PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IS NOT ENGAGED. INDICATOR IS ON APPROXIMATELY 50% OF THE TIME, WHEN MY 84 POUND DAUGHTER IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS MEANS THAT 50% OF THE TIME, MY DAUGHTER IS SUPPOSEDLY NOT PROTECTED BY THE AIR BAG. THIS IS TROUBLESOME. THE INTERMITTENT, SEEMINGLY RANDOM NATURE OF THE INDICATOR DOES NOT INSTILL CONFIDENCE IN THE PROTECTION THAT I PAID FOR AND IS ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER ON 12/28/12. I ASKED THE NISSAN SERVICE TECHNICIAN WHAT WEIGHT WAS REQUIRED TO ENGAGE THE AIR BAG PROTECTION, AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT ENTIRELY A WEIGHT TEST. SHE SAID THAT YOU HAVE TO SIT JUST RIGHT ON THE SEAT. THIS SEEMED RIDICULOUS. BY ALL APPEARANCE, MY PASSENGERS ALWAYS SIT IN THE NORMAL FASHION. (HOW SHOULD ONE SIT???) IN ANY CASE, ADJUSTING THEIR POSITION DID NOT SHUT OFF THE INDICATOR LIGHT. CLEARLY, 84 POUNDS SHOULD ALLOW SOMEONE TO SIT IN THE FRONT SEAT. (THIS SEEMS LIKE A FLAWED DESIGN-I WANT THAT AIR BAG ON AT ALL TIMES). I STOW ALL OBJECTS IN THE BACK SEAT. IF SOMEONE STOWS AN OBJECT ON THE FRONT SEAT, THEY HAVE TO BEAR THE CONSEQUENCES. CERTAINTY, THE PRIORITY SHOULD BE THE SAFETY OF A PASSENGER. THE LACK OF PROTECTION IS TROUBLESOME... LOOKING AT THAT INDICATOR (SOMETIMES-BUT NEVER KNOWING WHEN) IS ANNOYING. SO TOO, ONE HAS TO WONDER ABOUT A FALSE POSITIVE INDICATOR LIGHT.. OF COURSE, SUCH WORRY COULD BE ELIMINATED WITH STRICT WEIGHT CUTOFF OF SAY, 25 POUNDS. WHEN I ASKED IF SHE COULD TEACH ME HOW TO CORRECTLY SIT IN THE SEAT, I WAS REFERRED TO MY SALES PERSON... AS IF HE HAD AN ANSWER. JUST MORE RIDICULOUS.. PASS ME ON AND WEAR ME DOWN UNTIL I SURRENDER AND GO AWAY. NOT A GOOD RESPONSE TO AN OBVIOUS SAFETY DESIGN FLAW. I WANT SOMEONE TO HARD WIRE THIS AR BAG TO THE ON POSITION SO EVERYONE IS PROTECTED AT ALL TIMES.. WITHOUT WORRY.
NHTSA ODI 10491161