Airbag Deployment

Chapter 4 · Manual page 178

Incorrect sitting posture, sitting on or leaning against the positions close to airbag may lead to severe or even fatal personal injury when the airbag is deployed.

To minimise the risk of accidental injury from inflating airbags, seat belts should be worn correctly at all times. In addition, both driver and front passenger should adjust their seat to provide sufficient distance from the frontal airbags, so as to avoid severe or even fatal injury when the airbag is deployed. If side airbags and side head impact protection airbags are fitted, both driver and front seat passenger should be seated to maintain sufficient distance from the upper part of the body to the sides of the vehicle, this will ensure maximum protection when the side airbags/side head impact protection airbags are deployed.

When airbags are deployed, children without proper protection may suffer from serious injury or even death. Do not carry children in the arms or on the knees during travelling. Children must wear seat belts suitable to age. DO NOT lean any part of the body out of the window.

An inflating airbag can cause facial abrasions and other injuries if the occupant is too close to the airbag at the time of its deployment.

The inflation passage of the airbag must be free of any obstructions. Do not place any objects between passengers and airbags. NEVER fix or place any objects on the steering wheel cover, or near the front airbag cover of the instrument panel. DO NOT affix or place any objects on, or adjacent to the airbags. If there is an object between the passenger and airbag, the airbag may not inflate properly, or the airbag will turn the object into a projectile, firing it at the passenger’s body, causing serious injury or even death.

When airbags are deployed, airbag related components in the steering wheel and instrument panel and at both sides of the roof rails above front and rear doors will become very hot. Do not touch airbag related components immediately after the airbags are deployed to avoid injuries.

DO NOT knock or strike the position where airbags or related parts are located, so as to avoid serious injury or even death due to accidental airbag deployment.

In the event of a collision, the airbag control module monitors the rate of deceleration or acceleration induced by the collision, to determine whether the airbags should be deployed. Airbag deployment is virtually instantaneous and occurs with considerable force, accompanied by a loud noise. In the event of a severe frontal collision, a completely deployed airbag, along with a correctly worn seat belt, can limit the movement of the driver and front passenger, reducing the risk of head and chest injuries. For vehicles fitted with side airbags and side curtain airbags, when the vehicle encounters a serious side collision, the completely deployed airbag will form an air cushion between the occupant and the vehicle side to reduce the risk of body side injuries. When you sit upright in the seat and against the backrest, seat belts and airbags can provide the most effective protection. When encountering a serious collision, airbags will deploy quickly and with force. At this me, if you or other passengers are not using seat belts correctly, leaning forward, reclining excessively or sitting with an incorrect posture, you or other passengers are likely to suffer from serious or even fatal injuries.

  • Airbags can not protect lower body parts of passengers.
  • Airbags are not designed for a rear collision, minor frontal collision, vehicle overturn, or emergency braking.
  • Deployment and deflation of the airbags takes place very quickly and will not protect against the effects of secondary impacts that may occur.
  • When an airbag inflates, some fine powders are released. This is not an indication of a malfunction; however, the powder may cause irritation to the skin and should be thoroughly flushed from the eyes and any cuts or abrasions of the skin. If your skin, eyes, nose or throat etc feels uncomfortable, please consult a doctor.
  • After inflation, the airbags deflate immediately. This ensures that the driver’s forward vision is not obscured. Front Airbags

NEVER use a rearward facing child restraint on a seat protected by an ACTIVE AIRBAG in front of it, DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY to the CHILD can occur. Refer to ‘Disabling the Passenger Airbag’.

Front seat passengers should not place feet, knees or any other part of the body in contact with or in close proximity to a front airbag.

In extreme cases driving on very uneven surfaces may cause airbag deployment. Please take extra care when driving on uneven roads.

Front airbags are designed to deploy during serious frontal or similar collisions. Airbags may be deployed in the following situations:

  • A frontal collision with unmovable or non deformable solid objects at a high speed.
  • Conditions that can cause serious chassis damage, such as a collision with kerbstones, road edges, deep ravines or holes. Side Airbags, Centre Airbag and Side Curtain Airbags

The structure and material of the seat is important to ensure correct deployment of airbags. Therefore, please do not fit seat covers which may affect the deployment of the side and middle airbags.

In the event of a serious side impact, the front side airbag on the impacted side and centre airbag will deploy from the outer seat backrest cover, and the side curtain airbag will deploy from the roof interior trim. The side airbag and side curtain airbag on the other side will not deploy. Conditions described below or similar ones may cause side airbag, centre airbag and side curtain airbag deployment.

  • One side of the vehicle is in a high speed collision with a normal passenger car.