Chevrolet Impala 2007 Owner's Manual page 74

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 16 mph (19 to 26 km/h), and the threshold
level for a full deployment is about 18 to 22 mph
(29 to 35.4 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.
•
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.
74
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 side impact
airbags. See Airbag System on page 68.
Side impact airbags are intended 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 intended to
inflate in frontal or near-frontal impacts, rollovers,
or rear impacts. Both side impact airbags will
deploy when either side 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 in frontal or near-frontal impacts.
For side impact airbags, inflation is determined
by the location and severity of the impact.