NHTSA Complaint #10198518 — 2007 TOYOTA CAMRY

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW 2007 CAMRY LE AUTOMOBILE FROM A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG ACTIVATION WEIGHT SENSOR IS INCONSISTENT IN BEHAVIOR AND UNABLE TO READJUST TO A NEW WEIGHT READING DURING A TRIP. MY WIFE WEIGHS APPROXIMATELY 100 LBS PLUS CLOTHES. ONE TIME OUT OF SEVEN THE AIRBAG SENSOR WILL NOT REGISTER HER AS BEING SUFFICIENTLY HEAVY TO ACTIVATE THE AIRBAG. I ONCE RESTARTED THE CAR SEVEN TIMES TO TRY TO GET IT TO REGISTER. I THEN MOVED MYSELF (174 LBS PLUS CLOTHES) TO THE PASSENGER SEAT, STARTED THE CAR WITH AN EMPTY DRIVER'S SEAT, GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND LET MY WIFE SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE AIRBAG CAME ON WHILE I WAS SITTING THERE, AND DID NOT CHANGE (TO OFF) AFTER MY WIFE REPLACED ME DURING THE 20 MINUTE TRIP. I HAVE HAD TO USE THIS TECHNIQUE EACH TIME THE SENSOR REFUSES TO TURN THE AIRBAG ON WHEN MY WIFE IS THE FRONT PASSENGER. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE INTO TWO DIFFERENT TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS TO HAVE THE SENSOR CHECKED OUT, AND THEY BOTH INSIST IT IS WORKING FINE. I SUSPECT THAT TOYOTA IS USING SUBSTANDARD PARTS THAT DO NOT DEAL WELL WITH MODERATELY HIGH EXTERNAL TEMPERATURES; SUCH AS THOSE NOT FOUND INSIDE A CLIMATE CONTROLLED MAINTENANCE BAY. I FEAR THAT IN HASTE WE MAY MISS ONE TIME IT DOES NOT TURN ON AND GET INTO A SERIOUS COLLISION THAT INJURES MY WIFE. *TR