Airbag problem on my 2007 XL7...

[MarcieMouse]

I bought my XL7 in November 2007 and last month my service airbag light came on. I was only @ 5700 miles. It was serviced and they told me basically the computer system needed to be "updated". Does this make sense to anyone?

Has anyone else had this problem????

[guxu]

I bought my 2007 XL7 at the end of 2006. My airbag light came on one day. But it turned off by itself before I decided to visit the dealer.

[DoubleXL]

I had the same problem with my 2007. Air Bag light came on, I pulled over and stopped/restarted engine, and light went out. This only happened once. I'm curious what the "update" is.

[MarcieMouse]

Originally Posted by DoubleXL

I had the same problem with my 2007. Air Bag light came on, I pulled over and stopped/restarted engine, and light went out. This only happened once. I'm curious what the "update" is.

My light didn't go off. So, I went straight to the dealer. They were very vague about answering my questions. I also started noticing when someone is in the passenger seat that the airbag light stays "off" sometimes. I think I might have to bring it back again.

[MarcieMouse]

Here we go... I bought a 2007 XL7 on Nov.17, 2007. I first brought the car in for an oil change- mileage 4922, May8,2008. No prblems. To dealer on June 12,2008 @ 5708 mileage with service air bag light on. "Reset" computer..whatever. August 13,2008 mileage 6998, "banging (hard) noise when making right turns" That was a "bent" strut.They replaced the strut.Mind you, I am a stayathome Mom who drives around town to WalMart and the grocery store. Back to dealer again on Sep.26,2008 mileage 7967 Aux light kept going on and off, they couldn't duplicate it (of course) also the passenger side airbag doesn't work all of the time when someone is seated there, couldn't duplicate it.. working as designed, yeah ok. Back to dealer again Dec.10,2008 mileage 9810 Winshield washer not squirting (no motor noise) Replaced fuse (mind you it took 2 hours for that one..idiots) Also, toldthem of my concern again with the airbag not going "on" when a passenger is sitting in the front seat, so the tech called Suzuki and they actually told him to tell me that I have to lift my legs up and wait to see if the light comes on!! Are you kidding me???? I decided to call Suzuki headquarters because the dealer did not document my concerns about the airbag and I also thought it was the stupidest thing I had ever heard that I had to sit all of these different ways, in order for my pass. airbag to come on. Suzuki headquarters told me to make an appt. w/ the dealer and let them know when my appt. was (they also gave me a case # and documented my concerns) I have an appt. for Thursday, I also have had 2 more blown fuses with the washer and theres is a noise (sounds like loose wires, ticking,clicking) coming from my dashboard. I live in Connecticut and started looking into Lemon Laws. I feel very uneasy with the airbag situation and think there is some major electrical problems that will get worse down the road. Does anyoneknow what I can do or have had these problems?? Any input helps. Thank you so much~

[Bobby]

I am having the same problem with the passenger airbag in my 2007 XL7. My wife is a fit 120 lbs and when she sits in the passenger seat sometimes the airbag is working (according to the light) and sometimes it is not working. Sometimes while she is sitting in it the AirBag light switches from "ON" to "OFF", with her doing nothing. It has also switched from "OFF" to "ON" with her just sitting there.

I took it to my dealer, and the service manager showed me all types of scenarios when HE sat in the seat. Mind you, he admitted he weighs over 200 lbs, so the airbag was on for him. Then he leaned to the left and the airbag light went off. When he sat down the right way the airbag light came on again. He repeated this by leaning in several different positions so the the light would go off and on as it should.

That's great. I'm glad he leaned about and made the light work. But what about when my wife is sitting in it, just sitting there, not leaning, not slouching, not doing any of the crazy contortions that I was asked if she was doing? She just sits, and sometimes the airbag light is ON, sometimes it's OFF.

I have read similar posts and apparently the SX4 has the same problem. I am sure that probably ALL of Suzuki's cars have a passenger airbag issue based on what I have been reading.

But what will Suzuki do about this? The Service Mgr at the dealership wher I bought this car gives me the standard "I couldn't duplicate the problem" as an answer. However, the problem is duplicated with me everytime I drive it and my wife is in the car.

Also, I have read posts from people who have contacted Suzuki directly, but I don't see a phone number in my owner's manual to do so.

Does anyone think that someone from Suzuki REALLY reads these messeges? I would think that if that were the case, something more would have been done by now.

If someone can get me a phone number to Suzuki North America, I would be grateful.

[zstalker]

the threshold for turning the passenger airbag on and off isn't really published, but it seems to be about 130-140lb. so if someone 120# is sitting there, certain positions will be enough weight to activate it, sometimes not. The airbag intentionally won't deploy (or deploy differently) with someone who weighs less than its threshold...and it's for their safety, since the airbag can produce quite a bit of force when deployed that could hurt smaller people.
As for the update for the airbag controller, yes; there is an update for the passenger sensing system (OCM). It's basically a calibration for that system.

long story, short: your airbag system (once updated at the dealer) probably is working correctly, it's just kind of a finicky system. Some people get very frustrated, and I can understand, but right now I guess it's the best system that GM could come up with to meet all the needs they have for it (the 2007+ XL7 is a GM product in many respects, for those who didn't realize). The calibration update seems like they're trying to get it to work a little more smoothly.
The SX4 is having a few hiccups as well, but for different reasons...they're really not at all the same system, and have totally different sensors and controllers.
To contact Suzuki directly, go to Suzuki Auto, and go to the "owners" tab at the top, and click on the "Contact Us" option. They have a number of phone numbers you can call them at, and links to other Suzuki websites you can get information from, including Suzuki Pitstop, that has all the TSB's and other information we technicians use (albeit for a reasonable fee to download documents).
~Erik~

[Bobby]

Erik;
I appreciate your reply and your professional advice.

I spoke with my local tech and he is unaware of any available upgrades or calibrations.

I then spoke with a representative from American Suzuki and he told me that the local tech probably would not find out any info on upgrades or calibration for the passenger seat air bag sensor. He suggested I take the car in with my wife sitting in it and let them try to diagnose the problem.

If indeed upgrades are available, I would be interested in getting one. This is a serious safety issue, one that I am not comfortable with, and one that only begin to appear within the last few months. In other words, when we bought the car in January of 08, the airbag worked in the passenger seat. Now it only works randomly.

I really do think this is a sensor issue. What, in your opinion, will it take to get anyone to accept this?

Thank you

[Bobby]

Just heard from a rep at Suzuki North America. He is adamant that there is no calibration on the airbag sensor for the passenger side.

The local dealership will, however, replace the part if the tech can verify the problem to his district manager. To do this I have to drive the car back to the dealership, with my wife sitting in it, with the airbag off. My word is apparently not good enough.

This may be the last Suzuki I ever buy.

[zstalker]

I'll try to find what I'm referring to, but the service website is down right now...tomorrow I'll post it.