Front passenger seat not detecting daughter. Minimum weight required?

[e4gaa1104]

Sorry if this has been addressed before (quick search didn’t show up anything). I noticed this morning that my 13y/o daughter didn’t activate the front passenger airbag/give her climate controls. She’s average height/weight for her age. Is there a minimum weight needed for the seat to register someone is sat in it? Thanks

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[MidnightRivian]

I have experienced the same thing and I believe the weight probably needs to be a little over 100 lbs. Someone will need to start testing weights to see what the exact number is or ask Rivian.

 

[MIG]

I have experienced the same thing and I believe the weight probably needs to be a little over 100 lbs. Someone will need to start testing weights to see what the exact number is or ask Rivian.

I put a large bag of dog food on the passenger seat and it triggered the sensor.

 

[MidnightRivian]

I put a large bag of dog food on the passenger seat and it triggered the sensor.

I also noticed if you sit just right or push back on the bottom / back it will trigger the sensor.

Maybe the bag was covering a large surface area where the kids are taking up a small space.

 

[mkg3]

I have experienced the same thing and I believe the weight probably needs to be a little over 100 lbs. Someone will need to start testing weights to see what the exact number is or ask Rivian.

My wife is 106 lbs and we have this problem for the passenger seat. If she crosses her leg, the sensor thinks no one is on the seat.

I've called and spoke with Rivian and they told me that she is just at the weight that this might happen due to the sensor location. Clearly, I told them that this is a safety issue and that we shouldn't have to sit in a particular way to trigger the airbag sensor. All of this with the seatbelt fastened.

Rivian is sending a mobile service tomorrow (I called last week) to address it. There was a recall for this exact problem in March for R1T but not R1S. We have a June built R1S.

Will reply back to this tread after the Rivian tech visit.

 

[godfodder0901]

Clearly, I told them that this is a safety issue and that we shouldn't have to sit in a particular way to trigger the airbag sensor.

Yes, they should...
docket_oops3a (nhtsa.gov)

 

[mkg3]

My wife is 106 lbs and we have this problem for the passenger seat. If she crosses her leg, the sensor thinks no one is on the seat.

I've called and spoke with Rivian and they told me that she is just at the weight that this might happen due to the sensor location. Clearly, I told them that this is a safety issue and that we shouldn't have to sit in a particular way to trigger the airbag sensor. All of this with the seatbelt fastened.

Rivian is sending a mobile service tomorrow (I called last week) to address it. There was a recall for this exact problem in March for R1T but not R1S. We have a June built R1S.

Will reply back to this tread after the Rivian tech visit.

Rivian mobile tech just left. Unfortunately, there is no definite solution for the the sensor issue.

Was told that the seat sensor is set to the DOT/NHTSA regulation and it does function, when the weight is place directly on the top of the sensor area of the seat. We reproduced the issue with my wife while he was there. He even consulted with someone at the SC.

He ran OBD read and found that the seat in question has not been calibrated for range of motion so he did that - he didn't think it would make any difference and he was correct. The problem still exists.

He said there is a vehicle where they've replaced the seat twice and still is unsolved with the same issue. The passenger in that case is a teenager.

When I asked about if the sensor threshold can be lowered to less weight than the current, he said Rivian cannot since they are designed to DOT/NHTSA regulations. Then I asked, since the sensor loses the passenger intermittently while driving with seatbelt on, if SW algorithm can be such that once confirmed with valid passenger+seatbelt on, that the sensor should not go off in the same driving session. He said he would report it to the SW team to see if there is a fix for the problem.

It seem to me that there is an inherent design flaw with the sensor location and seat cushion combination. Maybe for R2 and next gen R1, they can rework the seat issue but for now, it appears that there is no fix and we'll have to live with it.

Since I have a late November SC appointment for few other things, they will take another look to see if they can find anything else or way to fix it.

