GMC 2008 Savana Van Owner's Manual page 67

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If the vehicle hits a narrow object (like a pole), the
airbags could inflate at a different crash speed
than if the vehicle hits a wide object (like a wall).
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If the vehicle goes into an object at an angle, the
airbags could inflate at a different crash speed
than if the vehicle goes straight into the object.
Thresholds can also vary with specific vehicle design.
Frontal airbags are not intended to inflate during vehicle
rollovers, rear impacts, or in many side impacts.
Single Stage vs. Dual Stage Airbags
Depending on the weight of your vehicle, you will have
either "Single Stage Airbags" or "Dual Stage Airbags."
Vehicles that have a passenger sensing system
also have dual stage airbags. See Passenger Airbag
Status Indicator on page 3-30 or Passenger Sensing
System on page 1-69.
If the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) of your
vehicle is 8,500 lb (3 855 kg) or above, your vehicle
may have single stage airbags. If the GVWR is
below 8,500 lb (3 855 kg) then your vehicle may
have dual stage airbags. You can find the GVWR on
the certification label on the rear edge of the driver's
door. See Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-20 for
more information.
In addition, your vehicle may have dual-stage frontal
airbags. Dual-stage airbags adjust the restraint according
to crash severity. Your vehicle has electronic frontal
sensors, which help the sensing system distinguish
between a moderate frontal impact and a more severe
frontal impact. For moderate frontal impacts, dual-stage
airbags inflate at a level less than full deployment. For
more severe frontal impacts, full deployment occurs.
Your vehicle may or may not have roof-rail airbags.
See Airbag System on page 1-57. Roof-rail airbags are
intended to inflate in moderate to severe side crashes.
In addition, these roof-rail airbags are intended to inflate
during a rollover. Roof-rail airbags will inflate if the crash
severity is above the system's designed threshold level.
The threshold level can vary with specific vehicle design.
Roof-rail airbags are not intended to inflate in frontal
impacts, near-frontal impacts, or rear impacts. All roof-rail
airbags will deploy when either side of the vehicle is
struck.
In any particular crash, no one can say whether an airbag
should have inflated simply because of the damage
to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs were.
For frontal airbags, inflation is determined by what the
vehicle hits, the angle of the impact, and how quickly the
vehicle slows down. For roof-rail airbags, deployment
is determined by the location and severity of the side
impact.
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