1998 Chevrolet Cavalier Owner's Manual - Page 44

When shouldan air inflate? bag An air bag is designed to inflate in a moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal crash. The air bag will inflate only if the impact speed is above the system's designed "threshold level." If your vehicle goes straight into a wall that doesn'tmove or deform, the threshold level is about 9 to 14 mph (14 to 23 km/h). The threshold level can vary, however, with specific vehicle design,so that it can be somewhat above or below this range. If your vehicle strikes something that will move or deform, such as a parked car, the threshold level will be higher. The air bag is not designed to inflate in rollovers, side 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 of the damage to a vehicle because of what the repair costs were. or Inflation is determined by the angleof the impact and 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. The path of an inflating air bag must be kept clear. Don't put anything between an occupant and an air bag, and don't attach or put anything on the steering wheel hub or or near any other air on bag covering. 1-26