For many years, there has been confusion within the auto upholstery industry over whether it is safe or even legal for trimmers to repair seats that contain side airbags. Well Nissan has made it clear by attaching the above warning label to its seat covers.
Many automakers, like Nissan, install airbags within the driver and front-passenger seats beneath the backrest bolster facing the door. In the event of a side-impact collision, the airbag deploys – bursting the foam and splitting the unenforced French seam that holds the cover together.
While insurance companies cover the cost of new backrest seat covers, the collision repair shops that often outsource the work to local trim shops ask that we merely re-sew the open seams in order to increase their profit margins.
The problem with doing this is that we cannot guarantee that the new airbag will deploy properly if another accident occurs. Some suppliers sell “airbag thread” for such cases. But ultimately the responsibility of whether the seam opens when it needs to falls on our shoulders.
Needless to say, I’m hesitant to take on such jobs. If a seam I make doesn’t open when it’s supposed to and a driver or passenger is hurt, the ensuing lawsuit could bankrupt my family business and shut me down for good.
Well Nissan’s new warning label – which reads : “WARNING: DO NOT RESEW THIS COVER” – puts an end to the question over whether we should or shouldn’t take on such jobs.
On one hand it’s a relief to finally know the answer. On the other hand, it really stinks.
Nissan could just as easily do as some automakers and place its side airbags in its vehicles’ door panels or in plastic compartments located on the side of the seats. Doing so would provide similar protection in the event of an accident and still make it possible for auto trimmers to repair their seat covers.
But because Nissan chooses to install its side airbags inside its seats, we have to tell customers – even those with minor repairs – that they must order a whole new cover. Not surprisingly, the price of doing that often deters them from ever coming back.
With more and more automakers following Nissan’s lead, it seems that there may come a day when we’re prohibited from doing anything but installing ready-made seat covers.
Please Share: Do you have any advice that you can share with fellow auto trimmers on how to handle such jobs?
It just gripes me how lawsuit conscious everyone is in this day and age. To toss an otherwise perfectly good seat cover because one seam “can’t” be sewn is ludicrous.
I have read that an airbag deploys in excess of 200mph in an instant once ignited. Are they REALLY going to get me to believe that a single strand of thread — even 92 or 138 thread — is going to stop that kind of force? If instruction manuals warn you to keep your hands away from the wheel airbag because it can break your thumbs, how is some 69 thread at a wide spaced stitch going to stop it?
Moreso than cautioning us to not resew covers, I would instead STRONGLY urge the auto makers to be a little more careful with their installation. On more than one occasion I’ve been doing work on an airbag equipped seat, pulled the cover, and the entire airbag pod was laying down inside the seat unbolted from the frame. Shoddy workmanship, lack of quality control, and a projectile waiting to slice through someone’s lower back in the event of a crash.
If asked, I will still sew them unless that stupid, stupid warning label prevents me.
I wonder what the options are for a customer opting to remove that airbag all together. I have a customer that wants seats with internal airbags reupholstered. He hates the factory material.
I have replaced my car seats that had airbags. now I have no air bags in the new seats , it is legal as I did look up the ministry of transport which state that there is no legal requirement for these air bags. please note this is in the uk.
stitcher is dead on about air bags poorly installed.I have seen a few that were questionable.I will pass this on to my employer. thanks hogring.
Steve M: The rebel in me would say go ahead and disconnect the seat bag and install a jumper to fool the onboard computer into thinking it’s still attached. But, the shop owner part of me says no way. I would resew covers with no qualms, and just use (as mentioned in my first reply) 69 thread on the back seam/outer side. The airbag is going to burst it. In fact, I have done just that in the past, including preparing sheepskin seat covers to fit over a seat equipped with internal airbag.
If the customer insists on deactivating the airbag, I would refer him to his insurance company. They will put him in his place once and for all and should answer any questions about your liability.
I recently installed inserts in a customer’s BMW 325is. When we were done, the airbag warning light was on and the system needed reset at the dealership. At the bottom of his invoice, I included a statement that he signed “customer has been informed of airbag fault code and instructed to visit (dealership name — the closest to him) for computer reset.” I wasn’t able to run the car to a dealer before he wanted to pick up, and I also did not want to be blamed for giving back a faulty car and he “wasn’t aware” in the event of an accident.
Likewise, if you did decide to dismantle an SRS system, at least have the customer sign a waiver stating that they expressly requested you do so, and they do not hold you or your shop in any way responsible for the outcome. You could even reason it to being just like the car owner making the conscious choice to switch off the passenger side airbag. It’s their choice and rests on their shoulders.
Hi, try disconnecting the battery before you disconnect the plug under the seat. leave the power disconnected for the duration of your seat repair/recover.Only reconnect the the battery after you put back the seat and have reconnected the plug under the seat.
Don’t disconnect a VW battery. Then you an even more expensive radio reset at the dealer. Ive been trimming for 36 years and Im beginning to think its better to work at something else.
I felt the same way a few months ago when a Honda light went on. I guess I didn’t wait long enough.
It can be frustrating. Hang in there
Great points. I would add, though, if you are going to get your customers to sign a waiver of liability, make sure it’s air tight. Have a lawyer look at it.
