Component
AIR BAGS:ON-OFF SWITCH ASSEMBLY
160 NHTSA complaints about air bags:on-off switch assembly issues across 28 makes and 100 models.
The air bags:on-off switch assembly is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 160 filings from 28 manufacturers and 100 distinct vehicle models, a footprint large enough that defect engineers can isolate part-family patterns across different platforms that share the same supplier or the same federal motor vehicle safety standard.
Among filings citing this component, owners have reported 11 crashes, 0 fires, 12 injuries, and 0 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the FORD F-150 with 7 filings, followed by FORD RANGER and MAZDA B-SERIES TRUCK. These severity counters are what separates a nuisance complaint trend from a pattern NHTSA is likely to escalate into a Preliminary Evaluation.
Component-level analysis is how the Office of Defects Investigation spots cross-manufacturer supplier issues — the same airbag inflator, the same takata-style ignition switch, the same brake hose material — before they become industry-wide recalls. When you see a single component accumulating large complaint volume across several unrelated nameplates, that is usually a signature of a shared supplier or a shared federal standard being stressed by real-world conditions. Use the affected-vehicles table below to see whether the pattern is concentrated on a handful of models or distributed evenly, and cross-reference each model's full recall and investigation history before drawing conclusions about any one nameplate.
Most Affected Vehicles
| # | Vehicle | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FORD F-150 | 7 |
| 2 | FORD RANGER | 6 |
| 3 | MAZDA B-SERIES TRUCK | 5 |
| 4 | HONDA CIVIC | 5 |
| 5 | HONDA ACCORD | 5 |
| 6 | FORD EXPLORER | 5 |
| 7 | TOYOTA CAMRY | 4 |
| 8 | LEXUS ES350 | 4 |
| 9 | HYUNDAI ACCENT | 4 |
| 10 | TOYOTA TUNDRA | 3 |
| 11 | TOYOTA AVALON | 3 |
| 12 | SUZUKI FORENZA | 3 |
| 13 | PLYMOUTH VOYAGER | 3 |
| 14 | DODGE DAKOTA | 3 |
| 15 | TOYOTA SIENNA | 2 |
| 16 | NISSAN ROGUE | 2 |
| 17 | NISSAN ALTIMA | 2 |
| 18 | KIA SORENTO | 2 |
| 19 | KIA OPTIMA | 2 |
| 20 | HYUNDAI SONATA | 2 |
| 21 | HYUNDAI ELANTRA | 2 |
| 22 | FORD TAURUS | 2 |
| 23 | FORD MUSTANG | 2 |
| 24 | DODGE STRATUS | 2 |
| 25 | DODGE GRAND CARAVAN | 2 |
| 26 | CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY | 2 |
| 27 | CHEVROLET LUMINA | 2 |
| 28 | BUICK CENTURY | 2 |
| 29 | VOLVO V70 | 1 |
| 30 | VOLVO S40 | 1 |
Recent Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CADILLAC STS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN AN OCCUPANT WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT
DRIVER SIDE KNEE AIRBAG CAUSED HEMATOMA, SECOND DEGREE BURN ON L. LEG, RESULTING IN 2 SURGERIES, USE OF WOUND VAC FOR 2 1/2 MONTHS, AND PERMANENT LYMPEDEMA AND SCARRING ON L. CALF. DRIVER HAS REPLAC
2004 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO HAVING AIR BAGS DISCONNECTED. *SMD
2003 DODGE DAKOTA. CONSUMER REQUESTS AIR BAG ON-OFF SWITCH INFORMATION. *SMD
2007 SATURN AURA. CONSUMER REQUESTS AIR BAG ON-OFF SWITCH FOR VEHICLE DUE TO MEDICAL A CONDITION. *SMD
2007 SATURN OUTLOOK. CONSUMER REQUESTS AIR BAG ON-OFF SWITCH FOR VEHICLE DUE TO A MEDIAL CONDITION. *SMD
2010 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE AIR BAG SWITCH. *SMD THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE AN AIR BAG ON-OFF SWITCH INSTALLED IN HIS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCID
2013 MAZDA MIATA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEACTIVATION SWITCH. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION, THE VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED WITH AN AIR BAG DEACTIVAT
2005 FORD F150. REQUEST FOR A PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG ON/OFF SWITCH. CONSUMER STATES THAT AN ON/OFF SWITCH IS NEEDED DUE TO THE HAZARD OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYING AND SENDING THE LAPTOP IN
I WAS JUST WONDERING IF THEY HAVE BEEN A CONCERN WITH 2007 NISSAN'S, MY AIR BAG SEEMS TO COME ON AND OFF WHEN IT WANTS TO I DIDN'T KNOW IF THIS WAS THE WAY THEY WORK OR IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH IT.
2007 HYUNDAI SONATA. PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE MY WIFE IS SITTING IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THIS MEANS THAT THE AIRBAG IS NOT ACTIVATED & IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT
WARNING LIGHT FOR PASSENGER AIR BAGS IS DEFECTIVE TO THE EXTENT THAT PASSENGER MUST SIT IN SEAT AN EXACT, CERTAIN WAY UPON FIRST ENTERING VEHICLE. IF SAID PASSENGER DOES NOT POSITION THEMSELVES CORRE
THIS IS A TEST. *TR
PLEASE DISREGARD THIS A TEST FOR THE NEW DEPLOYMENT. *TR
FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR DOES NOT CONSISTENTLY DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A 100 POUND ADULT WOMEN IN THE SEAT. LED INDICATOR ON THE DASHBOARD DISPLAYS "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" EVEN WHEN A 100 LB
AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON IN THE VEHICLE UNTIL ENGINE IS STOPPED. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BACK IN JULY OF 2007. THEY'VE RESET THE CODES, REPLACED THE SEATBELT BU
(1) BLINKING AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT OF MAZDA PROTEGE 5 - 2002 (2) DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED ($116.) TOLD OF FAULTY PASSENGER SEAT SIDE AIRBAG (3) DEALERSHIP DISCONNECTED SEAT, TOLD ENTIRE SEAT MUST
PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT DOES NOT GO OFF EVERY TIME A PASSENGER IS SITTING IN SEAT.WHICH WILL NOT LET AIR BAG DEPLOY.*CN
ALL BAGS IN THE CAR FAILED TO OPEN UPON IMPACT, DON'T BUY "HYUNDAI"S AND HYUNDAI SAID THAT SINCE 2002 THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. WITH ELANTRAS AND OTHER MODELS. BUT DID NOTHING TO FIX THEM. *TR
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON ON THE DASH OF MY 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON BECAUSE OF A BROKEN WIRE UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT. HYUNDAI HAS HAD RECALLS ON OTHER VEHICLES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE WIRE GETTING BROKE
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Data Sources
Vehicle complaint data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database. Includes consumer-reported safety issues filed with NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Severity counts cross-reference NHTSA FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) for fatal incidents where a corresponding FARS record exists.
Component categories are standardized by NHTSA. Crash-test ratings where shown are drawn from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Complaint counts, crash reports, fire reports, and fatality data reflect consumer-submitted reports and may not represent all incidents.
Disclaimer: This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for vehicle purchase decisions. NHTSA complaint data is self-reported by consumers and has not been verified or investigated. A high complaint count does not necessarily indicate a defect. Always consult a qualified mechanic and check official NHTSA recall notices before making safety-related decisions.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.