Rx400h Airbags

[WaWajack]

My boss has an RX400h and discovered a possible problem involving the vehicle's airbags. He told me that he was driving the car recently and his 16 year old daughter was in the front passenger seat. He noticed that when his daughter reclined the front passnger seat fully so that it was virtually completely horizontal so that she could take a nap, that the indicator on the dashboard indicated "Passenger Airbag Off," or words to that affect. It is his recollection that when the seat is empty that message should be displayed. When the seat is occupied it should not be. Why, he wonders, would the airbag protection be deactivated when the backrest is fully reclined?

Anybody know?

Thanks.

[skyfish400h]

My boss has an RX400h and discovered a possible problem involving the vehicle's airbags. He told me that he was driving the car recently and his 16 year old daughter was in the front passenger seat. He noticed that when his daughter reclined the front passnger seat fully so that it was virtually completely horizontal so that she could take a nap, that the indicator on the dashboard indicated "Passenger Airbag Off," or words to that affect. It is his recollection that when the seat is empty that message should be displayed. When the seat is occupied it should not be. Why, he wonders, would the airbag protection be deactivated when the backrest is fully reclined?

Anybody know?

Thanks.

Don't know but I can speculate with the best of them...

The sensor is pressure/weight activated and if she reclined all they way a large protion of her weight would be on the back of the seat and not on the bottom part (where the sensor is). Could be that she also shifted her weight so that it was not on the sensor.

I doubt that it has any connection to the position of the seat back.

Also, in that position neither the seat belt or the air bag are going to be of any use in protecting her from an impact... she should learn to sleep sitting up.

[RX400h]

My boss has an RX400h and discovered a possible problem involving the vehicle's airbags. He told me that he was driving the car recently and his 16 year old daughter was in the front passenger seat. He noticed that when his daughter reclined the front passnger seat fully so that it was virtually completely horizontal so that she could take a nap, that the indicator on the dashboard indicated "Passenger Airbag Off," or words to that affect. It is his recollection that when the seat is empty that message should be displayed. When the seat is occupied it should not be. Why, he wonders, would the airbag protection be deactivated when the backrest is fully reclined?

Anybody know?

Thanks.

Don't know but I can speculate with the best of them...

The sensor is pressure/weight activated and if she reclined all they way a large protion of her weight would be on the back of the seat and not on the bottom part (where the sensor is). Could be that she also shifted her weight so that it was not on the sensor.

I doubt that it has any connection to the position of the seat back.

Also, in that position neither the seat belt or the air bag are going to be of any use in protecting her from an impact... she should learn to sleep sitting up.

I agree 100%. Now, let me tell you a true story that happened one year ago.

My nephew, who was taking a break from being stationed in Iraq, went for a night out with one of his military buddies. As they were returning to base in his friend's Cavalier, my nephew decided to take a nap in the passenger seat in the fully-reclined position. Unfortunately, the driver lost control of his vehicle and it rolled over on a desolate road, not too far from the base. My nephew's head was pounded by the door and he died almost instantly. He was about 29 years old.

So please, never let anyone recline the seat while the vehicle is moving.

[lexus411]

skyfish is correct. 90 pounds or less will turn the passenger airbag off.