Side Impacts

Side airbags are designed to deploy in certain side impacts. The Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) determines whether deployment of the side airbags is appropriate for a particular impact event, based on the severity and type of collision. Side impact sensors assist the ORC in determining the proper response to impact events. The system is calibrated to deploy the side airbags on the side of the vehicle being struck during impacts that require occupant protection from the side airbags. In a side impact, the side airbags deploy independently: a left-side impact deploys only the left side airbags and a right-side impact deploys only the right side airbags. Vehicle damage alone is not a reliable indicator of whether the side airbags should deploy.

Side airbags do not deploy in all side impacts. Side airbags may not deploy in some collisions, including certain angle collisions or some side impacts that do not affect the passenger compartment. Side airbags may deploy in angled or offset frontal collisions when the front airbags deploy.

Side airbags are a supplement to the seat belt restraint system. Side airbags deploy faster than the time it takes to blink an eye.

• Occupants, including children, who lean against or are very close to the side airbags may be seriously injured or killed. Occupants, including children, should never lean or sleep against the door, side windows, or the side airbag deployment area, even if they are in a child restraint or booster seat.
• Seat belts (and child restraints, where applicable) are necessary for your protection in all crashes. They also help keep you positioned away from the inflating side airbag. To get the best protection from side airbags, occupants must wear their seat belts properly and sit upright, with their backs against the seatbacks. Children must be properly secured in a child restraint or booster seat appropriate for their size.

• Side airbags need room to inflate. Do not lean against the door or window. Sit upright in the center of the seat.
• Being too close to the side airbags during deployment can result in serious injury or death.
• Relying only on side airbags can result in more severe injury in a crash. Side airbags work with your seat belt to restrain you properly. In some crashes, side airbags will not deploy at all. Always wear your seat belt, even if you have side airbags.

NOTE:

The airbag covers may be unnoticeable in the interior trim, but they will open when the airbag deploys.