Saturn 2007 Ion Owner's Manual page 74

In addition, your vehicle has "dual stage" frontal
airbags, which adjust the restraint according
to crash severity. For moderate frontal impacts,
the airbags inflate at a level less than full
deployment. For more severe frontal impacts, full
deployment occurs. If the front of your vehicle
goes straight into a wall that does not move
or deform, the threshold level for the reduced
deployment is about 16 to 20 mph (26 to 32 km/h),
and the threshold level for a full deployment is
25 to 30 mph (40 to 48 km/h). The threshold level
can vary, however, with specific vehicle design,
so that it can be somewhat above or below
this range.
Frontal airbags may inflate at different crash
speeds. For example:
•
If the vehicle hits a stationary object, the
airbags could inflate at a different crash speed
than if the vehicle hits a moving object.
•
If the vehicle hits an object that deforms, the
airbags could inflate at a different crash
speed than if the vehicle hits an object that
does not deform.
74
•
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.
Frontal airbags (driver and right front passenger)
are not intended to inflate during vehicle
rollovers, rear impacts, or in many side impacts.
Your vehicle may or may not have roof-mounted
side impact airbags. See Airbag System on
page 68. Roof-mounted side impact airbags are
intended to inflate in moderate to severe side
crashes. A roof-mounted side impact airbag will
inflate if the crash severity is above the system's
designed "threshold level." The threshold level
can vary with specific vehicle design.
Roof-mounted side impact airbags are not
intended to inflate in frontal or near-frontal impacts,
rollovers, or rear impacts. A roof-mounted side
impact airbag is intended to deploy on the side of
the vehicle that is struck.