NHTSA Complaint #11209618 — 2016 HONDA PILOT

"TAKATA RECALL" THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG OF OUR 2016 HONDA PILOT SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED AS MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH STRAIGHT ALONG ROUTE 195 IN MANSFIELD, CT ON MAY 11, 2019. AT THE TIME OF THE DEPLOYMENT SHE HAD PASSED OVER A STORM DRAIN THAT STICKS OUT INTO THE NARROW ROAD. THE DRAIN CAUSES A SLIGHT DEPRESSION IN THE ROADWAY, WHICH THE WHEELS ROLLED OVER. THERE WAS NO IMPACT. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. SHE MANAGED TO KEEP HER WITS ABOUT HER SO SHE DIDN'T GET HIT ON THE BUSY, NARROW ROAD. THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR IS PRISTINE. THE INTERIOR IS A MESS. THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG IS DOWN, BLOCKING VISIBILITY, AND THE SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT. THE DEPLOYMENT TOOK OUT THE HEADLINER AND TORE THE PASSENGER'S SEAT APART. OUR CAR HAS BEEN SITTING AT A HONDA DEALERSHIP AND NOW AT A BODY REPAIR FACILITY FOR TWO WEEKS. HONDA TELLS US IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT. THEY CLAIM WE HAVE A BENT CONTROL ARM ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE FRONT OF THE CAR. HOWEVER, WE HAVE FELT NO PULLING, SHAKING, TREMORS, BUMPING OR OTHER EFFECTS OUR MECHANIC ASSURES US WOULD HAPPEN WITH A BENT CONTROL ARM. WE WERE TOLD BY THE HONDA DEALER THAT REPAIRS COULD COST $5,000 TO $10,000 BUT HAVE NO OFFICIAL ESTIMATE. WE HAVE TURNED THE CASE OVER TO OUR INSURANCE COMPANY.