Front Air Bag Sensor Control problems of the 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe

Work under the recall to repair faulty sensors that failed to detect small statured adults (95 lb wife). For failure to detect didn't resolve issue, and efforts to determine what the new trigger weight was got nowhere with either local or hq reps. So now driving a vehicle that mfr has acknowledged safety defects yet refuses to fix.

The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated the passenger's side frontal air bag was not activated. The dealer advised the air bags were idle and would not activate without a passenger of at least 120 pounds occupying the seat. The manufacturer confirmed the dealer's statement and would not provide any further assistance. The failure and current mileages were 25,256.

This problem is true of our 2007 and 2008 Santa Fe's and has existed since we purchased the cars. I have finally come to the conclusion that this is a safety issue for not only my wife but also many other people who are of slight build. It is a problem that is easily correctable by the manufacturer. I have created case#[xxx] with Hyundai America --they have responded that they will pass along the information to engineering --but they have noted that I will not be contacted by Hyundai regarding deposition of the issue. The problem -- my wife weighs about 95 lbs. She frequently does not activate the air bag system on the passenger side of the vehicle. She is essentially unprotected in case of an accident. She just doesn't weigh enough to reliably activate the air bag system. Hyundai spends quite a few pages in their manual to cover themselves legally. They comment that if all else fails just sit in the back seat. I would imagine few husbands and wives opt for this solution. Most consumers probably haven't read the manual, ignore the off sign or don't know what it means, or don't care and risk the safety of their passenger. This is a safety issue to the general public. The sensor in the passenger seat should activate the air bag system for say anyone over 66 lbs. I believe another manufacturer has recently done so. It is stupid that I have waited this long to complain -- but I kept thinking their would eventually be a recall and I normally just don't complain about things. Hyundai could make an alternate sensor available to those who needed it. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

My 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe seems to have a faulty passenger occupant sensor. My wife weighs about 105 lbs. And the sensor intermittently recognizes the passenger seat as being occupied. When I sit in the passenger seat the airbag sensor light will turn off. I weigh 198 lbs. My wife can usually position the seat to make the airbag sensor light turn off but then the sensor light will come back on again after approximately 30 seconds of driving. This is a safety hazard since the passenger seat occupancy sensor should register anything over 100 lbs. As an adult and therefore the sensor should remain off indicating that the air bag is activated. The Hyundai dealer checked out the sensor and stated that it was working normally.

The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe. The air bag sensor does not detect an adult occupant in the front passenger seat. The vehicle was taken to the dealer multiple times, and a technician replaced and re-calibrated the seat module. None of the repairs have remedied the failure. The vehicle identification number was unavailable. The failure mileage was 100 and the current mileage was 9100. Updated 11/17/09 the consumer stated it would detect heavier adults. Updated 11/1/8/09.

My wife and I purchased a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe. The car is great running vehicle except for one safety problem: the front passenger airbag sensor does not detects my wife as an adult and toggles on and off at will. It is really frightening to be traveling down an highway or any road and realize that I have no airbag. My wife is 5' 3 " and weighs about 120 lbs and at times I needed to have her reposition seat to the total upright position to reset the airbag indication light. This does not give me a sense of security since I don't feel confident that it would deploy if needed . I called two Hyundai dealers and was advised that this a common problem and suggested for me to come in for a checkup. I at this time have not made an appointment with the dealer but will certainly make one ASAP.

Failure of the front passenger's air bag to be activated. Hyundai 2008 Santa Fe with 150 miles I am a 145lb 5'8" male. 75% of the time when I am sitting in the front passenger's seat, the front airbag fails to "turn on". Even though I'm sitting upright with my feet placed on the ground, exactly as described in the owner's manual, the sensors located in the seat cushion fail to recognize me as an adult. I have visited the Hyundai dealer and their equipment says the sensors are working. I have numerous witnesses at the dealer who have observed the failure of the sensors to "turn on" the airbag when I'm sitting in the seat.

My 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe se seems to have a faulty passenger occupant sensor. I weigh about 130 lb. And it often does not recognize the passenger seat as being occupied when I sit in it and the passenger airbag will turn off. I can usually position the seat to make the airbag come back on but then the airbag will turn off again while driving (although it is not supposed to turn off and on after 30 seconds of driving). This is a hazard as the passenger seat occupancy sensor should register anything over 100 lb. As an adult.