1995 Honda Odyssey

I WAS DRIVING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR HOME AT AROUND 20 MPH IN A SPEED BUMP AREA. I SUDDENLY BECAME AWARE OF A STRONG BURNING SMELL INSIDE THE CAR. I SLOWED, PULLED OVER AND REALIZED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS BLINKING. SECONDS LATER AN EXPLOSIVE SOUND ERUPTED. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INFLATED. IT COLLIDED WITH AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD, BROKE THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR MOUNT AND THREW PLASTIC CHUNKS AROUND THE CAR. SOME PLASTIC STRUCK ME. IT TOOK A FEW MINUTES FOR THE POWDERY SMOKE TO DIMINISH. ON INSPECTION I FOUND DAMAGE TO THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT DOOR AND TO THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. NOBODY BESIDES MYSELF WAS IN THE CAR, FORTUNATELY. THERE WAS ONLY A HAT ON THE PASSENGER SEAT. AFTER TAKING SOME PHONE PICTURES I TURNED THE CAR AROUND, DROVE IT HOME AND PARKED.

WE TURNED ON THE IGNITION TO WARM THE ENGINE A BIT AT ABOUT 9:50 ON THE MORNING OF SUNDAY, AUGUST 6, 2015. AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES, THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIRBAG COMPLETELY EXPLODED. THE CAR WAS NOT IN MOTION, IT WAS PARKED, SO THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. WE SUPPOSE THAT IT MUST BE DEFECTIVE. THE SHEER FORCE OF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT RESULTED IN A LARGE, CIRCULAR CRACK ON THE WINDSHIELD, WITH SMALLER HAIRLINE FRACTURES. FRAGMENTS OF BLACK PLASTIC WERE PROPELLED THROUGHOUT THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. A STRONG SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC ENSUED AND FILLED THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. WE WILL NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT HAS BEEN PROPERLY INSPECTED, AS WE FEAR THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG MIGHT ALSO BE DEFECTIVE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE HONDA DEALERSHIP OUR INSURANCE COMPANY DIRECTED US TO WILL NOT BE OPEN UNTIL TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 DUE TO THE LABOR DAY HOLIDAY. THIS WAS A VERY FRIGHTENING SITUATION. THANKFULLY, WE WERE NOT DRIVING AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, AND SO NOBODY SUFFERED PERSONAL INJURY - BUT THIS AIRBAG MALFUNCTION MIGHT WELL HAVE CAUSED WOUNDS FROM THE FLYING MATERIALS AND SHARDS OF PLASTIC, AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT - PERHAPS WITH MULTIPLE PEOPLE INVOLVED - OR SEVERE INJURY, POSSIBLY EVEN DEATH. THOUGH WE FEEL GRATEFUL TO HAVE AVOIDED THE WORST, WE ARE STILL WITHOUT A VEHICLE DUE TO A MECHANICAL DEFECT NOT CAUSED BY US.