2010 Dodge Nitro Owner Manual - Page 69

68 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE Driver and Passenger Advanced Front Airbag Inflator Units The Driver and Passenger Advanced Front Airbag Inflator Units are located in the center of the steering wheel and the right side of the instrument panel. When the ORC detects a collision requiring the Advanced Front Airbags, it signals the inflator units. A large quantity of non-toxic gas is generated to inflate the Advanced Front Airbags. Different airbag inflation rates are possible based on collision severity and type. The steering wheel hub trim cover and the upper right side of the instrument panel separate and fold out of the way as the airbags inflate to their full size. The airbags fully inflate in about 50 to 70 milliseconds. This is about half of the time it takes to blink your eyes. The airbags then quickly deflate while helping to restrain the driver and front passenger. The Advanced Front Airbag gas is vented through the vent holes in the sides of the airbag. In this way, the airbags do not interfere with your control of the vehicle. Along with seat belts and pretensioners, Advanced Front Airbags work with the knee bolsters to provide improved protection for the driver and front passenger. Side airbags also work with seat belts to improve occupant protection. Supplemental Side Airbag Inflatable Curtains (SABIC) The Supplemental Side Airbag Inflatable Curtains (SABIC) may deploy during rollovers and collisions where the impact is confined to a particular area of the side of the vehicle, depending on the severity and type of collision. In these events, the ORC will deploy the SABIC only on the impact side of the vehicle. Because airbag sensors estimate deceleration over time, vehicle speed and damage by themselves are not good indicators of whether or not an airbag should have deployed.