NHTSA Complaint #10216021 — 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG TURNS ITSELF OFF SPORADICALLY WHEN I (160 LBS) OR MY HUSBAND (190 LBS) SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER TWICE. THE SECOND TIME THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT NISSAN STATED THAT MY AIRBAG SENSOR WAS OPERATING AS PER SPECIFICATION. THERE IS NO MANUAL OVERRIDE SWITCH TO FORCE THE AIRBAG TO INFLATE DURING A CRASH. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT THE AIRBAG MAY TURN ITSELF OFF WHEN SMALL ADULTS ARE SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, BUT OFFERS NO SOLUTION FOR THIS SITUATION. DOES THIS MEAN THAT NISSAN IS WILLFULLY DEPRIVING SMALL ADULTS (AND, IN OUR CASE, NOT SO SMALL ADULTS) OF THEIR AIRBAG PROTECTION? THIS IS A FATAL DESIGN FLAW. THERE MUST BE A RECALL TO INSTALL A MANUAL OVERRIDE SWITCH FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG. THE CAR'S COMPUTER MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO DECIDE WHO GETS AN AIRBAG AND WHO DOESN'T. *TR