Airbags and light passengers

[SwampNut]

I believe the weight sensor is in the seat bottom towards the back. When my kid who’s 115 pounds slouches, the airbag would turn off. The only car I’ve had this issue with. If he sits up, the temperature controls come back. Rivian said it was normal.

We had the same conversation.

I also sent a video to Rivian showing the issue, and that it was not related to anything you could call unusual. Not a reclined seat, just a normal position. Slouching, sure, but who doesn't?

Also this doesn't happen if she drives, but I guess the car would never go into "child driver" mode, LOL!

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[RivianEC]

I’ve had the same issue, my wife is about 115-120 lbs though. I complained about a year ago and they asked about weight. I don’t think they made any adjustments. I have to pay more attention to this again, I don’t know if it’s happened lately.

 

[SwampNut]

my wife is about 115-120 lbs though

Well above legal weight; does she recline a lot, or slouch a lot? I wish I could retrieve the video I sent to Rivian showing the problem and position, guess I need to make one again.

I don’t know if it’s happened lately.

It's no longer super-obvious since they moved the warning "light" to the top of the screen instead of covering the HVAC controls.

 

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

There's a post on this about once a month. I've been seeing them since before I even picked up my vehicle (3/2023). My wife is 110# and if she scoots wrong in the seat or reclines too far, the sensor goes off. Fortunately she usually has our dog in her lap so there's enough weight to keep it on, LOL. (I know, I know. Probably not safe, either ?)

While it doesn't concern me much I also filed a complaint. So far, crickets. But do it if you feel it is a valid safety concern.

 

[SwampNut]

There's a post on this about once a month.

The search here sucks so much. I tried to find them. I guess I need to point my AI tool here and have it look for me.

While it doesn't concern me much I also filed a complaint. So far, crickets. But do it if you feel it is a valid safety concern.

I wonder if it helps to reference each other's filings? Did you get some sort of file number or something? I'm used to dealing with the FCC and every single filing gets a reference, and then I can file mine under yours. A literal pile-on.

 

[SwampNut]

I just realized something.

In every other car we've owned (BMW, Tesla, Smart, etc) we needed a fake seatbelt activation latch for our dog and even heavy groceries (he's 53 pounds). So now that's another question; are there two sensors, or two triggers? One for seat belt ding and one for airbag? It seemed to be one and the same in all other cars. The wife always latches it if the dog is in the front seat, and the back seats do NOT cause it to give the seat belt warning in the Rivian, but did in the Tesla. In fact a bag of dog food would cause the seat belt warning (30-40 pounds).

 

[Mathme]

Typically the airbag sensors - contrary to popular belief - are located in the lower-portion of the seat back. They typically aren't in the seat bottom cushion like most people perceive. This is typically done so that you can place something in the seat like a briefcase and not trigger the seatbelt sign.

My partner is about 150lbs and if he slouches in the seat, the airbag off light will come on. As soon as he shuffles around, and sits more upright, it'll go off. Likewise, if our 10lb dog sits just right in the seat (she'd do it a lot in my last Audi), the seatbelt chime will activate. It's all just a matter of positioning in relation to that sensor location.

 

[SwampNut]

Typically the airbag sensors - contrary to popular belief - are located in the lower-portion of the seat back. They typically aren't in the seat bottom cushion like most people perceive. This is typically done so that you can place something in the seat like a briefcase and not trigger the seatbelt sign.

In every other car we've owned, putting something on the seat does trigger this warning.

 

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

I wonder if it helps to reference each other's filings? Did you get some sort of file number or something? I'm used to dealing with the FCC and every single filing gets a reference, and then I can file mine under yours. A literal pile-on.

Hi! Good question. Yes, they did. # 11562124.

I don't want to barrage Rivian with trivialities but I do think this is a legitimate safety concern, as many others have noted as well. I think it's something that could be easily adjusted via OTA software update. Unless it's set at a particular threshold for legal reasons? ?

 

[SwampNut]

Similar thread on Reddit.

 

[nitro413]

We’ve had tickets open for this issue for over a year—first with a Gen1 and now with a Gen2 R1S. Each time the airbag fails to detect a passenger, I upload photos and videos to document it.

For the Gen1, Rivian’s service team concluded that the system is “working as designed” and suggested I needed more “education on the proper use of the seat.”

I haven’t taken the Gen2 in for service yet (it’s a 6-hour round trip, so I’m waiting to bundle it with other service needs), but seeing others experience the same issue is both frustrating and, in a way, reassuring that it’s not just isolated to me.

I’m really hoping Rivian addresses this before someone gets seriously injured. A sensor issue that fails to recognize properly seated passengers is definitely a safety concern.

 

[godfodder0901]

I’m really hoping Rivian addresses this before someone gets seriously injured. A sensor issue that fails to recognize properly seated passengers is definitely a safety concern.

A sensor that incorrectly identifies a child or small adult as a larger passenger, and enables the airbag, is definitely a safety concern as well.

 

[mkg3]

There's a similar thread where I posted below.

There's a simple fix to this which is let the driver override airbag being turned off for the passenger seat, if there is any weight AND seatbelt fastened. It moves the responsibility of engaging the airbag onto the vehicle driver and not Rivian.

If you have a car seat in the front, default it airbag off. If you have a person around 100 lbs (e.g., my wife) then you can turn it on and override the default.

There's a similar thread where I posted below:
--------
I am actually surprised that this safety issue has not been addressed by Rivian after all this time. I have filed an issue with NHTSA website.

As I've said before, just because they meet the regulations, if there are issues with people's safety, the responsible thing is to address and fix the matter.

Every time I was told that it's because of the child car seat, they will not lower the weight sensitivity for the fear that the airbag will go off onto the rear facing car seat. WTF, who puts a rear facing infant carseat in the front passenger seat!!!!

At this point, I have given up dealing with Rivian and will not buy another Rivian for their lack of concern for the matter. I was told that their SW team was aware and the they are working on the fix. That was many, many firmware updates ago. In other words, just a lip service.

Our vehicle, R1S, is now 15 months old and at some point in the next couple of years will be replaced with whatever is the best available options then.

 

[SwampNut]

Oh yeah, I have an R1T only because we need a truck, the Cyber is a fucking joke, and the traditional ones are so stupid all around. I'll leave in a split second if we get something with Autopilot or equivalent, and is not a mess of 1990s-style buttons all over and old tech.

 

[ClaytonW]

I have the same issue with a 125 lbs person. I contacted Rivian and they told me it's a normal behavior because it's near the treshold. But I never had any similar issues with any other car. I filed NHTSA complaint.

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