Saturn 2008 Outlook Automobile User Manual


 
In addition, the vehicle has dual-stage frontal airbags.
Dual-stage airbags adjust the restraint according to
crash severity. The vehicle has electronic frontal
sensors, which help the sensing system distinguish
between a moderate frontal impact and a more severe
frontal impact. For moderate frontal impacts, dual-stage
airbags inflate at a level less than full deployment.
For more severe frontal impacts, full deployment occurs.
The vehicle has seat-mounted side impact and
roof-rail airbags. See Airbag System on page 1-64.
Seat-mounted side impact and roof-rail airbags
are intended to inflate in moderate to severe side
crashes. In addition, these roof-rail airbags are
intended to inflate during a rollover or in a severe
frontal impact. Seat-mounted side impact and roof-rail
airbags will inflate if the crash severity is above the
system’s designed threshold level. The threshold
level can vary with specific vehicle design.
Seat-mounted side impact airbags are not intended to
inflate in frontal impacts, near-frontal impacts, rollovers,
or rear impacts. Roof-rail airbags are not intended to
inflate in rear impacts. A seat-mounted side impact airbag
is intended to deploy on the side of the vehicle that is
struck. Both roof-rail airbags will deploy when either side
of the vehicle is struck, or if the sensing system predicts
that the vehicle is about to roll over, or in a severe frontal
impact.
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. For seat-mounted side impact
and roof-rail airbags, deployment is determined by the
location and severity of the side impact. In a rollover
event, roof-rail airbag deployment is determined by
the direction of the roll.
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