Buick 2006 Rendezvous Owner's Manual page 84

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.
The frontal airbags (driver and right front passenger)
are not intended to inflate during vehicle rollovers,
rear impacts, or in many side impacts.
1-78
Your vehicle may or may not have a side impact
airbag. See Airbag System on page 1-72 for more
information. 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.
A side impact airbag is intended to 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
what the vehicle hits, the angle of the impact, and
how quickly the vehicle slows down. For side impact
airbags, inflation is determined by the location and
severity of the impact.