT TO THE VEHICLE. I'M NOT CONFIDENT, EVEN AFTER MY TRIPLE CHECKING IT EVERY TIME, THAT THIS WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.