Why Didn't My Airbags Deploy? (7 Reasons Why) (2024)

FAQs

What causes airbags not to deploy? ›

Defects in the sensors that detect a collision prevent the airbag from deploying. This might result from a design defect, poor calibration, or improper installation.

Yes, you can sue if your airbags did not deploy during an accident. However, there might be multiple parties you can sue in such a situation, which is why you should consult an attorney to learn more about your legal options. While airbags should deploy when accidents occur, there are times when they might not.

There's no average settlement when airbags fail to deploy. This depends on several factors. Multiple parties can be at-fault for the defective airbag. A lawyer can help you establish who's the at-fault driver when an accident occurs and help you get a fair amount of damages.

For unbelted occupants, a front airbag will typically deploy when the crash is the equivalent of an impact into a rigid wall at 10-12 mph. For belted occupants, most airbags will deploy at a higher threshold — about 16 mph — because the belts alone are likely to provide adequate protection up to these moderate speeds.

Even if all of the airbags in your vehicle go off, that could not be enough damage to total your car. If you are unsure whether your car will be totaled, be sure to discuss the vehicle damages with your attorney and auto repair shop to make the best decision in your case.

The sensors used to deploy the airbags include accelerometers. An accelerometer detects acceleration and deceleration. When the sensor decelerates rapidly, a mechanical contact in the sensor closes a circuit. The circuit energizes the inflator, causing the airbag to deploy.

For unbelted occupants, the airbag has a low-speed deployment, usually at speeds of around 10-12 miles per hour. For belted occupants, airbags deploy at speeds of 15-17 miles per hour. In both situations, the airbag is designed to deploy when the vehicle hits the equivalent of a rigid wall.

Full Coverage Auto Insurance Will Replace Airbags

Once an air bag is deployed, it must be replaced. There is no way to reuse or reset a deployed air bag. Your auto insurance will cover replacing your air bags if your vehicle is not considered totaled.

The good news: Starting in the mid-to-late 1990s, vehicle airbags began getting lifetime ratings. In other words, they are expected to last the entire lifetime of a vehicle without any problems.

If your airbags didn't deploy in an accident, you and your passengers can experience severe and even life-threatening injuries. In some cases, you might have a claim against the airbag manufacturer. However, more often than not, you will need to seek compensation from the driver who caused the car crash.

How much is the airbag settlement? ›

A $605 million settlement has been proposed with Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Honda North America, Inc., American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Honda R&D Co., Ltd., Honda R&D Americas, Inc., Honda Engineering North America, Inc., Honda of America Mfg., Inc., and any and all other Honda affiliates (collectively, “Honda”).

On average, one can expect to pay anywhere from $200-$800 per airbag module/assembly. However, this price only covers the cost of parts and excludes any labor. Installation alone will easily cost another $150-$300 per airbag.

Car manufacturers typically design airbags to protect an adult who's at least 5 feet tall and roughly 150 pounds.

To cause inflation, the closing of the arming sensor is required to provide the power-side voltage to the inflator module. In other words, two sensors must be triggered at the same time before the airbag will be deployed.

It all comes down to cost and the value of your vehicle. If your vehicle has deployed airbags and a lot of damage, the overall cost of repairs to get it back on the road may exceed that total loss threshold that we talked about earlier, meaning it's deemed totaled.

Airbags are not supposed to deploy if seat belts are not being worn. This is because they can cause serious injury or even prove fatal in such deployments. This is not a failsafe mechanism though. Sometimes people bypass the system by using plugs for their seat belts to switch off the alarm.

The chemical at the heart of the air bag reaction is called sodium azide, or NaN₃. CRASHES trip sensors in cars that send an electric signal to an ignitor. The heat generated causes sodium azide to decompose into sodium metal and nitrogen gas, which inflates the car's air bags.

Your car is equipped with a sensor that detects impact. Airbags will not inflate if you simply slam on your brakes; there has to be an impact (like hitting another car, or a pole). If the impact is small or at a low speed, your airbags will not deploy.

Airbags usually deploy if a collision happens when you are traveling at more than 20 miles per hour.

