HondaNeglected to Address My Inquiry Regarding the Cause of My 2016 CR-V's Damage Due to an Unjustified and Unwarranted Airbag Activation, Resulting in Severe Financial Distress for Me
In a surprising turn of events, Lisa Cook, a long-time Honda CR-V owner, found herself in a predicament after her vehicle was totaled due to an airbag deployment in a minor 20-mile-per-hour accident. The incident occurred in her 2016 Honda CR-V Touring, which had many years of life left before needing replacement.
Airbags are designed to protect occupants from hitting hard surfaces inside the car during a crash. However, in this case, the airbag deployment made most vehicles unrepairable, forcing Lisa Cook to buy a new car. The sensor for her Honda CR-V's airbag is not available until October, leaving her without a vehicle in the meantime, and she spent about $1,500 on a rental car.
Lisa Cook sustained an injury from the airbag deployment, specifically burning her thumb. Despite her queries, Honda ignored her questions about the needless and unwarranted airbag deployment. The airbags deploy in moderate to severe collisions rather than minor accidents like a 20-mile-per-hour fender bender with only slight vehicle damage because their sensors are calibrated to detect forces that pose a real injury risk to occupants.
Lisa Cook believes the problem lies with the defective airbag sensor placements on Honda's part. The cost of repairing her Honda CR-V, including the airbag replacement, was more than the car's value, leading to its total loss. In minor accidents, the impact may not be severe enough to warrant airbag deployment. However, in Lisa Cook's case, the seatbelt was enough to prevent injury, as she never touched the airbag with her head or face.
Lisa Cook has decided not to buy another Honda after this experience and is considering escalating her problem further with the insurance company and Honda USA. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that airbags are designed to deploy in moderate to severe crashes, not minor ones like a 20-mile-per-hour accident with no damage. The NHTSA also explains that airbags have sensors that measure the force of impact and determine if deployment is necessary.
Modern airbag systems use accelerometers and impact sensors precisely calibrated to avoid firing in non-harmful crashes while ensuring deployment in situations likely to cause injury. The threshold for airbag deployment is usually equivalent to hitting a solid, fixed barrier at 8 to 14 mph or higher, or hitting a parked car of similar size at 16 to 28 mph or higher, according to the NHTSA.
In summary, airbags deploy based on impact severity and injury risk rather than vehicle damage alone, to balance occupant protection with preventing unnecessary airbag deployment harm. However, in Lisa Cook's case, the deployment appears to be unwarranted, leaving her without a vehicle and an injury. She is now seeking resolution from Honda and the insurance company.
[1] National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (n.d.). Airbags. Retrieved from https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/airbags [2] National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (n.d.). Airbag Sensor Malfunctions. Retrieved from https://www.nhtsa.gov/equipment/air-bags/airbag-sensor-malfunctions [3] National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (n.d.). Airbag Deployment. Retrieved from https://www.nhtsa.gov/equipment/air-bags/airbag-deployment [4] Mayo Clinic. (2020, September 15). Whiplash. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/whiplash/symptoms-causes/syc-20374293 [5] National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (n.d.). Airbag Injuries. Retrieved from https://www.nhtsa.gov/equipment/air-bags/airbag-injuries
- Despite her research on personal-finance and debt-management strategies, Lisa Cook's unexpected car-maintenance expenses pushed her budget up by $1,500, forcing her to reconsider her lifestyle choices.
- Lisa Cook's interest in gaining knowledge about car-maintenance led her to learn that airbags typically deploy at impact speeds equivalent to hitting a solid, fixed barrier at 8 to 14 mph or higher.
- In an effort to improve her personal-finance situation and avoid future unwarranted expenses, Lisa Cook is contemplating purchasing a car with a lower maintenance cost, rather than buying a new Honda.
