NHTSA complaint: 2006 HONDA ELEMENT — AIR BAGS
WHEN: MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON WEDNESDAY, 11/07/2007, 1515HRS WHERE: SOUTHBOUND CO HWY 93 AND EASTBOUND CO HWY 72; JEFFERSON COUNTY, STATE OF COLORADO; WHAT: MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT: 2006 HONDA ELEMENT WAS STRUCK BY AN SUV. THE ACCIDENT CAUSED THE 2006 HONDA ELEMENT TO ROLLOVER, ONCE, BEFORE RIGHTING ONTO ITS WHEELS. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE OCCURRED TO THE ELEMENT AUTOMOBILE. NOTABLY, THE AIRBAGS - FRONT, PASSENGER, AND SIDE - DID NOT DEPLOY. THE SAFETY BELT RESTRAINT SYSTEM PROTECTED THE SOLE OCCUPANT FROM LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES. WHO: COLORADO STATE PATROL. JEFFERSON COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT, ARVADA, CO POLICE DEPARTMENT; AND ARVADA FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AT THE SCENE. THE ATTENDING LAW AND EMERGENCY RESCUE PERSONNEL WERE SURPRISED THAT THE HONDA ELEMENT AIRBAG SYSTEM DID NOT DEPLOY DUE TO THE SEVERITY AND CATASTROPHIC NATURE OF THE ACCIDENT. ISSUE: WAS THE 2006 HONDA ELEMENT AIR BAG SYSTEM DEFECTIVE DUE TO THE ABSENCE OF DEPLOYMENT IN THIS ROLLOVER ACCIDENT? *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation