NHTSA Complaint #10149808 — 2006 BUICK LACROSSE

WE HAVE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE 2006 BUICK LACROSSE. THIS MODEL HAS A PASSENGER SIDE SEAT SENSOR WHICH DETECTS WHETHER A PASSENGER IS SEATED IN THE SEAT OR NOT. IF IT DETECTS NO PASSENGER, THE PASSENGER AIR-BAG IS TURNED "OFF." AT TEMPERATURES BELOW 55. THIS PASSENGER SIDE SEAT SENSOR DOES NOT WORK! MY WIFE FIRST NOTICED IT ON A COLD MORNING, I HAD HER BOUNCE UP AND DOWN ON THE SEAT - NO RESPONSE. THE AIR-BAG REMAINED "OFF." THIS HAPPENED EVERYTIME THE TEMPERATURE AS INDICATED ON THE DASH WAS 55 OF OR LOWER. ONLY AFTER THE HEATER WAS ON AND THE CABIN TEMPERATURE CAME CLOSER TO ROOM TEMPERATURE DID WE HEAR A "CLICK!" AND THE INDICATOR THEN SAID THE AIR-BAG WAS "ON." IF THIS IS A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING FLAW IN THESE SEAT SENSORS, THEN I CAN SEE THOUSANDS OF PASSENGERS BEING POSSIBLY THROWN THROUGH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD BECAUSE "THE COMPUTER" "KNOWS" THAT NO ONE IS SITTING IN THE FRONT SEAT AND HAS THEREFORE TURNED THE AIR-BAG "OFF." THIS OCCURRED AT LEAST 5 TIMES IN JANUARY WHEN WE WERE IN VIRGINIA THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY. HAVE REFERRED THIS TO THE DEALER AND WROTE A TWO PAGE LETTER TO THE OWNER; THE SERVICE MANAGER SAYS THAT "THAT'S THE WAY THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO WORK." MY WIFE AND I ARE SKEPTICAL. *JB