NHTSA Complaint #10193563 — 2007 HYUNDAI ACCENT

I PURCHASED A 2007 HYUNDAI ACCENT ON MAY 12, 2007. ON THE DAY I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I REALIZED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WOULD NOT ACTIVATE WHEN MY FIANCE SAT IN THE SEAT. WE POINTED THIS ISSUE OUT TO THE SALESMAN , AND HE SUGGESTED I BRING THE CAR IN ON MONDAY TO GET THE SENSOR CHECKED OUT. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON MAY 14, 2007. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM WITH THE SENSOR. LATER THAT DAY I HAD MY FIANCE SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AGAIN THE SENSOR STILL DID NOT RECOGNIZED HER AS LARGE ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON MAY 17, 2007 TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT THE SENSOR AGAIN. THEY INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THEIR SYSTEM SHOWED THE SENSOR AS OPERATING PROPERLY. I THEN CALLED HYUNDAI MANUFACTURING CONSUMER AFFAIRS OFFICE TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM. HYUNDAI MANUFACTURER'S CURRENT POSITION WAS THAT THE SENSOR WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. HOWEVER, I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THE COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ADVANCED PASSENGER AIR BAG SYSTEMS. THE RESULTS OF MY RESEARCH SHOWED THAT MY CAR WAS NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH EITHER OF THE TESTING METHODS AVAILABLE FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO USE. I WAS AWAITING FOR A FINAL RESPONSE ON THE PROBLEM FROM HYUNDAI. *AK