2004 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7

AIR BAG LIGHT ON AND RADIO FLASHING. TOOK CAR INTO DEALER, I WAS TOLD HE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, ALREADY HAD ANOTHER VEHICLE IN EARLIER THE SAME DAY WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR UNDER THE SEAT HAD GONE OUT. WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT AT A COST OF OVER $1000.00. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THE AIR BAG WILL NOT WORK WITHOUT THE SENOR. THIS IS A 2004 MODEL VEHICLE THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE IS RARELY IF EVER USED. AN AIR BAG SENSOR GOING OUT WITHIN A YEAR AND WITH MORE THAN ONE CAR IN THE SAME DAY SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE RESOLVED IMMEDIATELY. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A DEFECT IF MY CAR IS NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM. *NM

DRIVING SOUTH ON INTERSTATE 81 (MILE MARKER 109-110) SEVERAL CARS, INCLUDING MYSELF, LOST CONTROL OF THEIR VEHICLES (HYDROPLANING) THROUGH THIS SECTION OF THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS APPARENTLY A KNOWN PROBLEM AREA TO EMERGENCY PERSONNEL, POLICE AND TOW COMPANIES AND FROM TALKING TO ALL OF THEM PENN DOT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE LOCALS CALL IT 'DEAD MAN'S TRAP' OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THE TOWING COMPANY HAD ALREADY PICKED UP 5 CARS THAT AFTERNOON. THERE ARE NO GUARD RAILS AND I WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT, THROUGH THE WOODS AND HIT A TREE DEAD ON AND CENTER. I WAS DRIVING A 2004 SUZUKI XL7. IT SMASHED THE FRONT BUMPER THROUGH THE RADIATOR. THE AIR-BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. LESS THAN A MONTH AGO I HAD THIS VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE (UNDER WARRANTY) BECAUSE THE "AIR-BAG DISENGAGED" LIGHT WAS COMING ON AND STAYING ON. THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY. 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE CRASH. I ALWAYS WEAR A SEAT BELT AND AM THANKFUL IT DID ITS JOB! I AM ALSO PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE WITH ALL THE SPINNING, BOUNCING OFF TREES GOING DOWN HILL THAT MY SUV NEVER ROLLED. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THE FAILURE OF THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY WHEN HIT WITH SUCH FORCE DEAD CENTER IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. *JB