Pontiac 2009 Vibe Owner's Manual page 29

•
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).
•
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. Frontal airbags for the
driver and right front passenger
may also deploy if a serious impact
occurs to the underside of the
vehicle such as hitting a curb, falling
into a deep hole, or landing hard.
In addition, the vehicle has
dual-stage frontal airbags.
Dual-stage airbags adjust the
restraint according to crash severity.
The 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.
The vehicle may have seat-mounted
side impact and roof-rail airbags.
See Airbag System on page 1-21.
Seat-mounted side impact and
roof-rail airbags are intended
to inflate in moderate to severe
side crashes. Seat-mounted
side impact and roof-rail airbags
will inflate if the crash severity
is above the system's designed
threshold level. Your vehicle
has sensors which detect side
impacts. These sensors signal the
appropriate side impact airbag
to inflate. The threshold level can
vary with specific vehicle design.
Seats and Restraints
Seat-mounted side impact and
roof-rail airbags are not intended to
inflate in frontal impacts, near-frontal
impacts, rollovers, or rear impacts.
A seat-mounted side impact airbag is
intended to deploy on the side of the
vehicle that is struck. A roof-rail
airbag is intended to deploy on the
side of the vehicle that is struck. It is
possible that, in a crash involving the
rear side of your vehicle, that only the
roof-mounted airbag will deploy.
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 seat-mounted side impact and
roof-rail airbags, deployment is
determined by the location and
severity of the side impact.
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