When Should An Airbag Inflate - Chevrolet 2011 HHR Owner's Manual

Driver Side shown, Passenger Side similar
If your vehicle has roof-rail airbags for the driver, right
front passenger, and second row outboard passengers,
they are in the ceiling above the side windows.
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WARNING:
If something is between an occupant and an
airbag, the airbag might not inflate properly or it
might force the object into that person causing
severe injury or even death. The path of an
inflating airbag must be kept clear. Do not put
anything between an occupant and an airbag,
and do not attach or put anything on the steering
wheel hub or on or near any other airbag
covering.
Never secure anything to the roof of a vehicle
with roof-rail airbags by routing a rope or tie down
through any door or window opening. If you do,
the path of an inflating roof-rail airbag will be
blocked.

When Should an Airbag Inflate?

Frontal airbags are designed to inflate in moderate
to severe frontal or near-frontal crashes to help
reduce the potential for severe injuries mainly to the
driver's or right front passenger's head and chest.
However, they are only designed to inflate if the impact
exceeds a predetermined deployment threshold.
I n f o r ma t i o n P r o v i d e d b y :