What Makes An Airbag; Inflate - Chevrolet 2013 TRAX Owner's Manual

Frontal airbags may inflate at
different crash speeds depending on
whether the vehicle hits an object
straight on or at an angle, and
whether the object is fixed or
moving, rigid or deformable, narrow
or wide.
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.
In addition, the vehicle has
dual-stage frontal airbags.
Dual-stage airbags adjust the
restraint according to crash severity.
Frontal knee airbags, if equipped,
are designed to inflate in moderate
to severe frontal or near frontal
impacts that exceed a
predetermined deployment
threshold.
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 has seat-mounted side
impact airbags for the driver and
front passenger. The vehicle may
have seat-mounted side impact
airbags for the second row outboard
passengers. The vehicle has
roof-rail airbags. See Airbag System
(Canada) on page 3 22 or Airbag
System (Mexico) on page 3 24.
Seat-mounted side impact airbags,
if equipped, and roof-rail airbags are
intended to inflate in moderate to
severe side crashes depending on
the location of the impact. In
addition, these roof-rail airbags are
intended to inflate during a rollover
or in a severe frontal impact.
Seat-mounted side impact airbags,
if equipped, and 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.
Seats and Restraints
Roof-rail airbags are not intended to
inflate in rear impacts.
A seat-mounted side impact airbag,
if equipped, is intended to inflate on
the side of the vehicle that is struck.
Both roof-rail airbags will inflate
when either side of the vehicle is
struck or if the sensing system
predicts that the vehicle is about to
roll over on its side, or in a severe
frontal impact.
In any particular crash, no one can
say whether an airbag should have
inflated simply because of the
vehicle damage or repair costs.

What Makes an Airbag

Inflate?

In a deployment event, the sensing
system sends an electrical signal
triggering a release of gas from the
inflator. Gas from the inflator fills the
airbag causing the bag to break out
of the cover. The inflator, the airbag,
and related hardware are all part of
the airbag module.
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