Passenger Air Bag Light

[stusigpi]

Dubious: I have the same problem. If I have a bag that ways 10-20 pounds, sometimes less, my sensor goes on and off.

Suzuki needs to add a system that you can manually turn it off and on with the key. Their sensor obviously works, but it sounds like their firmware that controls the hardware is a bit off. Mine does the same thing with the wife and she is 155.

[lenchik55]

I have this same problem. For light passengers (100lb - 130lb), the passenger airbag is highly inconsistent and often does not turn on.

I have gone to Suzuki twice, they 'tested' it by having the 180lb mechanic sit down and claim it works fine.. ignoring the point that the problem exists only for lighter people.

After Suzuki National refused to help me and stopped returning a call, I filed a complaint with NCDS (Dispute Settlement), and they were completely useless.

I am now preparing to go to court. This is a critical safety issue, and I am amazed at the corporate response. Suzuki needs to issue a recall on this defective airbag sensor.

Is anyone else interested in pursuing legal action? I am talking to a lawyer and there is a possibility of a class action suit. Message me.

[echoes368]

Yah! Mine always does that too! I am going to take it in tomorrow and have them fix it because it's really annoying me! I hope that they fix it because if not... I don't know what I'll do but it will annoy me! =P

[echoes368]

Okay so I told my Suzuki dealer about the problem with my passenger airbag light and they told me that there are sensors in the door, and if someone were to put their arm on the door.. Like to rest it there, the airbag would turn off, because if the airbag was to deploy while you were resting your arm on the door it could break your arm off!

I'm not sure how true this is? I want to look into it and see if the car actually has sensors in the door or wherever that will turn off the light. =P

Mack

[evlweevil]

I have seen this problem before. one thing is if the person is a light weight person and doesn't sit on the seat making full contact with the seat cushin it will confuse the sensor. also if the pass seat is hit from behind like a child kicking it it will cause it to read wrong . Have your dealer scan for codes and try recalibrating the OCM (seat sensor), and go from there.

[tehonica]

I have this same exact problem. I weigh 125 pounds. It doesn't always work for me, but it works for my husband, who is 190 pounds.

I bought the car in March, took it into the dealer in April to get it fixed, and was also told that it was working fine and nothing could be done for me.

I contacted Corporate Suzuki and opened a case-- spoke with a customer service rep named Orlando who has done absolutely nothing to help me. It has been 2 months-- I have a 3 page contact log of exact dates, times, and names of all contact I have had with the dealer and with Corporate. I have pictures and video of the problem. I have contacted a local news station and I wrote a letter to the owner of the dealership.

I am in in the process of speaking to a regional manager. They are refusing to change out my sensor, and nobody will return my phone calls. It seems to me that this is a known issue, and that Suzuki is just trying to cover it up. If I knew my brand new car was going to be unsafe, I never would have purchased it. I'm not letting this go until the sensor works or I have a new car from them. I have everything I need for a lawsuit if something were to happen.

I would love to know what some of you guys have done to get the problem fixed. Did anybody end up going to court??

[Jeff L.]

The OCM seat sensor can not be calibrated. Only the XL-7 and Aerio seats can be.

There should be a history code set in the SDM of your guy's cars. You go into the Airbag heading with the SDM, not the OCM heading to find the codes.
The 2009 SX4 will set a hard code for this issue (red light on the dash) instead of turning the passenger airbag light on and off like the '07-08 cars do. Regardless - the dealers in the States seem less than willing to help you guys. There should be a history code though and further diagnosis can be done from there.

[my1stSuzi]

I have had this same issue since the day I bought my 2008 SX4 Crossover (AWD) in April 2008. I have had this issue occur with a 5-20lb bag, and with people ranging from 100-230lbs.

Shifting in the seat doesn't always work. I told my Dealership (401/Dixie) and the persons response was that it was a known issue, the technicians tested it and didn't find any problems, and so for me to not worry about it.

Unfortunately, like most of you, I am also concerned about the potential implications this has if an accident were to occur.

If anyone has any suggestions on who to complain to in Canada, please let me know.

Oh, and one last thing - The only thing I have found to work in some cases is to ensure that the person is in the seat and buckled in before turning the car on.

[ftsioh]

2009 Base SX4 hatch - 1st time dealer reset the code. 2nd time the light lit up and reset itself when I started the car again. Now yesterday with my youngest again in the front, the light lit up and has stayed on. I stopped in this morning to JP Suzuki in Burnaby and told me that the seat base is the problem??? . They have ordered me a new seat with a 6-week back order. Let you know what happens next!
ftsioh

[Jeff L.]

Originally Posted by ftsioh

2009 Base SX4 hatch - 1st time dealer reset the code. 2nd time the light lit up and reset itself when I started the car again. Now yesterday with my youngest again in the front, the light lit up and has stayed on. I stopped in this morning to JP Suzuki in Burnaby and told me that the seat base is the problem??? . They have ordered me a new seat with a 6-week back order. Let you know what happens next!
ftsioh

The 2009 is a different issue. The new seat bottom is a permenant fix and you won't have problems again. Sucks about the back order but just letting you know it IS a permenant repair.