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Frontal airbags may inflate at different crash
speeds. For example:
• If the vehicle hits a stationary object, the
airbags could inflate at a different crash speed
than if the vehicle hits a moving object.
• If the vehicle hits an object that deforms, the
airbags could inflate at a different crash
speed than if the vehicle hits an object does
not deform.
• If the vehicle hits a narrow object (like a pole),
the airbags could inflate at a different crash
speed than if the vehicle hits a wide object
(like a wall).
• If the vehicle goes into an object at an angle,
the airbags could inflate at a different crash
speed than if the vehicle goes straight into
the object.
Frontal airbags (driver and right front passenger)
are not intended to inflate during vehicle
rollovers, rear impacts, or in many side impacts.
Seat-mounted side impact and roof-mounted
airbags are intended to inflate in moderate
to severe side crashes. Seat-mounted side impact
airbags are not intended to inflate in frontal or
near-frontal impacts, rollovers, or rear impacts. In
addition, roof-mounted side impact airbags are
intended to inflate during a rollover or in a severe
frontal impact. Roof-mounted side impact
airbags are not intended to inflate in rear impacts.
Seat-mounted side impact and roof-mounted
airbags will inflate if the crash severity is above
the system’s designed “threshold level.” The
threshold level can vary with specific vehicle
design. A seat-mounted side impact airbag
is intended to deploy on the side of the vehicle
that is struck. Both roof-mounted airbags are
intended to deploy when either side of the vehicle
is struck or during a rollover.
In any particular crash, no one can say whether
an airbag should have inflated simply because
of the damage to a vehicle or because of what the
repair costs were. For frontal airbags, inflation is
determined by what the vehicle hits, the angle
of the impact, and how quickly the vehicle slows
down in frontal and near-frontal impacts. For
side impact airbags, inflation is determined by the
location and severity of the impact.
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