Airbags are not supposed to deploy in every accident. Even a properly working airbag will only deploy during certain types of accidents—such as a head-on collision—where the vehicle is traveling above a certain speed.

Can an airbag go off without power? ›

Those mechanical airbag systems are less common now because they're not precise enough. In today's vehicles, if the car has been turned off for a while, the airbags won't deploy if it gets hit; however, if the car is stationary but the engine is running, then the airbags will go off if the car gets hit, Beischel said.

Many automakers such as Mercedes-Benz placed airbag replacement labels on all vehicles sold in the U.S. through 2002. Those labels called for airbags to be replaced after 15 years. But after much research, automakers have concluded that airbags produced after 1992 will last the lifetime of the vehicle.

Replace any deployed airbag and all accompanying fasteners. If the driver's front airbag has deployed, replace the steering wheel assembly. If a side (seat mounted) airbag has deployed, replace the 1st row seat assembly that contains the deployed airbag.

Explanation Most vehicles are equipped with airbags that inflate upon frontal impact. Airbags provide extra protection when the front of a vehicle collides with another object. You must also use your safety belts to receive full protection.

The light coming on tells you that there's a problem with your car's airbag system. The first and most important thing to remember if your airbag warning light comes on is that, should you be involved in an accident, your airbags will not deploy.

As previously mentioned, it depends on your car's value and your state's laws regarding how much the cost of repair must exceed it in order to be considered a total loss. Every state uses a percentage-based formula. Some use 70% of the value of the car, while others use 100%.

The average cost for an Air Bag Crash Sensor Replacement is between $367 and $384. Labor costs are estimated between $65 and $82 while parts are priced between $301 and $301.

However, most airbags are programmed to deploy at different speeds depending on whether the occupants are belted or unbelted. For unbelted occupants, the airbag has a low-speed deployment, usually at speeds of around 10-12 miles per hour. For belted occupants, airbags deploy at speeds of 15-17 miles per hour.

Even if the airbag didn't deploy, the crash sensors may have activated. Crash sensors are, as their name indicates, sensitive, and they'll need to be reset if they're tripped.

If you believe that your airbag did not deploy properly during an accident, you may have cause to file a claim against the manufacturer of the airbag. This is just one of the many steps you may need to do after a car accident.

Is a car fixable after airbags deploy? ›

There's a common misconception that airbag deployment means a car is considered a total loss. While it can signify the result of a violent impact, it does not mean that your vehicle cannot be repaired.

The azide-containing pyrotechnic gas generators contain a substantial amount of the propellant. The driver-side airbag would contain a canister containing about 50 grams of sodium azide. The passenger side container holds about 200 grams of sodium azide.

Because airbags are more flexible than traditional suspension systems, they can absorb bumps and vibrations more effectively, reducing the impact on your vehicle and improving overall ride quality. This can be especially beneficial for people who frequently drive on rough roads or long distances.

If your airbags didn't deploy in an accident, you and your passengers can experience severe and even life-threatening injuries. In some cases, you might have a claim against the airbag manufacturer. However, more often than not, you will need to seek compensation from the driver who caused the car crash.

The insurance claims adjuster will automatically consider the collision to be a significant crash if your airbags deployed because it usually takes a substantial impact to set off airbags. In other words, the insurer knows that they are not dealing with a low-speed, low-impact “fender-bender.”

Typically, insurance will cover airbag replacement if: Your car isn't totaled. You're not at fault for the accident. You have collision insurance, which pays for collision damage regardless of who's at fault.

Some use 70% of the value of the car, while others use 100%. Most totaled cars after an accident have had their airbags deployed. But it's never the airbags that cause a car to be totaled; it's the accident. Your insurance provider is the one who estimates how much the repairs will be and makes the final call.

On average, it can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000 to replace an airbag. But oftentimes it's much more expensive. If the accident is quite bad, the average cost goes up to about $3,000 to $5,000.

It all comes down to cost and the value of your vehicle. If your vehicle has deployed airbags and a lot of damage, the overall cost of repairs to get it back on the road may exceed that total loss threshold that we talked about earlier, meaning it's deemed totaled.