NHTSA Complaint #11094143 — 2016 PORSCHE MACAN TURBO

WHEN AN ADULT SITS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT ON TOP OF A NORMAL BED PILLOW NEEDED BECAUSE OF MEDICAL PROBLEMS, THE AIRBAG PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR THAT SEAT OCCUPANT TURNS OFF. I NOW HAVE TO SIT IN THE BACK SEAT SINCE I AM UNPROTECTED AS A RESULT OF FRONT AIRBAG DEACTIVATION DUE TO PILLOW USE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. I AM A 65 YEARS OLD MAN, WEIGH 200 POUNDS AND AM 6 FEET TALL. I HAVE OWNED AT LEAST 7 PORSCHES OVER MY LIFETIME AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS IS A PROBLEM. BY THE WAY, IT IS NOT A PROBLEM IN THE LATEST 911. THE BACK SEATS ARE OBVIOUSLY LESS COMFORTABLE. WE SPENT EXTRA MONEY TO BUY THE MOST COMFORTABLE FRONT SEATS AVAILABLE FROM PORSCHE BUT NOW REALIZE THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IS USELESS AND UNSAFE FOR ANY ADULT NEEDING A PILLOW FOR SITTING. WE WILL NOT BUY A MACAN AGAIN. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALER MECHANICS (VIA ACTUAL DEMONSTRATION) WHO WERE, FRANKLY, FLABBERGASTED AT THIS FINDING OF WHICH THEY AND THE SALES AND SERVICE PEOPLE WERE ALLEGEDLY UNAWARE. THEY COULD OFFER NO WORKAROUND. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY OR MOVING AND IRRESPECTIVE OF WHAT KIND OF ROAD IS BEING DRIVEN ON OR WHAT BRAKING MIGHT BE HAPPENING OR NOT. I BELIEVE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM SEAT SENSORS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT ARE NOT DESIGNED SAFELY TO ALLOW FOR THE USE OF A CUSHION OR PILLOW BY AN ADULT AND STILL HAVE AIRBAG PROTECTION TURNED ON. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY UNSAFE CONFIGURATION AND COULD HARM THE UNINFORMED OR UNAWARE. PORSCHE OWNERS DO TEND TO BE OLDER AND MIGHT HAVE MEDICAL ISSUES REQUIRING SUCH THINGS AS A PILLOW FOR SITTING MORE COMFORTABLY. I FIRST NOTICED/UNDERSTOOD THIS PROBLEM APRIL, 2018, AND HAD THE DEALER BRING AROUND NEW 2018 MACAN TO TEST FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT ALSO HAD THE SAME RESPONSE OF TURNING OFF THE AIRBAG WHEN A PILLOW WAS USED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT.