Airbag Deployment Conditions

Front Airbags

Frontal airbags and driver's knee airbag are designed to deploy in a frontal collision depending on the severity of the frontal impact.

Side Airbags and Side Curtain Airbags

Side airbags and side curtain airbags are designed to deploy when an impact is detected by the side impact sensors, depending on the severity of the side impact.

Although the driver and front passenger airbags are designed to deploy only in frontal collisions, they may also deploy in other types of collisions if the frontal impact sensors detect a sufficient impact. Side airbags and side curtain airbags are designed to deploy only in a side collision or rollover situation, but they may also deploy in other collisions if the side impact sensors detect a sufficient impact.

If the vehicle chassis is subjected to bumps or objects on unpaved roads, the airbags may deploy. Drive carefully on unpaved roads or on surfaces not intended for vehicle traffic to prevent unintentional airbag deployment.

Airbag Non-Deployment Conditions

In some low-speed collisions, the airbags may not deploy. Airbags are not designed to deploy in such cases, because they cannot provide benefits beyond those of the seat belts.

Front airbags are not designed to deploy in a rear collision, because occupants are pushed back by the force of the impact. In this case, deployed airbags do not provide any additional benefit.

Front airbags may not deploy in side impact collisions because occupants move toward the point of impact; therefore, front airbag deployment would not provide additional occupant protection in a side impact.

However, side airbags and side curtain airbags may deploy depending on the severity of the impact.

In an angled impact, the force of the impact may direct occupants in a direction in which the airbags cannot provide any additional benefit, and therefore the sensors may not deploy the airbags.

Immediately before a collision, drivers often brake heavily. Such hard braking lowers the front of the vehicle, causing it to "drive" under the vehicle with the higher ground clearance. The airbags may not deploy in this "submarining" situation, because the deceleration forces detected by the sensors may be significantly reduced by such "non-deforming" collisions.

Front airbags may not deploy in a rollover accident, because airbag deployment could not provide protection to the occupants.

However, the side airbags and curtain airbags may deploy when the vehicle is involved in a side impact.

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