NHTSA complaint: 2001 HONDA CR-V — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING MY HONDA CRV EX AT APROX 50 MPH I REAR-ENDED A SMALL LIGHT WEIGHT TRUCK TRAVELING APROX 35 MPH. IN A VAIN ATTEMPT TO AVOID THE COLLISION I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND TURNED THE WHEEL OF MY CRV HARD TO THE RIGHT. THE RUBBER BUMPER OF THE TRUCK AND MY FRONT LEFT LIGHTS AND HOOD TOOK THE IMPACT. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE AIRBAG IN MY CRV DID NOT DEPLOY AND I SEVERELY INJURED MY RIGHT SHOULDER, NECK AND BACK. I ALSO INJURED MY RIGHT FOOT. KNEE AND HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. MY INSURANCE ADJUSTER IS SAYING THAT MY CRV NEEDED TO BE HIT DIRECTLY ON THE RUBBER BUMPER IN ORDER TO DEPLOY; SO THE EXISTING AIRBAG IS FINE AND WILL NOT BE REPLACED. THE BODY SHOP CONCURS THOUGH THE FIREMEN AT THE SEEN DISCONNECTED THE AIRBAG WHILE THE EMTS WERE REMOVING ME FROM THE VEHICLE STATING THAT SINCE THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY ON IMPACT, IT COULD, IN FACT DEPLOY AT ANY TIME IN THE FUTURE WITHOUT PROVOCATION. AFTER DISCUSSING THE SITUATION WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO'VE OWNED AND OPERATED BODY SHOPS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, THEY AND I FEEL THAT THE EXISTING AIRBAG IS SOMEHOW DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT UNTIL NOW. *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation