Vehicles are equipped with safety features that ensure that drivers and passengers are traveling safely on the road. However, there are some cases where these safety elements fail and put passengers at risk for injuries or, worse, death.
In the past decades since the birth of cars, two main features have been developed that focus on the protection and safety of passengers. Besides seat belts being a mandatory feature for car manufacturers, airbags are considered supplementary restraint systems that should be part of cars and light trucks.
But like any device, these technological advancements can still lead to complications and fail to work when needed. When this happens, airbag module reprogramming or repairs need to take place to guarantee the driver’s safety and their passengers.
How Do Airbags Work?
Airbags are designed to protect the driver and their passengers from severe and fatal injuries caused by a collision. These frontal airbags deploy when the vehicle experiences a frontal or near-frontal crash at 8 to 14 miles per hour or if you strike a vehicle at 16 to 28 miles per hour.
During the crash, the airbag system sends a signal to the module’s inflator, triggering a chemical reaction that produces nitrogen gas. The gas inflates the airbag in less than 1/20th of a second, providing a cushion to the driver and passenger during impact.
Reasons Your Airbag Failed to Deploy
The Crash Conditions
Airbags deploy when the vehicle and sensors meet certain requirements. These restraint systems trigger deployment for severe frontal crashes, ensuring the protection of the driver and passengers. Airbag deployment won’t be necessary for moderate collisions because a seatbelt will provide enough protection for the passengers and driver.
Broken Airbag System
Airbag systems found in vehicles are incredibly complex. This means that it requires numerous electrical triggers to occur before the airbag gets deployed. However, when one component malfunctions, the whole system gets affected, resulting in failed airbag deployment.
Some of the reasons airbags fail to deploy are that it has severed wiring or the sensors fail for no apparent reason. With that, even when your vehicle meats a severe frontal collision, chances are the airbag won’t deploy. In some cases, the module itself may be experiencing problems; that’s why thorough inspection and regular maintenance are a must.
Forgetting to Turn on Airbag System
One of the most common errors of an airbag system is that it doesn’t get triggered or turned on. Some airbag systems are designed to turn off if no one is assigned to a seat or if it detects a small child. Their reason behind this is that airbag deployment can severely injure a small child when it’s triggered.
Not Resetting the Airbag Module
After an accident where the airbag gets deployed, you must have an airbag module reset for your vehicle and replace the airbag with a new one. If you don’t do this, chances are, in an unfortunate collision, your airbag may fail to work.
The Bottom Line: Airbag Can Save You and Your Passengers Life; That’s Why It’s Important to Take Extra Precautions
Like any device, airbags can fail to work, and there are many reasons this could happen. With that being said, it’s essential to have your airbag module reset and replaced to ensure that you and your passengers are protected while you’re on the road.
How Can We Help You?
After a vehicular accident, there are a plethora of repairs that need to be done for your car. One of the most important is to ensure that you restore the safety of your vehicle — that’s where Safety Restore comes in.
We are the leading post-accident restorations company specializing in seat belt repairs and airbag module reset. Besides that, we also provide webbing replacements and instrument cluster repairs.
You can trust us with your safety — get in touch with us today!
