Air Bag System Construction

To supplement protection offered by seat belts, the air bag system includes the following air bags: front air bags for driver and passenger seats, side-air bags for driver and passenger seats (8, 9 or 11-channel air bag system), knee air bag for driver seat (9 or 11-channel air bag system), and driver-side and passenger-side curtain air bags (8, 9 or 11-channel air bag system).

In addition to these air bags, the system also includes front seat belt pretensioners and rear seat belt pretensioners (11-channel air bag system) for driver and passenger.

In the event of a frontal collision with an impact larger than the preset level, the front air bag (inflator) modules (stowed in the center of the steering wheel for the driver seat and under the top of instrument panel for passenger seat) and knee air bag (inflator) module (9 or 11-channel air bag system) are deployed. In the event of a sideward impact exceeding the preset level, the driver-side and passenger-side side-air bag inflator modules (8, 9 or 11-channel air bag system) as well as the curtain air bag inflator module (stowed in each side of roof) (8, 9 or 11-channel air bag system) on the impact side are deployed.

The front seat belt pretensioners and rear seat belt pretensioners (11-channel air bag system) are activated whenever a frontal or sideward impact exceeding the preset level is detected to take up the sag in the seat belts.

The air bag system may be equipped with the passenger air bag deactivation switch. When this switch is set to “OFF” position, the front air bag for passenger seat is deactivated. This function is useful for mounting a child restraint on the passenger seat.

The air bag system is designed to activate only in severe frontal and sideward collisions. It is not designed to activate in rear impacts, rollovers, or minor frontal and sideward collisions; it would offer no protection in these types of accidents.