Airbag Deployment Conditions

In certain low-speed impacts, the airbags may not deploy. Airbags are designed not to deploy in such situations because they would not provide any additional protection beyond the seat belts.

Front airbags are not designed to deploy in rear collisions, because the force of the impact pushes occupants backward. In this case, airbag deployment would not provide any additional protection.

In a side impact, the front airbags may not deploy, because occupants are thrown toward the point of impact. In the case of a side collision, deployment of the front airbags would not provide additional protection.

However, side airbags or curtain airbags are likely to deploy. Deployment depends on the severity, the vehicle speed, and the angle of impact.

In impacts at an angle or offset, the force of the impact may throw occupants in a direction where airbags do not provide additional protection; therefore, the sensors may not deploy the airbags.

Immediately before an impact, drivers often brake hard by reflex. During such hard braking, the front of the vehicle dips and may pass under another vehicle with a high ground clearance. In this situation, the airbags may not deploy, because the braking forces detected by the sensors may be offset in this type of collision.

Front airbags do not deploy in a rollover, because deployment of the front airbags would not provide additional protection.

Airbags may not deploy if the vehicle strikes objects such as poles or trees; in such cases the impact is concentrated and the collision energy is absorbed by the vehicle structure.