NHTSA Complaint #10201275 — 2007 HYUNDAI ACCENT

I PURCHASED A NEW HYUNDAI ACCENT ON 07/17/07 AND DISCOVERED ON 07/18/07 THAT THE AIRBAG SENSOR FOR THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER WILL NOT ACTIVATE FOR A PASSENGER THAT IS 5'7" TALL AND 115 LBS. THE AIRBAGS (FRONT & SIDE) WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH BECAUSE THE SENSORS INSTALLED IN THE SEAT DO NOT RECOGNIZE A PERSON OF THIS STATURE. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE 3 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND IN AN INDEPENDENT STUDY DONE BY DEALERSHIP MANAGEMENT, 3 OUT OF 10 TIMES THE SENSOR DID NOT DETECT A PERSON OF THIS STATURE. THIS WAS TESTED ON A FLOOR MODEL IN THE SHOWROOM WITH THE SAME RESULTS. HYUNDAI ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT HAS REFUSED TO PROCEED WITH A CLAIM FOR DEFECT AND STATED TO ME THAT A PERSON OF THIS SIZE NEEDED TO RIDE AS A BACKSEAT PASSENGER. THEY ADVISED NO FURTHER ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN AND DETERMINED THE SENSOR WAS WORKING WITHIN MANUFACTURER'S GUIDELINES. THERE IS NO WRITTEN GUIDELINE FOR WEIGH STANDARDS AND THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT I REFUSE TO ACCEPT. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ UPDATED *JB