Airbag Non-Deployment Conditions

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

Front airbags are not designed to deploy in a rear collision, because occupants move rearward under the force of the impact.

Front airbags may not deploy in side impact collisions, because occupants move in the direction of the collision.

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

In an angled impact, the force of the collision may move occupants in a direction where the airbags could not provide any additional benefit, and therefore the sensors may not activate the airbags.

Immediately before impact, drivers often brake hard. This sudden braking causes the front of the vehicle to dip, resulting in "nose dive." This is especially important when the vehicle ahead has a higher ground clearance. The airbags may not deploy if your vehicle is in a nose-dive condition, because the impact forces detected by the sensors may be significantly reduced.

The front airbags may not deploy in a rollover accident, because front airbag deployment will not provide additional occupant protection.

The side airbags and curtain airbags may deploy in a rollover situation when the rollover sensor detects a rollover.

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