Below are some comments left about this article on The Hog Ring‘s Facebook page:
Gus Satterwhite: We repair seats with air bags its not that much of a risk as long as your paying attetion and every body in this business should or is gunna have to cuz all the cars any more have them
The Hog Ring: It’s true all the new cars do have them and quite frankly I’m convinced that in an accident a repaired cover would definitely split. I just can’t risk a lawsuit over a $150 repair.
so how do we fix theese seats?do you have to get certified to sew them? how do i do that?
At this time, we do not know of any certification programs to sew these covers. It seems, Nissan would rather have us replace the whole cover with new factory upholstery. We will be in touch with Nissan soon to get a comment on the issue.
[...] March, The Hog Ring published an article titled “Warning: Do Not Resew This Cover” – which outlined Nissan’s warning to auto trimmers that repairs to their seat [...]
Love them katzkins
I recently became aware of TheHogRing .com through DLT’s monthly newsletter. I want to thank Naseem for providing a forum that not only is informative, but also allows upholsterers/trimmers an opportunity to share our ideas and thoughts. My response today is regarding the question of sewing seat covers with airbag seams.
I have been doing interiors and more for over 37 years, owning my own business for 26 of them. When seat covers with airbag seams started being introduced; I too was hesitant to sew them. Refusing at first, then having clients sign waivers, I still had concerns for the safety factor involved. A high percentage of my business is high-end custom interiors on i.e., Mercedes, Audis, BMWs, etc., in exotic leathers, skins and suedes with unique sewing designs. There are no seat cover manufacturers that I know of that offer these options.
After asking many distributors if they offered thread to sew these covers, I was told no and they don’t plan on carrying them because of insurance concerns. I started to research thread companies and found that Coat, PLC. of England supplied the global industry with the thread to sew airbags and seat covers. After phone calls and e-mails to them, there North American representative called me and we had a lengthy conversation about thread. He informed me that what they supplied the industry with for seat cover seam airbag deployment was a bonded nylon in #45 weight. This thin of thread does not seem to be carried by most auto trim suppliers. I found boxes of bonded nylon bobbins in #69 weight.
I now sew my seat covers with heavier polyester top and bobbin thread, lock my stitches above and below the airbag area, change both of the threads to lighter #69 weight, finish sewing the seam overlapping the polyester thread, but not locking the stitch. I always felt comfortable with the safety of the covers the way I am sewing them.
I was able to test my method when I had an insurance company replace a passenger front bucket seat on a Nissan Altima. I took the old seat and cut it open and resewed the seam using my method. I then exploded the airbag and recorded it to show that the seam blew apart properly, without any problems.
I feel confident that all the airbag seams I’ve sewn will function properly. I uploaded two videos of the deployment and a close-up video of the blown seam to Youtube.com for other trimmers to see. I hope this answers some questions about this issue. Funny how the seat I happened to have tested happens to be a Nissan seat. Here are the links.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qv7vbNWPQEM&feature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTIJL56XY-E&feature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXWX0U5SAgM&feature=plcp
Thanks
Ken
Autowerks/KNS Upholstery
Ken,
I like your approach. Thoughtful, and you tested it to make sure it worked.
I have a leather seat for my wife’s 2006 Mini Cooper S where the seam has come undone over the airbag (which has NOT been deployed.) The seam is open rom the driver’s elbow up to the head rest. Can you fix it for me?
Thanks,
Richard
Hey Ken, thanks for joining The Hog Ring and for your kind words. Believe me, I wouldn’t be able to run the site if it wasn’t for my partner and brother, Nadeem.
I appreciate you describing in detail how you resew airbag seat covers and for describing which thread weights you use. I’m sure our members will get a kick out of your videos, I know I did.
Another reader turned me on to a company by the name of The Thread Exchange which offers a Size 46 thread.
http://www.thethreadexchange.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=TTE&Category_Code=nylon-thread-information
What I would like to know besides all of the other questions mentioned is when the dealer is no longer required to supply this cover (say 5 years)what is a car owner to do? Most cars are paid for but have some in and out butt wear to the bolster where the airbag is located. I work at a automotive upholstery shop and we are loosing jobs every day and disapointing people by not being able to sew a seat in fear of getting sued. We know a airbag is capable of blowing out threads of any kind but if there is any malfunction it would be the upolstery shop to be blamed. When a airbag is delivered it comes shipped in a steel cage not a leather sewed bag.
Audi says the special thread used for airbag deployment is only good for ten years
I talked to the DOT in regards to a little bit of a different issue. I was told specifically if you make it a policy in you decleration or articles of corporation that using aftermarket procedure you assume no liability you are good to go.
Per DOT unless you are a manufactor you hold no liabilities to airbags, the policy is from a good attorney that proves in civil court unless they have proof they asked you will never lose.
I was more concerned about using these designer knock offs since, 3-4 major shops out here got sued and shut down.
Very informative , thanks. I am enjoying this forum.
First things first ,hide the key do not turn key on during seat removal. If I am doing a repair on a seat back I don’t remove the seat unless needed remove cover and kevlar hold downs sew the kevlar back in on cover before the seam.fold one side of material back during top stitch .No problem with sensor .the warning light comes on because the passenger bottom thin plastic sensor is bad so never put your knee in the passenger seat to work