NHTSA Complaint #11377602 — 2004 HONDA ACCORD

ON OCTOBER 25, 2020, THE BOLT HOLDING THE DRIVERS SEATBELT UNSCREWED ITSELF DURING NORMAL USE, STRIPPED THE BOLT THREADS, AND FAILED. IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN IN A POSITION TO FAIL FOR MANY MILES. IF AN ACCIDENT HAD OCCURRED, THE SEATBELT WOULD NOT HAVE WORKED. THE SEATBELT COMPONENTS ARE MANDATED UNDER 49 CFR 571.209. I HAVE ATTACHED PHOTOS OF THE SEATBELT BUCKLE BOLT. I HAVE A SIMPLE SOLUTION TO PREVENT THIS FROM OCCURRING IN THE FUTURE, HOWEVER, I CAN'T SEEM TO FIND ANYONE WHO CARES ABOUT THE TECHNICALITIES. IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SPEAK WITH AN ENGINEER ABOUT THIS. THE HONDA DEALER AND CUSTOMER SERVICE REP WERE WORTHLESS. THEY REFUSED TO SELL ME A REPLACEMENT PART UNLESS I SIGNED A LIABILITY WAIVER. I OF COURSE REFUSED, BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE LIABILITY. I GUESS THEY DIDN'T LIKE IT WHEN I TOLD THEM THEY HAD A LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE THE PART AND THAT I DIRECTED THEM TO PICK UP THE PHONE, CALL THE PRODUCTION PLANT, AND HAVE THE PERSON SITTING NEXT TO THE BUCKET OF BOLTS SEND ME A REPLACEMENT BOLT...SO I COULD INSTALL IT MYSELF. I PURCHASED A 7/16-20 UNF BOLT THROUGH MCMASTER CARR AND HAD TO TURN A NEW SHOULDER ON A LATHE. IT'S NOT AS GOOD AS THE PROPER SHOULDER BOLT, BUT IT IS SAFE RIGHT NOW. ARE THERE ANY AVENUES THROUGH NHTSA THAT WOULD ALLOW ME TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION TO HONDA, AND TO GET A PROPER REPLACEMENT BOLT? IT'S A DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT IS LIKELY TO MANIFEST DURING A TRAFFIC CRASH.