Airbag Non-Deployment Conditions

• In certain low-speed collisions, the airbags may not deploy. Airbags are not designed to deploy in such cases, as they may provide no benefit other than the seat belt protection in such collisions.

• Airbags are not designed to deploy in rear impacts, because occupants are pushed back into the seat by the force of the impact. In this case, deployed airbags cannot provide any additional benefit.

• Frontal airbags may not deploy in side collisions, because occupants move in the direction of the collision. Therefore, in a side impact, frontal airbag deployment will not provide additional occupant protection.

• However, if the vehicle is equipped with side airbags and curtain airbags, they may deploy depending on the severity of the impact, vehicle speed, and impact angles.

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

• Immediately before a collision, drivers often brake heavily. Such hard braking lowers the front of the vehicle, causing it to "submarine" under the other vehicle with a higher ground clearance. Airbags may not deploy in this "override" situation because the deceleration forces detected by the sensors may be significantly reduced by such "underride" collisions.

• Airbags may not deploy in a rollover because the vehicle cannot detect a rollover accident. However, side airbags and/or curtain airbags may deploy when the vehicle rolls over after (or following) a side impact.

• Airbags may not deploy when the vehicle strikes objects such as utility poles or trees, where the point of impact is concentrated in one area and the full force of the impa