As for the mobile service itself, the tech was very helpful to take a look at anything on the vehicle beyond the service item and advised me to call the service number and request few items I had on the November appoint into a mobile service. That would happen much sooner and for items I have to take it into the service center would take less time at the shop, since there are less things and they'll work on it sooner to get it out of the way.

 

[racekarl]

I think an error in your logic is that you are assuming that the airbag being enabled for your passengers is always the right answer. The regulations regarding weight and position are written the way they are in part because the airbag can be LESS safe for small and/or out-of-position occupants.

 

[Dark-Fx]

Yes, they should...
docket_oops3a (nhtsa.gov)

I think the airbag not working if someone is slid forward off the sensor makes a lot of sense. Especially if they are the type of person to put their feet up on the dashboard, because the airbag will absolutely fuck someone up who does that.

 

[SalmonAvocadoRoll]

Rivian mobile tech just left. Unfortunately, there is no definite solution for the the sensor issue.

Was told that the seat sensor is set to the DOT/NHTSA regulation and it does function, when the weight is place directly on the top of the sensor area of the seat. We reproduced the issue with my wife while he was there. He even consulted with someone at the SC.

He ran OBD read and found that the seat in question has not been calibrated for range of motion so he did that - he didn't think it would make any difference and he was correct. The problem still exists.

He said there is a vehicle where they've replaced the seat twice and still is unsolved with the same issue. The passenger in that case is a teenager.

When I asked about if the sensor threshold can be lowered to less weight than the current, he said Rivian cannot since they are designed to DOT/NHTSA regulations. Then I asked, since the sensor loses the passenger intermittently while driving with seatbelt on, if SW algorithm can be such that once confirmed with valid passenger+seatbelt on, that the sensor should not go off in the same driving session. He said he would report it to the SW team to see if there is a fix for the problem.

It seem to me that there is an inherent design flaw with the sensor location and seat cushion combination. Maybe for R2 and next gen R1, they can rework the seat issue but for now, it appears that there is no fix and we'll have to live with it.

Since I have a late November SC appointment for few other things, they will take another look to see if they can find anything else or way to fix it.

As for the mobile service itself, the tech was very helpful to take a look at anything on the vehicle beyond the service item and advised me to call the service number and request few items I had on the November appoint into a mobile service. That would happen much sooner and for items I have to take it into the service center would take less time at the shop, since there are less things and they'll work on it sooner to get it out of the way.

Checking to see if there is any update on your passenger airbag issue. I also has a service ticket. If my wife or son slightly shifts their weight (arms on armrest, legs crossed, butt scooted down a bit) the airbag goes off. Seems like position or calibration needs adjustment.

 

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

As for the mobile service itself, the tech was very helpful

Nothing to add, just wanted to say it sounds like the mobile tech did a great job (within the capabilities of what they're able to do). Hope you're able to get this issue resolved. ?

 

[e4gaa1104]

We had a mobile service call. The minimum weight in the front to get the sensor to activate is around 100lbs

 

[Mobius1]

Checking to see if there is any update on your passenger airbag issue. I also has a service ticket. If my wife or son slightly shifts their weight (arms on armrest, legs crossed, butt scooted down a bit) the airbag goes off. Seems like position or calibration needs adjustment.

I had an appointment scheduled today at the SC in LA, but then my wife found some posts online where people are reporting it unresolved, so I cancelled my appointment, as it would be inconvenient for me to drive over an hour, in LA traffic, for them to tell me it was within specs. My son is 12 and around 90lbs and it turns on and off multiple times on the drive to school. It has also done the same for my wife. She was pretty upset by this and said she will give them a call and discuss the issue. I'll update once we hear back.

 

[racekarl]

My son is 12 and around 90lbs and it turns on and off multiple times on the drive to school.

Not to be too much of a nanny, but he's really too small and young to be riding in the front seat. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends all kids ride in the rear until age 13. The airbag turning off for someone that size is a a feature, not a bug.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

Time to get an old school SCUBA weight belt for your wife.

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