NHTSA Complaint #10175828 — 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE

I OWN A 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE PROBLEM IS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DOES NOT ALWAYS ENABLE WHEN MY USUAL 115 POUND PASSENGER SITS ON THE PASSENGER SEAT. THERE IS NO PROBLEM WHEN A HEAVIER PERSON SITS ON THE SEAT, BUT WHEN MY USUAL PASSENGER (WHO IS MY 75 YEAR OLD WIFE) SITS ON THE SEAT THE AIR BAG SEAT SENSORS DO NOT ALWAYS ACTIVATE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP REFERRED ME TO THE MANUAL WHICH DESCRIBES THE PROPER SEATING POSITION. WHEN MY PASSENGER SITS IN EXACTLY IN THAT MANNER, ABOUT 60% OF THE TIME THE SEAT SENSOR ACTIVATES THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. APPARENTLY THE SENSORS ARE SET TO TRIGGER AT OR NEAR 115 POUNDS. AND WHAT CLOTHING SHE WEARS DETERMINES IF SHE IS PROTECTED BY THE AIR BAG OR NOT. I ALSO OWN A 2005 HYUNDAI TUCSON, A COMPACT SUV. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEM ACTIVATING THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WHEN MY PASSENGER SITS ON THAT SEAT. I BELIEVE THERE IS A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE A MATURE ADULT DOES NOT ACTIVATE A PASSENGER AIR BAG. I AM SURE OTHERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. HYUNDAI SHOULD PROVIDE A METHOD FOR CHANGING THE TRIGGER WEIGHT OF THEIR SENSORS. *JB