When a side airbag deploys with little or no visible damage; When a side airbag may not deploy, even though visible damage appears - Page 65

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Airbags

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Side Airbags

Safe Driving

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When a side airbag deploys with little or no visible damage

Because the airbag system senses sudden acceleration, a strong impact to the side 
of the vehicle’s framework can cause a side airbag to deploy. In such cases, there 
may be little or no damage, but the side impact sensors detected a severe enough 
impact to deploy the airbag.

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When a side airbag may not deploy, even though visible damage appears 
severe

It is possible for a side airbag not to deploy during an impact that results in 
apparently severe damage. This can occur when the point of impact was toward the 
far front or rear of the vehicle, or when the vehicle’s crushable body parts absorbed 
most of the crash energy. In either case, the side airbag would not have been 
needed nor provided protection even if it had deployed.