NHTSA Complaint #11290666 — 2012 TOYOTA RAV4

I NOTICED THAT THE 'PASS AIR BAG OFF' LIGHT WAS ON EVEN THOUGH A PASSENGER WAS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THAT DIAGNOSED IT. THEY SAID THE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE HAD GONE BAD AND NEEDED REPLACING. WHAT BOTHERS ME IS THE FACT THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DIDN'T COME ON TO INDICATE THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I AM NOT SURE HOW LONG I HAVE DRIVEN WITH THIS MALFUNCTION SINCE THE LIGHT THAT INDICATES THE AIR BAG BEING ON OR OFF IS OFF TO THE SIDE AND IN YELLOW RATHER THAN RED TO SHOW THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG. I HAD TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE CAR ONLY HAD 67K MILES, BEING 7 YEARS OLD.