I've seen that this is a reoccuring problem and I have taken my car in for the second time. This time the dealer told me that an advisory has been issued and the parts are on a 2-3 week national backorder. The dealer also told me that I can pick the car up and it is safe to drive. My understanding is when the light comes on it means your airbag is not functioning. Can anybody tell me if this is true. I can't understand why GM would allow customers to drive around in a car with airbags that may not deploy.

Okay, I'll bite. Because air bags are "Supplemental" Inflatable Restraint (SIR) system? Nah, that didn't come out right. I think it's between you and your dealer. Hopefully the dealer is your selling dealer in which you should expected to be treated better.

I would honestly think that if the entire safety system, of which the SIR is a part, is not 100% and they know it, then they should keep the car until it's safe to operate.

If the light is simply being told to turn on but the system is actually functional then maybe it's okay to drive. But how would you ever know if it really is if the light (the sole indicator) is malfunctioning?

I wouldn't drive away in my car - I'd be getting them to pop for a rental.

Or I'd use my Droid and look up a good attorney.

My understanding is when the light comes on it means your airbag is not functioning. Can anybody tell me if this is true. I can't understand why GM would allow customers to drive around in a car with airbags that may not deploy.

mdriske, welcome to the forum. I'll assume you're really asking and not just trying to do GM-bashing. Like I said, if you ask politely but firmly, I'm sure the dealer will provide you with a rental. A lot of what goes on with goodwill gestures on the part of dealer depends on your past and present relationship with them.

I wouldn't drive away in my car - I'd be getting them to pop for a rental.

Or I'd use my Droid and look up a good attorney.

Oh, I don't know. I'd be hesitent to let them keep my car for 2-3 weeks. What, go for a visit with my car few days?:D

Moving this to the right section.

GUYS PLEASE READ WHAT GENERATION YOU ARE POSTING IN.

Not GM bashing. I have only bought GM products. This Malibu replaced a 2001 Alero with 170,000 miles. I did speak with the service manager and he did provide me with a rental. Not pleased with the advise from the women at the service counter. I still want to know if the airbag will function if the light is on.

There are two posts on the subject so I'll add this to both.

I spoke to my dealership today and the service manager told me that yes it is a safety issue to drive it with the light coming on but he said the front airbags would deploy no matter what but that the side airbags may be impacted and not deploy correctly if I were to get into an accident while the light is on. He didn't stress that I get it there today but said try to find some time in the next few weeks to be able to bring it in.

He said he's seen the issue a few times and almost always been able to resolve it through a code check and reviewing the units under each seat.

I'm going to try to get it to them the week after next and will let you know what ends up happening.

Not GM bashing. I have only bought GM products. This Malibu replaced a 2001 Alero with 170,000 miles.

Ah (:o), glad you've joined us. Hopefully they'll correct the issue with your car right this time and soon.

My air bag light also just appeared on my 2010. Must be an epidemic. Got an appointment for next Thursday.

mdriske, welcome to the forum. I'll assume you're really asking and not just trying to do GM-bashing. Like I said, if you ask politely but firmly, I'm sure the dealer will provide you with a rental. A lot of what goes on with goodwill gestures on the part of dealer depends on your past and present relationship with them.



Oh, I don't know. I'd be hesitent to let them keep my car for 2-3 weeks. What, go for a visit with my car few days?:D



from malibubu: My dealer has had my 2010 Malibu for 15 days - no success. They have it again now. The only possible breakthrough so far was self-generated when I picked up my supposedly fixed Malibu, drove it to an automatic car wash and while going from the wash cycle through the blow-dry cycle the "service airbag" light came on (again) for about 3 minutes. I still drove back to the mechanic who was encouraged by this event but still wasn't able to fix the problem. Car is sitting back at dealer again. I do have a free loaner (I buy the gas) but zero progress so far.

9/11/10 MALIBUBU UPDATE: Dealer started work on my car. The front passenger seat and the center console are removed. Hoping this is good. No one around to talk to. Will update later.

I would honestly think that if the entire safety system, of which the SIR is a part, is not 100% and they know it, then they should keep the car until it's safe to operate.

If the light is simply being told to turn on but the system is actually functional then maybe it's okay to drive. But how would you ever know if it really is if the light (the sole indicator) is malfunctioning?

I wouldn't drive away in my car - I'd be getting them to pop for a rental.

Or I'd use my Droid and look up a good attorney.

Cars didn't have airbags for years and people survived. As a matter of fact, Cadillac developed this feature in 1974 and it only lasted a year or 2.
Personally, I wouldn't want my car tied up for 2 weeks while they're waiting for a part. I would just drive it that way. But this sounds like a substandard dealership. The fact that there's a advisory out there for this problem is all the more reason for them to have a full stock of the parts to perform the fix.

Cars didn't have airbags for years and people survived. As a matter of fact, Cadillac developed this feature in 1974 and it only lasted a year or 2.
Personally, I wouldn't want my car tied up for 2 weeks while they're waiting for a part. I would just drive it that way. But this sounds like a substandard dealership. The fact that there's a advisory out there for this problem is all the more reason for them to have a full stock of the parts to perform the fix.

I appreciate your opinion but I think you're missing the point of mine. Airbags are now a standard requirement and are under warranty for a period of time. Any safety item that malfunctions, especially when an error throws a code AND the dealership knows it, puts the dealership in a legal pickle and the driver in a less-safe vehicle. If the government requires the vehicle to meet a certain safety criteria and it no longer does then I'm returning the vehicle to the dealer until it's corrected. If I want to drive a vehicle without airbags then I can simply drive one manufactured before the mid '90's, or continue driving one with an airbag error code. I'd choose the former and fix the latter.

9/14/10 PICKED UP MY 2010 MALIBU FROM SERVICE THIS AFTERNOON. After several mles of driving there were NO SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT incidents. The service writer and mechanic are confident that the problem is solved.

THE CAUSE (as explained by the service writer): The recent Side Airbag callback procedure (summer of 2010) included some defective electrical connections under the front passenger seat, due to a very loose fit between mating connectors. This created a condition where a bump or rough road could cause an erratic (on and off) electrical contact between the mating connectors, and result in a "Service Airbag" warning.

This is very good news for you and for anyone else that has had that same gremlin. I'm happy for you. Sounds like they did their homework and really did it right.

From Malibubu: My "Service Airbag" problem is fixed. No recurrances in 2-1/2 weeks. Replacing a loose electrical connector under the front passenger seat did the job. This problem apparently was created by a faulty connector that was part of the summer 2010 side airbag callback.

Malibubu: Car is fixed. Faulty electrical connector under front passenger seat was replaced. Three weeks and no more problems.