When knee airbag deploys with little or no visible damage; When knee airbag may not deploy, even though exterior damage appears - Page 62

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Airbags

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Knee Airbags

Safe Driving

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When knee airbag deploys with little or no visible damage

Because the airbag system senses sudden deceleration, a strong impact to the 
vehicle framework or suspension might cause one or more of the airbags to deploy.
Examples include running into a curb, the edge of a hole, or other low fixed object 
that causes a sudden deceleration in the vehicle chassis. Since the impact is 
underneath the vehicle, damage may not be readily apparent.

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When knee airbag may not deploy, even though exterior damage appears 
severe

Since crushable body parts absorb crash energy during an impact, the amount of 
visible damage does not always indicate proper airbag operation. In fact, some 
collisions can result in severe damage but no airbag deployment because the airbags 
would not have been needed or would not have provided protection even if they 
had deployed.