SEAT Airbag warning light is on

SEAT Airbag warning light is on

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Carbody13

Original Poster:

9 posts

92 months

Tuesday 16th January 2018
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Hi I really need some thoughts and information on how to tackle my situation which is very worrying. My airbag warning light came on constantly on my SEAT Leon 2010 FR, the next day I noticed my horn does not work either. An independant diagnostic check showed that it's the drivers side airbag igniter -code 95, it was reset but immediately came back on. At the same time I was informed about issues with Takata airbags in various makes of car exploding bits of shrapnel and killing drivers - so many vehicles are being recalled.
I rang the SEAT dealership that I bought my car from, they said they had not heard of the airbag issue - all they would offer is a diagnostic for £100 plus VAT. This is despite SEAT recalling Alhambras, Miis, Ibizas for airbag/risk of injury. I was told SEAT is 99% VW, the 2010 - 2014 comparable Golf is on the recall list for the dangerous Takata airbag issue.
I wrote to SEAT main office, they just told me to take my car for a diagnostic - which I have already done elsewhere. They say there are no recalls. I think SEAT are lagging behind. I feel unsafe driving my car at all. My normal (non SEAT) mechanic does not want to do the work as he thinks there is a chance of explosion. He also commented that it will be very costly. I don't have a lot of money.
What is going on with the airbag? How do I progress this? How can I find out if I do have a Takata airbag? SEAT will not give me that information. Is there an organisation that could help?
Thank you, Pam

codenamecueball

529 posts

88 months

Tuesday 16th January 2018
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https://www.gov.uk/check-if-a-vehicle-has-been-rec...


If it's not on here, your car has not been recalled. I suggest you get the airbag fixed at an authorised repairer like the garage you went to first as an airbag light is an MOT fail.

cuprabob

14,421 posts

213 months

Tuesday 16th January 2018
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With the horn not working too, it could be the slip ring / clock spring that carries the signals to and from the steering wheel.

DanSkoda

154 posts

93 months

Wednesday 17th January 2018
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What the guy said above is on the money. Not uncommon for them to fail and your car is showing all the symptoms of a failed clock spring.

Carbody13

Original Poster:

9 posts

92 months

Wednesday 17th January 2018
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Hi, I really appreciate your thoughts about the slip ring. I did check on the recall list and my car wasn't showing on there - but worryingly the list didn't show the recall that did happen a while ago.

Carbody13

Original Poster:

9 posts

92 months

Thursday 18th January 2018
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Am I safe to drive my SEAT?

cuprabob

14,421 posts

213 months

Thursday 18th January 2018
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Yes, however if you do crash the steering wheel airbag won't deploy.

Carbody13

Original Poster:

9 posts

92 months

Friday 19th January 2018
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Hello Cupra Bob - that's a relief. I'm not so bothered about it not going off, I'm more worried about it going off when it shouldn't and if it's a Takata make other car occupants have been hit and killed by shrapnel. I turned the Leon on yesterday, the warning symbol came back up plus a message Error: Airbag - this is where it usually says mileage and how long before next service etc. The car is really yelling at me.
Thank you for replying. I have tried talking to local SEAT dealership and head office without success.

PGN

213 posts

213 months

Wednesday 24th January 2018
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Be aware that some official main dealer VAG diagnostics report "Driver's side" but are configured for LHD. This happened to me and was wrongly diagnosed by the dealer. It's a long story but after they changed the sensor for the side airbag on the passenger side the fault was still there and subsequently the drivers side seat airbag was deployed. I'd suggest you confirm the orientation by disconnecting the wiring under one seat and then scanning to check what gets logged.

Carbody13

Original Poster:

9 posts

92 months

Wednesday 24th January 2018
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Hi that's confusing, be better if the sides were identified in some other way. My car has gone into a garage this morning - haven't heard back yet. I had found there was a switch to turn off the front passenger air bag - which I flipped off - and turned the car off and on but the warnings were still on. Thanks for letting me know.

Carbody13

Original Poster:

9 posts

92 months

Wednesday 28th February 2018
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An update - after replacing the slip ring both the airbag warning lights did turn off and my horn started working again - thank you to this site for that thought about the slip ring (CupraBob?). I had an independent garage look to see if the airbag is Takata and asked for a photograph to be taken. Unfortunately I do have a Takata airbag at least on the drivers side. My car is a 2010 SEAT Leon FR - so others may have similar. I have been in touch with my local SEAT dealership and SEAT UK but the issue is not being dealt with. One area manager told me to be 'reassured' - I challenged him whether that meant I was definitely safe but what he replied is that I can be reassured that my vehicle is not on the recall list - which I knew. The managing director of SEAT UK has ignored my recorded delivery letter with the photograph of the Takata airbag so now the DVSA will write to them and see if they can get a response as to whether my airbag is not one of the faulty ones. Looks like Australia is not taking risks with people's safety and is just replacing them all. Now the warning lights are off on my SEAT it means the system is working and the potentially faulty airbag would deploy if my car was hit.

Carbody13

Original Poster:

9 posts

92 months

Wednesday 28th February 2018
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Thank you to Cuprabob and Danskoda for the idea that it was the slip ring that needed replacing - great help

cuprabob

14,421 posts

213 months

Wednesday 28th February 2018
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Glad to be of help