U.S. Probes Honda Air-Bag Lights
The Wall Street Journal 08/18/05
by Associated Press
(Copyright (c) 2003&044; Dow Jones & Company&044; Inc.)

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The government has opened an investigation into some Honda Accord models because owners have complained about a light on the control panel that illuminates when an air bag has been disarmed or isn’t working properly.

Honda Motor Co. said the potential problem involves a sensor system in the front passenger seat that detects whether a person is properly seated. The system was designed to deactivate the passenger-side air bag if a child or a person of small stature was leaning against the door or curled up in a position close to the door where they could be injured if the side air bag deployed.

Honda spokesman Andy Boyd said many complaints have dealt with drivers who placed a briefcase or laptop-computer bag in the passenger seat. Company investigators believe the system detected the bag’s size and position and deactivated the air bag, leading to the lamp’s illumination.

Mr. Boyd said Honda would cooperate with the investigation but said there was no indication that the potential defect would affect the frontal air bags, the driver-side air bag or the vehicle’s safety system. He said the inquiry would involve an estimated 480,000 Accords from the 2000 and 2001 model years. Honda said there have been no injuries associated with the issue.