Chevrolet VENTURE 2005 Owner's Manual page 276

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 12 to 18 mph (19 to
29 km/h), and the threshold level for a full deployment is
about 18 to 24 mph (29 to 38.5 km/h). (The threshold
level can vary, however, with specific vehicle design,
so that it can be somewhat above or below this range.)
Airbags may inflate at different crash speeds.
For example:
•
If the vehicle hits a stationary object, the airbag
could inflate at a different crash speed than if
the object were moving.
•
If the object deforms, the airbag could inflate
at a different crash speed than if the object
does not deform.
•
If the vehicle hits a narrow object (like a pole) the
airbag 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
airbag could inflate at a different crash speed
than if the vehicle goes straight into the object.
1-84
The frontal airbags (driver and right front passenger)
are not intended to inflate during vehicle rollovers,
rear impacts, or in many side impacts because inflation
would not likely help the occupants.
Your vehicle may or may not have a side impact airbag.
See Airbag System on page 1-78. Side impact airbags
are designed to inflate in moderate to severe side
crashes. A 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. Side impact airbags are not designed to
inflate in frontal or near-frontal impacts, rollovers or rear
impacts, because inflation would not likely help the
occupant. A side impact airbag will only deploy on the
side of the vehicle that 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
the angle of the impact and how quickly the vehicle
slows down in frontal and near-frontal impacts. For side
impact airbags, inflation is determined by the location
and severity of the impact.