Problem with Passenger Airbag on 2010 GT

[prae_21]

Hey Guys!

I purchased my 2010 GT in May. My issue is when anyone sits in the passenger seat, the "passenger airbag off" light appears. The light will cut on and off while anyone sits in the seat. This occurs while in park or driving at any speed.

Please refer to this link for a guy who has documented this problem on his 2010GT via video.

2010 Mustang GT Passenger Airbag Off Light On Problem | Airbag Light On | Reset Your Airbag light

Any input would be appreciated. Not sure what to make of this...

 

[Malecoda]

This happens in my 08 as well. I believe its because the sensor in the seat goes by a certain weight. For example I've had passengers in the front seat that weigh less than 100lbs and the passenger airbag light would turn on. But I've also had people that weigh over that amount and the airbag light turns off. I think its some kind of "safety" feature where if you don't weigh over 100lbs or so like a young kid for instance the airbag is automatically deactivated. Not sure what the exact weight is for the sensor to go off though. Hope that helps

 

[socalwrench]

Precisely. The sensor in the seat is set to turn the airbag off when the weight of the person is below a certain number.

 

[Malecoda]

Oh and as far as that video, it seems like this is the case as well. The light keeps turning on and off with his passenger because that persons weight keeps shifting in the seat. The passenger probably doesn't weigh enough for the "passenger airbag off" light to stay off. This even happens when i go grocery shopping and I put some of the groceries in the passenger seat. The car knows there's something in the seat because the light comes on but its not heavy enough for it to turn off. The only way to fix it would be to have your passenger sit in the seat with like another 10lbs on their lap maybe? haha. Most people that weigh under 100lbs or so are young kids and airbags and young ones are not a good idea could do more damage than good. That's why this happens.

 

[prae_21]

Thank you for info! It is appreciated. My girlfriend is 5'5 130 lbs and this scenario occurs when she is in the seat. I suppose it could be her sitting position or shifting weight to where the sensor does not detect her. Thanks again!

 

[scsc]

passenger air bag problems

this seems to be a reocurring problem with the mustangs and yet no one seems to be too concerned that the air bag could potentially be malfunctioning. The one guy who posted stated his girlfriend weighs 130 lbs and I weigh 126 lbs which is well above the minimum weight required to have the airbag register us sitting in the seat. This is a serious problem that needs to be addressed before someone is killed or seriously injured. We have had our airbag reflashed which did nothing. Obviously people are going to move around in their seats and the airbag sensor should still work properly. Ford should be able to determine if it's the indicator light that is malfunctioning or the sensor itself. My next step will be to write the head of Ford and put them on notice that we will sue the crap out of them in the event of an accident with passenger air bag failure. This issue has been documented several times with us taking the car in to be serviced for this issue, in addition to hundreds of posts about this issue on the internet. Would love to hear if someone has found the solution to this problem.

 

[CoastieN70]

My wife weighs 110 lbs and has a narrow (but nice) butt. When she is in the passinger seat the light will occasionally turn on. It happens in her '07 (when I'm driving) and it happens in my '10 and it happened in an '08 Merc Mariner I had too.

I asked about this a couple of times and was told that this was normal. I was told that G forces in a crash strong enough to activate the bags would press her hard enough in the seat to make the bag go off normally. Remember the sensor is there for children so the bag doesn't deploy when they are in the seat...

 

[whirledpeaz]

I know this is an older post but I have some info to add. I have a 2011 gt that was hit on Sep 23 2010. Bodywork and paint are done finally! Now the hold up is the "occupancy safety module part number 14B422". Its the part in the passenger seat that turns the airbag on and off as described in the above posts.
It is on backorder from Ford until March 21, 2011! Hope none of you guys have to have this part.

 

[AngelaS]

When your car was hit was somebody in the passenger seat? And if so, did the airbag go off?