1997 Chevrolet Malibu Owner's Manual - Page 33

When should an airbag inflate? An air bag is designed to inflate a moderate to severe in frontal or near-frontal crash. The air bag inflate will only if the impact speed is above the system's designed "threshold level." If your vehicle goes straight into a wall that doesn't move deform, the threshold or level is about 9 to 16 mph (14 to 26 km/h). The threshold level can vary, however, with speci€ic vehicle design,so that it can be somewhat above below this range. If your or vehicle strikes something that will move deform, such or as a parked car, the threshold level will be higher. The air bag is not designed inflate in rollovers, side to impacts or rear impacts, because inflation would not help the occupant. In any particular crash, no one can say whether an air bag should have inflated simply because the damage of to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs were. Inflation is determined by the angle the impact and of how quickly the vehicle slows down in frontal or near-frontal impacts. If something is between occupant and an air an bag, the bag might not inflate properly or it might forcethe object into that person. Thepath of an inflating air bag must be kept clear, Don't put anything between occupant and anair an bag, and don't attach or put anything on the steering wheel hub or on or near any other air bag covering. 1-24