The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced that Honda has voluntarily recalled certain model year 2009-2011 Pilot SUVs due to a defect in the stitching that secures the safety belts to the anchors. The recall affects nearly 311,000 vehicles.
Honda released a statement saying the carmaker initiated the voluntary recall due to a manufacturing error on a small number of front seat belts, particularly where the stitching that connects the belt’s lap section to the outboard anchor webbing may be either missing or incomplete.
Although Honda has only found the issue “on a small number of front seat belts,” the potential for serious injury or death if the restraints fail in the event of a car accident apparently prompted the recall. The company said the only way to determine whether the seat belts were properly completed was through a recall inspection conducted by an authorized dealer.
Honda dealers will conduct an inspection of the driver and front passenger seatbelts, and if necessary, replace the seatbelts, free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about October 3, 2011. Honda will send written notification to its customers.
Owners may contact Honda automobile customer service at 1-800-999-1009 or visit the NHTSA website for further information. Use NHTSA campaign ID Number 11V468000 in the “quick search” box.
The attorneys at Philip DeBerard, Injury Attorney encourage Florida residents to immediately take their affected Pilot into a Honda dealer for inspection. Safety restraints are vital to saving lives in accidents on Florida roadways. When used properly, safety belts are the most effective safety devices in vehicles today, estimated to save 9,500 lives each year in the United States.
According to Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there were 1,555 traffic fatalities of both drivers and passengers in SBEV or Seat Belt Equipped Vehicles in Florida in 2009. Unfortunately, 59% of those fatalities, or 917 of the people killed, were not wearing their seat belt.
Florida law is very specific about drivers and passengers being buckled up: all front seat occupants must wear a safety belt, regardless of age, and children ages 6 to 18 must be belted in either the front or back seat of the vehicle. With safety being the motivation behind this law, the Florida car accident attorneys at Philip DeBerard, Injury Attorney, recognize it’s crucial that the safety restraints work properly when buckled.
Contact an Experienced Florida Car Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a vehicle accident due to a defective product, seek experienced counsel. I am attorney Philip DeBerard. I have three decades of legal experience representing people injured in Florida car accidents and other personal injury claims.
The Florida accident law firm of Philip DeBerard, Injury Attorney, represents victims of car accidents and automobile crashes in Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, Jupiter, Stuart, Okeechobee, Vero Beach and Palm Beach. If character traits such as integrity, dedication and compassion are what you seek in an accident lawyer, call Philip DeBerard. Choosing the right accident lawyer does make a difference.
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