2005 HCI 100 Recalls, Complaints & Safety

EQUIPMENT:MOTORCYCLE:HELMETS

Defect Description

ALL SIZES OF THE MOTORCYCLE HELMET, MODELS #100 AND #100G, MANUFACTURED BY HELMET CITY (HCI) BETWEEN OCTOBER 1, 2004, AND APRIL 29, 2005. THESE HELMETS FAIL THE RETENTION REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 218, MOTORCYCLE HELMETS. THE STITCHING ON THE RIGHT SIDE EAR FLAP IS ... Read more

Consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE EAR FLAP CAN RIP, LEAVING THE WEARER UNPROTECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN HEAD INJURIES.

Remedy

HCI WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND REPAIR THE HELMETS BY ADDING ADDITIONAL STITCHING. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 20, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HCI AT 888-550-3731.

36,855 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: HELMET CITY

Complaint Statistics

4 total complaints 1 crashes 3 injuries

Top Reported Components

Component	Complaints
EQUIPMENT:MOTORCYCLE:HELMETS	3
EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER	1

Incident date: Jul 7, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A HJC JET 3/4 MOTORCYCLE HELMET (NA), PART NUMBER 98012-06V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HELMET FITS SNUGLY ON THE DRIVER'S HEAD. WHEN THE AIR VENT ON THE HELMET IS OPEN, AIR ENTERS INTO 3/4 STYROFOAM INSTEAD OF COOLING OFF THE HEAD. ON A HOT DAY, HER HUSBAND BECAME DIZZY WHIL... Read more

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Sep 15, 2008

DEAR NHTSA, NORTH CAROLINA RECENTLY CHANGED IT'S MOTORCYCLE HELMET LAW WHICH REQUIRES HELMETS TO MEET SOME FMV-XXX? REQUIREMENT( WHATEVER THAT IS). I BOUGHT ONE FROM HCI AND IT HAS CAUSED ME NECK PROBLEMS DUE TO ITS SIZE AND WEIGHT. I CANNOT RIDE MORE THAN 50 MILES ANYMORE WITHOUT A BREAK DUE TO ... Read more

1 injured

Incident date: Dec 4, 2007

ON MULTIPLE TRIPS RIDING TO AND FROM WORK MY DOT APPROVED HELMET HAS CAUSED EXCESS NECK AND BACK PAIN DUE TO THE POOR DESIGN OF THE HELMET. WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEED (ABOVE 35 MPH) THE HELMET CATCHES THE WIND AND IS PULLED UP AND BACK. AFTER STOPPING AND REPEATEDLY ADJUSTING THE HELMET, THE HELMET... Read more

1 injured

Incident date: Oct 31, 2007

FAILURE OF DOT "APPROVED" HELMETS TO SAVE LIVES. HELMETS DON'T SAVE LIVES, FEWER ACCIDENTS DO. WHY DOES NHTSA KEEP CRAMMING THIS HELMET JUNK DOWN THE PUBLICS THROATS? KEEP THE PEOPLE IN CAGES FROM RUNNING INTO MOTORCYCLES AND YOU WILL SAVE A BUNCH OF LIVES. ASK THE CAGE FOLKS TO WATCH THEIR LEFT... Read more

NHTSA Safety Investigations — HCI 100

Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.

AQ — Closed

HCI Helmet Recalls

Helmet City, Inc. (HCI) was an importer and worldwide distributor of motorcycle helmets, operated by President Al Sobel. In 2014 and 2015, OVSC conducted testing on various sizes of the HCI 100 and HCI 115 motorcycle helmets. All of the helmets tested failed some aspect of the compliance tests, incl... uding failures of impact attenuation tests. On September 23, 2015, NHTSA sent HCI Information Request letters containing reports showing testing failures for model 100 (sizes M and XL) and model 115 (size XL). On October 21, 2015, HCI's attorney indicated that HCI was looking into doing a Part 573 report for the subject helmets. After some additional correspondence between NHTSA and HCI - including NHTSA reminding HCI of the five-working day deadline to submit a Part 573 Safety Recall Report NHTSA received HCI's response to the information requests on November 12, 2015.Ultimately, on February 2, 2016, HCI submitted two Part 573 Safety Recall Reports to NHTSA for non-compliance in HCI helmet model 100 (sizes M and XL), Recall 16E-008, and model 115 (size XL), recall 16E-010. On April 13, 2016, NHTSA opened this AQ to investigate the timeliness of HCI's non-compliance determination and the scope of the 2016 recalls. The AQ was also opened to investigate and review HCI's compliance with reporting requirements under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.Prior to NHTSA opening the AQ, Darsan Trading (established in February 2016) had purchased the inventory and trademark of HCI. It is NHTSA's understanding that the predecessor company originally responsible for the recall no longer legally exists. Darsan, the successor company, has thus far been forthcoming and cooperative with NHTSA, including taking over responsibility for and completing the quarterly reporting requirements for the aforementioned HCI recalls. The agency has concluded that continuing this investigation into HCI is not warranted and that this investigation should be closed. Closure of this AQ does not represent a determination by the agency as to HCI or Darsan's compliance with any applicable federal laws or regulations. The agency continues to monitor Darsan's handling of the recalls and its conformance with legal obligations including reporting requirements. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.Read more

HCI 100 — All Years Overview

Complete safety history for the HCI 100 across all model years (2004–2005).

8 Total Recalls

4 Total Complaints

1 Investigations

1 Reported Crashes

0 Reported Fires

0 Reported Deaths

HCI 100 — Year by Year

Compare recalls and complaints across model years. Click any year to see full details.

Year	Recalls	Complaints
2005 (current)	1	4
2004	1	0	View

Other HCI Models

Model	Recalls	Complaints
100G	0	0	View
115	0	0	View
15 GLOSS BLACK HELMET	0	0	View
50	0	0	View

Vehicle Safety

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Infrastructure

Public Health

2005 HCI 100