NHTSA complaint: 2011 HONDA ODYSSEY — AIR BAGS
I FILE THIS COMPLAINT TO REPORT A DANGEROUS DEFECT IN MY 2011 HONDA ODYSSEY VAN TO PREVENT OTHERS FROM SUFFERING SIMILAR OR WORSE HARM WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. I STOPPED MY VEHICLE AT THE TOP OF MY DRIVEWAY, WHERE IT IS FLAT, TO GET MY MAIL I PLACED THE VAN IN PARK BEFORE I STEPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO GET MY MAIL. THE VAN WAS NOT MOVING WHEN I EXITED THE VEHICLE. MY TWO CHILDREN REMAINED IN THE VEHICLE. AS I WENT TO GET THE MAIL, THE NEXT THING I KNEW MY VAN WAS MOVING ON ITS OWN DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. BECAUSE MY KIDS WERE STILL BUCKLED IN THEIR SEATS IN THE VEHICLE, I DID EVERYTHING I COULD TO STOP THE VAN. HOWEVER, I DID NOT SUCCEED. THE VAN CUT OFF THE DRIVEWAY, WENT THROUGH THE LANDSCAPED PORTION OF MY YARD, ROLLED OVER A RETAINING WALL AND CRASHED INTO MY HOUSE. AS A RESULT OF ME TRYING TO SAVE MY CHILDREN, I SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT INJURIES WHICH INCLUDED DIFFICULT SURGERY AND THE LOSS OF MOBILITY WITH POTENTIAL PERMANENT DEBILITATING INJURY. I AM STILL IN PHYSICAL THERAPY AND WILL BE FOR A WHILE. WE ALSO HAD A LOT OF PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE CAR WAS STILL IN PARK WHEN IT HIT THE HOUSE. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVERS HAD TO ENGAGE THE SHIFT LOCK RELEASE TO TAKE THE SHIFTER OUT OF PARK IN ORDER TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SLIGHTLY TO POSITION IT TO BE PICKED UP BY THE TOW TRUCK. THE VEHICLE MOVED WHILE IN PARK AND NEVER CAME OUT OF PARK WHEN IT WENT DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. I HAVE INFORMED HONDA OF THIS DANGEROUS LIFE THREATENING DEFECT. HONDA INSPECTED THE VEHICLE ON MAY 23RD AT BRANNO
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation