Denver's Channel 9 News has done an excellent investigative report about a defective auto product in the immensely popular Honda cars. Their investigation apparently shows that airbags in some newer model Hondas are defective and deploy without warning in various situations including, when drivers shut their car doors, wait at stoplights or even as they drive down smooth roadways. But the auto maker, American Honda, is refusing to pay to fix these defective cars and has even told the drivers that it's their fault that the airbags deployed! According to complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Honda told consumers to file claims with their insurance companies.

Defective Airbags Deploying Out of the Blue

There is no question that having an airbag deploy when you're driving can be a frightening and dangerous experience. In this auto defect case, I'm surprised there haven't been more reports of serious car accidents and personal injuries. One consumer told Channel 9 that his driver's side and side curtain airbags deployed in his 2008 Honda Civic when he was waiting at an intersection for a green light. His airbags deployed so suddenly that this man thought he was shot. The airbags left big bruises on his arm for eight days and caused his ears to ring for two days, according to the news report. Another consumer, a Los Angeles resident, was driving her 2003 Honda Accord when her passenger side airbag suddenly deployed. She thought she had a flat tire and believes she is extremely lucky that she did not hit another car. Honda wanted her to pay $5,100 out of her pocket to fix it.

NHTSA has received complaints from 96 Honda drivers since 2004 that their airbags spontaneously deployed in their newer model cars although they were not involved in a car accident. Still, there have been no recalls to date or no attempt from Honda to even look into these reported defects. The federal agency is not investigating this problem because it is "statistically insignificant compared to the number of Hondas on the road."

Contacting an Auto Product Liability Attorney

In my opinion, when you have an airbag that deploys when it is not supposed to deploy, that is a defective airbag. An airbag is definitely not supposed to deploy when a door is shut or when a car goes over a bump on the road! But, based on my experience with auto makers, it is not at all surprising that Honda is blaming drivers instead of owning up to their defective products and fixing the problem. Unfortunately, they will probably wait until drivers suffer catastrophic injuries or death as a result of these defects before issuing a recall.

If you have suffered serious injuries as a result of defective Honda airbags or other auto product defects, it would be in your best interest to contact a reputed California personal injury lawyer with significant experience and a successful track record handling auto product liability cases. If you suspect an auto product defect in your vehicle, please make sure you preserve the vehicle in its current faulty condition at least until it can be examined by an expert for evidence of those defects. The best auto product liability law firms will offer a free and comprehensive initial consultation to victims and their families.

The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our source for the facts is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, please contact us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. Most of the best law firms will provide accident victims a free consultation.

We cannot fully inform any party or family member about their rights, options or the economic viability of any claim for compensation without a full investigation and consultation. We will not be conducting an investigation into this matter unless we are retained by a party. We will provide a free, confidential consultation to any, not at fault, person named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.