NYCAVS

Love my new 2008 E350 4Matic. Quick question... while driving it this weekend, I noted a message passenger airbag off. I don't recall doing anything. Does this represent a problem or just an accidental button push? Also, under what circumstances would one want to turn it off. Thanks in advance for this very basic question...

cyclerider

There is a sensor in the seat cushion to detect the presence of a passenger. Without a passenger, you get the light. With passenger, no light.

lkchris

Just worry when that light's on and there is a passenger in the seat!

Why waste an airbag if there's no passenger when you crash.

Barry45RPM

MB is trying to save you money. When there is a frontal impact, and there's no one in the passenger seat, there's no reason to blow the dash apart and blow the airbag which would require big bucks to replace.

As stated above, if someone's IN the seat and that light is on, THEN there is a problem.

NYCAVS

How basic. Thanks. I mainly use the car on weekends (NYC) so will check it out further then but come to think of it, I don't recall seeing it with someone sitting there...

Diesel Benz

Guys, I would still be worried if the car says "passenger airbag off" and there is no childs seat attached. None of my cars have ever said this, irrespectively of a person sitting on the passenger seat. The driver does not need to know the passenger airbag is off when there is nobody. The driver only needs to know it is off when there is a child sitting in a baby seat and the airbag could potentially kill him/her if it would explode when the kid is sitting (only the kids seat backrest between the airbag and the kids back).

What happens if someone sits at the passenger seat?

Barry45RPM

The light turns off and the air bag is active. There's a weight sensor in the seat for just that reason.

Diesel Benz

I understand that, but I haven't seen the light coming on when there is nobody sitting at the passenger seat? Are your cars different?

I understand my car has the warning only when there is a kids seat from MB installed, it actually is then a confirmation that the air bag is off as it should in this case.

Perhaps you have to know in the US the air bag state also for the case the weight sensor tells there is nobody sitting on the seat, just in case the weight sensor was faulty (but that would normally be seen by the control unit) and the bag should be in use?

For us the light would be distractive if it goes on when I don't need the info (no one sitting at the passenger seat).

cyclerider

Yes.The light is a tiny amber light in the center of the console, below the COMAND screen. It is in no way distracting.

NYCAVS

Two points....

As I recall, there may have been a package on the seat, certainly there was stuff (box) in the foot area... not sure if it's relevant but thought I'd throw it out there. When I next use the car (?Sat) i'll give an update...

Second, the notice came up on the dash screen (when the info panel can be switched from temp to nav to other settings etc). As I recall, it did say something about checking the manual... (which unfortunately I haven't had the chance to to... but will when I return to the car)...

Life in NYC with garages and primarily weekend use must seem abnormal to most...

Diesel Benz

This is a matter of opinion, I respect your opinion but it is a warning light and to me any warning light is distracting if it does not warn me for a good purpose. Is it sufficiently easy to detect when it it comes on from a malfunction if it isn't distracting?

Anyway, useful to know that it may behave like you all explain.

johna1

As far as I know, the warning comes on when there is somthing in the seat but it is below the weight threshold for triggering the airbag.

cyclerider

If there is a malfunction in the SRS system, it will be reported on the MFD in the center of the speedometer. This tiny lamp is intended to be a reference to the driver if a rear-facing child seat is placed in the front passenger seat, which is a poor idea anyway (they should be in the back seat). This lamp is immediately to the right of the triangular hazard switch located just above the ashtray. You wouldn't even see it unless you looked directly at it.

dtrentr

My car is in the shop and has been since Monday noon for a battery low voltage message. Turns out it's the alternator and should have it tomorrow. I was also seeing the "passenger airbag disabled" after my daughter would get out of the passenger in the message center. The SA says that that is showing up because of the bad battery. FWIW!

Barry45RPM

Yup. Its interesting... Sometimes MB uses Red lights to indicate something and sometimes Amber. No Rhyme or Reason.

konigstiger

Red = high priority

NYCAVS

Well my alert was yellow (so I feel a bit better) and I am almost certain there was something in the seat but less than person weight. Would be quite interesting to know if it can detect that there is a low weight there and give the alert...

konigstiger

Warning in your manual:

Do not place items of electronic equipment on the front-passenger seat, e.g.:
laptops, if switched on
mobile phones
cards with transponders, e.g. ski passes or access passes

as the signals from electronic equipment can cause interference in the sensor system of the automatic child seat recognition system. This can lead to a system malfunction and cause the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF warning lamp:

to light up even when there is no child seat with automatic child seat recognition fitted, meaning that the front-passenger airbag will not be deployed in the event of an accident

not to light up briefly when the key is turned to position 2 in the ignition lock.

NYCAVS

Thanks. That may be what happened. iPhone on seat I recall.