Why didn't my airbag go off in a collision? (Inflation and non-inflation conditions of the airbag)
There are many types of accidents in which the airbag would not be expected to provide additional protection.
These include rear impacts, second or third collisions in multiple impact accidents, as well as low speed impacts.
Airbag inflation conditions
Front airbags

Front airbags are designed to inflate in a frontal collision depending on the intensity, speed or angles of impact of the front collision.
Side and curtain airbags


* The actual airbags in the vehicle may differ from the illustration.
Side and/or curtain airbags are designed to inflate when an impact is detected by side collision sensors depending on the strength, speed or angles of impact resulting from a side impact collision.
Although the front airbags (driver's and front passenger's airbags) are designed to inflate only in frontal collisions, they also may inflate in other types of collisions if the front impact sensor detect a sufficient impact. Side airbags (side and/or curtain airbags) are designed to inflate only in side impact collisions, but they may inflate in other collisions if the side impact sensors detect a sufficient impact.
If the vehicle chassis is impacted by bumps or objects on unimproved roads or sidewalks, airbags may deploy. Drive carefully on unimproved roads or on surfaces not designed for vehicle traffic to prevent unintended airbag deployment.
Airbag non-inflation conditions
-
In certain low-speed collisions the airbags may not deploy. The airbags are designed not to deploy in such cases because they may not provide benefits beyond the protection of the seat belts in such collisions.
-
Airbags are not designed to inflate in rear collisions, because occupants are moved backward by the force of the impact. In this case, inflated airbags would not be able to provide any additional benefit.
-
Front airbags may not inflate in side impact collisions, because occupants move to the direction of the collision, and thus in side impacts, frontal airbag deployment would not provide additional occupant protection.
-
However, if equipped with side and curtain airbags, the airbags may inflate depending on the intensity, vehicle speed and angles of impact.
-
In an angled collision, the force of impact may direct the occupants in a direction where the airbags would not be able to provide any additional benefit, and thus the sensors may not deploy any airbags.
-
Just before impact, drivers often brake heavily. Such heavy braking lowers the front portion of the vehicle causing it to "ride" under a vehicle with a higher ground clearance. Airbags may not inflate in this "under-ride" situation because deceleration forces that are detected by sensor may be significantly replaced by such "under-ride" collisions.
-
Airbags may not inflate in rollover accidents because the vehicle can not detect rollover accident.
However, side and/or curtain airbags may inflate when the vehicle is rolled over following (or after) side impact collision.
-
Airbags may not inflate if the vehicle collides with objects such as utility poles or trees, where the point of impact is concentrated to one area and the full force of the impact is not delivered to the sensor.