Front Airbag Operation

Front airbags are designed to provide additional protection, supplementing the seat belts. Front airbags are not expected to reduce the risk of injury in rear, side, or rollover collisions. Front airbags do not deploy in all frontal collisions, including those that may cause significant vehicle damage, such as some pole impacts, truck underride, and offset angle collisions.

On the other hand, depending on the type and location of impact, front airbags may deploy in crashes with little visible front-end damage, but with a sudden initial deceleration.

Because airbag sensors measure the vehicle's deceleration over time, vehicle speed and damage alone are not a good indicator of whether an airbag should deploy.

Seat belts are necessary for your protection in all crashes, and are also necessary to keep you in the proper position, away from the inflating airbag.

When the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) detects a crash requiring front airbag deployment, it signals the inflators. A large volume of non-toxic gas is generated to deploy the front airbags.

The steering wheel hub cover and the upper passenger-side instrument panel separate and fold back when the airbags deploy to full size. The front airbags fully deploy in less time than it takes to blink. The front airbags then quickly deflate, helping to cushion the driver and front passenger.