NHTSA Complaint #11388604 — 2007 HONDA ELEMENT

DURING NORMAL DRIVING, NO HARD BRAKING INVOLVED, THE PASSENGER SEATBELT CONSISTENTLY LOCKS UP - CAUSING MY PASSENGERS TO BE LOCKED IN PLACE. IT LOCKS IF A PASSENGER LEANS FORWARD TO REMOVE SOMETHING FROM THE DASH CUBBIES (WHICH ARE JUST OUTSIDE OF ARMS REACH BUT WELL WITHIN NORMAL RANGE REACH). IT LOCKS IF THE PASSENGER LEANS TO REACH BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT. IT SEEMS AS IF THE BELT HAS BEEN DESIGNED TOO SHORT OR THE LOCKING MECHANISM OVERLY SENSITIVE. SHOULD A COLLISION HAPPEN WHILE LOCKED, THERE WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY NO GIVE AND COULD CAUSE THEM SIGNIFICANT HARM.