# 1996 HONDA CIVIC — SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
> NHTSA complaint `319946` · 2001-10-18 · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 2
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** HONDA
- **Model:** CIVIC
- **Year:** 1996
- **Manufacturer:** Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
- **Component:** SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
## Narrative
BOTH SEAT BACKS COLLAPSED WHEN OUR HONDA WAS REAR-ENDED.  WE (MY WIFE AND I) WERE STOPPED IN A TRAFFIC JAM (DUE TO AN ACCIDENT AHEAD) ON A DOWNTOWN FREEWAY (I-20 IN MONROE, LA).  WE WERE REAR-ENDED AND KNOCKED INTO THE LEFT LANE WHERE WE TRAVELLED DOWN THE LANE FOR SEVERAL CAR LENGTHS, THEN HIT THE GUARD RAIL AND A CAR IN THE LEFT LANE (BY THAT TIME, AT A SLOW SPEED).  THE SEAT BACKS OF BOTH SEATS COLLAPSED AND WE WERE LAID BACK.  I WAS DRIVING AND PULLED UP WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR, ALTHOUGH WE WERE IN A SKID.  THE HEAD REST OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT ALSO BROKE AWAY FROM THE SEAT BACK.  MY WIFE AND I SUFFERED ONLY SOFT TISSUE DAMAGE IN OUR NECKS AND LOWER BACKS (STRAINS AND BRUISES), BUT I WAS WONDERING IF THE SEAT BACKS SHOULD HAVE COLLAPSED THE WAY THEY DID.  THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR WAS IN TACT AND THE REAR CRUMPLE ZONES WORKED GREAT.*AK
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*