Hi,
I have a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo. This is the year that the airbags were under question about causing death and injury to smaller adults and older children in the front seat. I remember at that time hearing that people were or could disconnect the front seat airbag. I called a dealership and they won't do it or tell me how because of the liability they would take on by doing so.

I don't plan to drive the vehicle all that much. I just need it for snow days to get my boys to school. I have twins that must ride in booster seats and that takes up pretty much the back seat. I'd like to let my older son ride in the front, but not if that airbag is going to come out, in the event of an accident or fender bender, full force and break his neck. I'd like to disconnect it so I can get these boys to school in bad weather. We live in the country on a hill and the mini van can't make it up the hill in the snow. So the Jeep would be a great help.

Thanks for any information you can offer.

What the dealership told you is correct.
Under very specific conditions though, you can contact NHTSA by telephone and request to have them legally disabled.

You must receive written authorization from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. If your request is granted, you can take your Jeep to any Chrysler dealership and they will disable the air bags.

But more importantly, why would you want to disable your airbags?
Yes there were some problems with the first generation of airbags, not just jeeps but all vehicles, when they were first made mandatory in the early 90s. And most of those were due to people not using their seat belts. Keep in mind, used properly (with seat belts) airbags can be life savers.

Secondly, are you sure your Jeep has passenger side air bags? Not all 1996 vehicles had them, but I think the Jeep did.

Thirdly, by federal law, all children under a certain weight MUST ride in the back seat in a approved child seat.
If your older son is 13 years old or older, the NHTSA says its safe for him to ride in the front seat as long as he WEARS his SEAT BELT.
However, it is for you to make the final decision.

More info-
NHTSA recommends that children 12 and under never sit in the front seat of a vehicle which is equipped with a passenger airbag.

Volvo, one of the automakers which prides itself on inordinate attention to safety features in their vehicles, maintains that only persons 4'7" or taller should ever ride in the front passenger seat. Their recommendation includes relegating small adults as well as children to the rear of the vehicle.

NHTSA contact info: 1-800-424-9393,
Write: NHTSA Information, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590

Good luck

Thanks for the info.

After we bought this Jeep, there were many if not several, reports of deaths and injuries because of these airbags. Go search archives on the net. Jeep was one of these reported. I remember because we bought one. And yes it does have a passenger side airbag, that's why we bought it. I was always afraid when I drove the vehicle myself. I'm 5'3" tall and was considered a "small adult" that could potentially be harmed by the airbag. Fortunately, I never had an accident with the vehicle to find out.

I want to disable the airbag because I will put my boy in the front seat to drive to school. I will use the vehicle only on snowdays for the 4 wheel drive capability. And to be honest, if I were to slide off the road with him in the front seat, I would feel better and safer with him in his booster seat, buckled than having that ill-tested airbag hitting him or me for that matter. And that's the chance I'm willing to take. The force with which these first generations airbags deploy is scary and negligent of the automaker as far as I'm concerned.

Thanks again for the info about the NHTSB.

also . for info... on my 94, I pulled some fuses to try to disable the alarm system from going off all the time , i pulled the horn breaker , and it disabled the air bag as well, the system seems to be integrel to everything else on the car , better to have the pros do it to ensure safty and not get into worse conditions from doing it your self .. just a thought