2006 Pontiac Vibe Owner's Manual - Page 62
2006 Pontiac Vibe Manual
Page 62 highlights
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). The 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. Your vehicle has sensors which detect side impacts. These sensors signal the appropriate side airbag to inflate. A side impact airbag is intended to deploy on the side of the vehicle that is struck. It is possible that, in a crash involving the front of your vehicle, only one of the two frontal airbags in your vehicle will deploy. This is rare, but it can happen in a crash just severe enough to make a frontal airbag inflate. 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 in frontal and near-frontal impacts. For side impact airbags, inflation is determined by the location and severity of the impact. • 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 for the driver and right front passenger may also deploy if a serious impact occurs to the underside of your vehicle such as hitting a curb, falling into a deep hole, or landing hard. The frontal airbags (driver and right front passenger) are not intended to inflate during vehicle rollovers, rear impacts, or in many side impacts. 1-56