2003 Subaru Impreza Owner's Manual - Page 95

Seat, seatbelt and SRS airbags sult of the deployment. This smoke does not indicate a fire in the vehicle. n When will the SRS side airbag most likely deploy? CAUTION Do not touch the SRS side airbag system components around the front seatback with bare hands right after deployment. Doing so can cause burns because the components can be very hot as a result of deployment. The SRS side airbag is designed to deploy in the event of an accident involving a moderate to severe side impact collision. It is basically not designed to deploy in lesser side impact. Also, it is basically not designed to deploy in frontal or rear impacts because SRS side airbag deployment would not help the occupant in those situations. Each SRS side airbag is designed to function on a one-time-only basis. SRS side airbag deployment depends on the level of force experienced in the passenger compartment during a side impact collision. That level differs from one type of collision to another, and it may have no bearing on the visible damage done to the vehicle itself. A severe side impact near the front seat activates the SRS side airbag. 1-60