SwampNut Posted August 3 Share Posted August 3 Before I file an NHTSA complaint, I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced airbags turning off for passengers in the 100-110 pound range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biometrix Posted August 3 Share Posted August 3 When my kids were smaller the passenger airbag light in my wife's Avalanche would toggle on/off sometimes but that was a 2002 and I would expect that the sensors would have gotten better by now. 100lbs seems right at the threshold for activation weight. Do you have any seat covers or pads on the seat? Do you know whether it will go on if your passenger bears down at all on the seat? My understanding is that there can be multiple sensors (like up to eight) in the seat to detect the weight so one or more could be faulty. Until it's fixed you could have your passenger sit with a 40lb. bag of sand or cat litter in their lap... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwampNut Posted August 3 Author Share Posted August 3 No seat covers or anything, and it happens mostly if she's leaned a bit back and/or slouching. So the ACTUAL weight on the sensor is under 100, but that should be accounted for. No other car does this. The official answer was the whole 100 pound thing, and "sit up straight like mom told you." She can give the seat a bounce and it turns the warning off/airbag on. It seems to have a single sensor, and mostly near the back. I think it's bad design, and am pretty sure I'll file a complaint. At least they solved the practical problem of hiding the AC controls when there was no passenger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zero Knievel Posted August 3 Share Posted August 3 The seat belt does over 90% of the work. Don’t sweat it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwampNut Posted August 4 Author Share Posted August 4 I forgot to note, they are made by Hyundai/Kia so experience with those vehicles would be most useful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackhawkxx Posted August 4 Share Posted August 4 A few Big Macs every couple of days should solve the problem. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwampNut Posted August 4 Author Share Posted August 4 24 minutes ago, blackhawkxx said: A few Big Macs every couple of days should solve the problem. She's allergic to beef, so this would definitely not work. There would not be a lot left, but it's the cheapest colon cleanse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zero Knievel Posted August 4 Share Posted August 4 7 hours ago, SwampNut said: She's allergic to beef, so this would definitely not work. There would not be a lot left, but it's the cheapest colon cleanse. No problem. I doubt what’s in the Big Mac qualifies as “meat.” 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwampNut Posted August 4 Author Share Posted August 4 🙄 McD patties are all beef, even with no salt or pepper or anything else added. The only potential dig, if you don't understand it, is that they use dairy beef, not "beef beef." Dairy beef is leaner and more chewy which in many ways makes it healthier by reducing saturated fats. They have a policy of doing their own regular inspections of providers. Now, if you want to talk about something, let's try the "chicken" McNuggets. So back on topic, many people have reported this, and I found only one who had actually filed an NHTSA complaint which is being ignored so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zero Knievel Posted August 4 Share Posted August 4 Sorry. Should have included the so you’d know I was being sarcastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superhawk996 Posted August 5 Share Posted August 5 I have the opposite complaint, the airbag turns on for parts or other cargo well under 100lbs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zero Knievel Posted August 5 Share Posted August 5 They introduced the feature so air bags wouldn’t deploy unless someone was in the seat due to the expense in repairing them. My ‘98 Mazda has an on/off switch for the passenger airbag. I suppose they went to a pressure switch so the driver didn’t have to remember to turn it back on. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackhawkxx Posted August 5 Share Posted August 5 1 hour ago, Zero Knievel said: They introduced the feature so air bags wouldn’t deploy unless someone was in the seat due to the expense in repairing them. Or maybe they didn't want the air bag blasting a child? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superhawk996 Posted August 5 Share Posted August 5 2 hours ago, blackhawkxx said: Or maybe they didn't want the air bag blasting a child? Exactly. Many older cars/pickups have a switch so you can safely carry an infant/small kid. I think the switch was a requirement in vehicles that didn't have a back seat option for car seats. I'm pretty sure weight sensors eliminated the manual switch. In some cars the weight sensor tunes the deployment speed of the airbag, maybe all cars these days. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwampNut Posted August 5 Author Share Posted August 5 11 hours ago, superhawk996 said: I have the opposite complaint, the airbag turns on for parts or other cargo well under 100lbs. Yeah, in every other car (BMW, Tesla, Smart, etc) we needed a fake seatbelt activation latch for Arlo and even heavy groceries (he's 53 pounds). So now that's another question; are there two sensors, or two triggers? One for seat belt ding and one for airbag? It seemed to be one and the same in all other cars. She always latches it if the dog is in the front seat, and the back seats do NOT cause it to give the seat belt warning in the Rivian, but did in the Tesla. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwampNut Posted August 8 Author Share Posted August 8 Well, I've started a shitstorm. Can you believe that people are afraid to make a stink at the risk of "upsetting" the car service center/manufacturer? But they will join my #MeToo movement. I have a CA lemon law/class action attorney's attention. I know it's very unusual for me to start some shit. Also the number of people who say "doesn't happen to my wife" and then I ask "is she fat?" LOL....!!! Moriah is in the bottom 5th or 3rd percentile of weight, but I can still make the joke. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superhawk996 Posted August 10 Share Posted August 10 Assuming they're 'smart' airbags; being that it barely detects Moriah means that they might under-weigh all passengers and skew the deployment speed. The driver's side could have the same issue, but that side is always on so you wouldn't have an indication. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superhawk996 Posted August 10 Share Posted August 10 On 8/8/2024 at 8:26 AM, SwampNut said: I have a CA lemon law/class action attorney's attention. Gonna replace that E-junker with a gasser or diesel? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomek Posted August 10 Share Posted August 10 Just make one of your dogs sit on her lap. Problem solved. Btw, my ex was/is in 110 pounds range. Never had that issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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