2009 Nissan Altima Hybrid

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FREEDOM NISSAN OF SOUTH BURLINGTON (1095 SHELBURNE RD, SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT 05403, (802) 864-7400) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 154,000.

THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR TO DETECT AN OCCUPANT AND ENABLE/DISABLE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG FAILED. THIS IS AN ITEM CRITICAL TO OCCUPANT SAFETY THAT IS NOT A WEAR-AND-TEAR ITEM AND ONE WHICH SHOULD REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS WILL NOT WORK AS INTENDED WHEN OCCUPIED BY AN OCCUPANT OF THE APPROPRIATE WEIGHT PER THE SENSOR'S SETTING. IT IS APPARENT THAT MANY ALTIMA VEHICLES, MODELS BEFORE AND AFTER MY 2009 YEAR MODEL, HAVE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE SAME EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE COMPONENT. NISSAN IS NOT WILLING TO ADDRESS THIS ITEM VOLUNTARILY; THEREFORE, NISSAN SHOULD BE ORDERED BY THE NHTSA TO REPLACE THIS CRITICAL SAFETY COMPONENT THROUGH A RECALL. FAILURE OF THE NHTSA TO ACT WILL LIKELY LEAD TO MANY INJURIES OR FATALITIES DUE TO THE FAILURE OF A PART WHICH SHOULD NOT HAVE A LIMITED WARRANTY AND WHICH NISSAN, AS A RESPONSIBLE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER, SHOULD REPAIR/REPLACE AT NO COST TO ITS CUSTOMERS WHO PURCHASED ITS VEHICLES DUE TO THEIR ADVERTISED SAFETY RATINGS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000.

I PURCHASED A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA IN SEPT. 2009. I NOTICED IMMEDIATELY THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG REMAINS OFF 50% OF THE TIME WHEN MY GIRLFRIEND (APPROX. 100 POUNDS) SITS IN IT. I TRIED TO FOLLOW UP WITH THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND A SEPARATE DEALER AS WELL. MY DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE TOLD ME IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO LEAVE THE AIRBAG ON OR TO ADJUST THE SENSITIVITY. HE ALSO STATED THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAD SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. I TRIED BRINGING IT IN TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP, WHO TOLD ME THAT AT LEAST 2 OR 3 PEOPLE HAD BROUGHT THEIR CARS IN WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT AND NISSAN COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE FREQUENCY OF THIS PROBLEM SEEMS RELATIVELY COMMON. HOW CAN SUCH A HAZARDOUS SITUATION BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH NHTSA STANDARDS? EVEN IF IT IS SAFE FOR 99% OF THE POPULATION, THE LACK OF CONTROL BY THE NHTSA IS SEVERELY ENDANGERING THE LIVES OF THE OTHER 1%. I AM ONLY ONE PERSON AND HOPE THAT THE NHTSA HELPS ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. I DO NOT WANT TO SPEND THE TIME AND EFFORT TO EXPLORE MEDIA OUTLETS AND AM REALLY HOPEFUL THAT THIS CAN BE ADDRESSED. I CANNOT IMAGINE THE LAWSUITS THAT WOULD RESULT FROM AN AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING WHEN I SEE THIS COMPLAINT ALL OVER MESSAGE BOARDS AND ON THE NHTSA SITE. PLEASE HELP US PROTECT OUR LOVED ONES. *TR