NHTSA Complaint #10290862 — 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID

I PURCHASED A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA IN SEPT. 2009. I NOTICED IMMEDIATELY THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG REMAINS OFF 50% OF THE TIME WHEN MY GIRLFRIEND (APPROX. 100 POUNDS) SITS IN IT. I TRIED TO FOLLOW UP WITH THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND A SEPARATE DEALER AS WELL. MY DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE TOLD ME IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO LEAVE THE AIRBAG ON OR TO ADJUST THE SENSITIVITY. HE ALSO STATED THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAD SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. I TRIED BRINGING IT IN TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP, WHO TOLD ME THAT AT LEAST 2 OR 3 PEOPLE HAD BROUGHT THEIR CARS IN WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT AND NISSAN COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE FREQUENCY OF THIS PROBLEM SEEMS RELATIVELY COMMON. HOW CAN SUCH A HAZARDOUS SITUATION BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH NHTSA STANDARDS? EVEN IF IT IS SAFE FOR 99% OF THE POPULATION, THE LACK OF CONTROL BY THE NHTSA IS SEVERELY ENDANGERING THE LIVES OF THE OTHER 1%. I AM ONLY ONE PERSON AND HOPE THAT THE NHTSA HELPS ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. I DO NOT WANT TO SPEND THE TIME AND EFFORT TO EXPLORE MEDIA OUTLETS AND AM REALLY HOPEFUL THAT THIS CAN BE ADDRESSED. I CANNOT IMAGINE THE LAWSUITS THAT WOULD RESULT FROM AN AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING WHEN I SEE THIS COMPLAINT ALL OVER MESSAGE BOARDS AND ON THE NHTSA SITE. PLEASE HELP US PROTECT OUR LOVED ONES. *TR