What Makes An Airbag; Inflate - Buick 2013 Encore Owner's Manual

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.
Knee airbags 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 has
seat-mounted side impact airbags
for the second row outboard
passengers. The vehicle has
roof-rail airbags. See Airbag System
on page 3-23. Seat-mounted side
impact airbags 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
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.
Roof-rail airbags are not intended to
inflate in rear impacts.
A seat-mounted side impact airbag
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
Seats and Restraints
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.
For airbag locations, see Where Are
the Airbags? on page 3-25.
3-27