NHTSA complaint: 2003 HONDA ACCORD — SEAT BELTS:FRONT
I WAS ON I-285 GOING ABOUT 40 MPH WHEN A TRUCK CARRYING TREE LIMBS AND BRANCHES PULLED OFF THE MEDIAN DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD EX COUPE REAR ENDED THE TRUCK. THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED BREAKING THE WINDSHIELD BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT. DAMAGE WAS CONFINED TO THE HOOD, BUMPER AND SEVERAL COMPONENTS UNDER THE HOOD (COMPRESSOR, RADIATOR, ETC). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MY LOCAL HONDA DEALER WHO IS MAKING ALL THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT HONDA RECOMMENDS THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE BE REPLACED WHEN THE SEAT BELT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ORDERED THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE BUT NOTICED IT WAS THE WRONG PART WHEN THEY WENT TO INSTALL IT. THEY CONTACTED HONDA NORTH AMERICA ON MAY 4 AND AGAIN ON MAY 12 REGARDING THIS AND AS OF MAY 13 THE DEALER STILL HAS HAD NO RESPONSE FROM HONDA NORTH AMERICA. THE CAR WAS SCHEDULED TO BE READY ON MAY 12 AND NOW THE DEALER CAN'T GIVE ME A COMPLETION DATE BECAUSE OF HONDA NORTH AMERICA'S REFUSAL TO CONTACT THE DEALER REGARDING THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE. IN THE MEANTIME, I AM STILL HAVING TO PAY A PORTION OF MY RENTAL CAR AND THE MAXIMUM ALLOWED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY WILL MAX OUT THIS COMING WEEK. *NM
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation