I recently purchased an 2008 Dakota. I knew it was the base model extended cab when I bought it (from my father in FL). It has SUPER low miles and was a great deal - or so I thought.

Wen I got it home (to NY), I found out that there is no switch to disable the passenger air bag, NOR the seat sensor to shut it off either. It has "advanced airbag system", but does not have a light in the instrument panel that says "airbag off" when the seat is empty.

I took it to the dealer, who looked up the VIN and appropriate manual and all it states is that there is a sensor that controls the speed of deployment based on the speed of impact, nothing else.

It is an extended cab, but no back seat. It is as stripped as they come. 2WD, manual, no power anything, and no switch or sensor for the airbags. I am surprised it has a CD player!!!

I have a four year old in a front facing car seat. I NEED to disable the airbag to keep him safe, but the only dealership for miles says it can't be done. It is my only reliable vehicle. I have another car but it's on it's way out. I also can't do anything to trade this in or sell it until I get the title back in six weeks. Even then, I am not sure it's financially feasible. The dealership wants to give me nothing for this truck and it less than 5K miles on it and not a thing wrong with it (dad lived in a gated community and only drove it to the doctors).

So - what do you think my options are? Currently, I have him forward facing in the car seat with the passenger seat all the way back, and pray. But I don't feel safe.

Can I have a back seat retrofitted? Doesn't seem like there is enough room, but it IS an extended cab and I imagine some models have them. They told me at the dealership that a sensor or switch can't be retrofitted.

The manual is useless.
The local dealership is useless.

I did find a dealer a couple hours away that is looking into the possibility of installing a used back seat. Not sure what that is going to cost or entail, but it's looking like it's my only option, other than selling it and losing money. There are punchouts in the plastic on the side for where seatbelts SHOULD be and the tether hooks are there, just no seat.

Just wondering if there are any other options? The garages are telling me that if I disable the airbag, my insurance won't cover any injuries if the airbag does not deploy because I disabled it.....so that's another risk to this venture. Good grief!

 

The part numbers should exist for the rear seats, there will be enough room if you move the passenger seat forward. I am pretty sure there are even latches that came for child seats so you can use the tethers. Some guys on here have removed their seats, see if someone might sell you theirs or at least check to see if they had latches. I think the seats from 05 to 11 should bolt right up.

I am not sure if there is a way to disable the airbags. Mine have an indicator to tell me if they are on or off, but can't just turn it off like I could on my S10 and Mazda (ranger)

found this pic, shows the seats and the latches for the child safety seats.
The two on the bottom, and then the loop up top routes over to the middle where the other anchor is.

 

I have a 05 ext Cab ST

I have a switch to turn my Pass. Airbag off.
Also if the pass. seat is not occupied, The airbag will not go off, No light comes on to tell you this. A light does come on however if you put stuff under a certain weight (like a heavy bag) Then a Light does come on to tell you it wont go off, As the item doesn't meet the weight required. (Mine came on when my friend was in the middle, since only a very slim part of her put any weight on the seat - She was in the middle seat)

My switch is behind my Sat Radio. You can see the Indicator between the Vents. Altho yours is a 08, Im not sure how much the Interior changed from 05. Im surprised your doesnt, As its only a Ext Cab. Mine has the rear seats, and the switch.

Also if you disable your airbag(s) without a factory method IE a factory switch, I would be surprised if your insurance would even cover your truck if it was in a accident.

 

The Jeep guys yank the fuse when offroading. This would disable both bags though.

Look for fuses with yellow guards around them.

 

By design the bags should not go off if there is no one in the seat. You MIGHT be able to disconnect the wires going to the seat belt receiver. Then the computer would think there was no in the seat, even when the car seat was there.

 

wont that cause the bags to go off?

 

No pulling the fuse de-energises the system so it won't go off.

 

I knew I could disable the fuse, BUT, worry that the insurance company would not pay out if I had an accident with the fuse gone - or even the airbag disabled. I would not like the idea of BOTH being disabled, as I have been in a serious accident and know that the airbag was "my friend". The dealer told me the shutoff switch could not be installed after the fact - maybe the new dealer I called will have a different answer.

Thank you for posting the picture of the seats in the back - I was thinking it would be a bench seat - which would be more ideal, as I could fit him in the middle and that would solve the issue of him having leg room - because he would have the room between the seats.

I am hoping they can find me a rear seat - maybe it won't be as expensive if it's only the one jump seat as pictured, tho it would be less than ideal, it would work. I would only have to purchase one.

To add to my frustrations - I had such a nightmare installing his new Britax Frontier booster seat. The belt stalk came up too high to use what they call "short belt path" and the seatbelt was too short to use the "long belt path". Add in the lack of locking retractors. I got a rock solid install with some creativity.

While doing so, I DID notice the sensors in the seat base. I do worry that cranking down on the car seat to make it tight will "fool the sensors" with the tension on the seat by the car seat and trigger the airbags to be "on", but for now, it will have to work and I'll just have to be careful.

Praying the garage can find me a seat. If anyone has one to sell, let me know.

Thanks guys!

 

Sounds like a question for Chrysler Customer Care. From what I've seen they are great when you send them a question.

While you wait, the other option is to do a trial! Put your kid in the car seat, put it in the front seat and turn the truck on. Wait a few minutes and see if the light stays on.

 

I think, don't quote me, "norma jean" removed the rear seats on his ext cab to fit subs? I know someone did and talked about it a couple months ago.