1997 Honda Accord

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO LATCH IN PLACE WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY DISENGAGED WHILE IN THE ON POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

I HAD FILED A REPORT WITH THE BAR ABOUT A SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF MY HONDA ACCORD STARTING TO FREY AND THEY HAD SPOKE WITH HONDA IN POWAY CA AND THEY WILL NOT COVER THE SEAT BELT BECAUSE IT IS NOT BROKEN. TO ME IT SEEMS LIKE A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IF I AM INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WILL THE SEAT BELT BE WORKING 100%? THERE ARE TEAR MARKS ON THE BELT WERE IT CLICKS TO THE BELT BUCKLE AND I FEEL THIS IS NOT SAFE. I FEEL HONDA SHOULD COVER THIS. *TR

THIS IS A GENERAL COMPLAINT FOR THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES USED ON A WIDE VARIETY OF HONDA VEHICLES OVER MULTIPLE PRODUCTION YEARS BEING ABLE TO UNLATCH DURING A COLLISION. TO KEEP THIS COMPLAINT FORM BRIEF, ONLY THE MAIN TOPICS WILL BE DISCUSSED. THE DEFECT CONSISTS OF THE SEATBELT FAILING TO FULLY LATCH IN PLACE IF A SMALL AMOUNT OF A BEVERAGE (USUALLY SODA POP) IS SPILLED INTO THE SEATBELT HOUSING. AFTER DRYING, THE BEVERAGE RESIDUE BECOMES STICKY AND THE DESIGN OF THE SEATBELT BUCKLE PREVENTS THE BUCKLE FROM LATCHING SECURELY. THE FAILURE MODE CAN BE EITHER THE SEATBELT NOT LATCHING AT ALL OR THE BUCKLE GIVING A 'FALSE LATCH' CONDITION MEANING THAT THE SEATBELT TONGUE CLICKS AND SEEMS TO HOLD IN PLACE NORMALLY TO THE OCCUPANT BUT IF PULLED FIRMLY IT WILL RELEASE. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN TO OCCUPANTS. HONDA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS DEFECT AND EVEN HAS RETURNED WARRANTY PARTS (ESTIMATE OVER 1000 FAILURES HAVE BEEN RETURNED BY CUSTOMERS) THAT IT HAS CATEGORIZED AS BSR (BROWN STICKY RESIDUE). THIS PROBLEM GOES BACK AT LEAST AS FAR AS 1994 (WITH THE 1994 STYLE DESIGN BEING ESPECIALLY PRONE TO THIS FAILURE). AS STATED, HONDA HAS RECEIVED MANY FAILURES OF THIS TYPE BACK BUT HAS TAKEN NO ACTION TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. IT IS UNKNOWN HOW MANY PEOPLE MAY HAVE BEEN WEARING THEIR SEAT BELT BUT WHEN IN A COLLISION IT UNLATCHED AND ALLOWED THEM TO BE INJURED. FURTHERMORE, WITH HONDA PLACING A CUPHOLDER JUST INCHES AWAY FROM THE SEATBELT BUCKLE (AND WITH THE BUCKLE DESIGNED IN A FUNNEL SHAPE), IT IS OBVIOUS THAT HONDA KNEW BEVERAGES WOULD BE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE BUCKLE. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND I HOPE THAT AN INVESTIGATION WILL BE CONDUCTED TO HELP SAVE LIVES. FORCING HONDA TO PRESENT THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE WARRANTY CLAIMS IT HAS RECEIVED FOR SEAT BELT BUCKLES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS WOULD SHOW THAT HONDA HAS KNOWN OF THE DEFECT BUT HAS TAKEN NO STEPS TO CORRECT IT OR INFORM ITS CUSTOMERS OF THE DANGER. *AK