Airbag Defects

Protecting Victims of Dangerous and Defective Airbags

Airbags are designed to save lives not cause devastating injuries. A properly functioning airbag should deploy at the right time and with the right amount of force. When an airbag fails to deploy properly, deploys unexpectedly, or explodes with excessive force, the results can be catastrophic.

Common Airbag Defects

Airbag systems are complex and must function perfectly in a split second. Some common airbag defects include:

1. Failure to Deploy

An airbag that does not deploy during a collision can leave occupants unprotected and exposed to harm that was to be minimized by the airbag. Even moderate speed accidents can become deadly without proper airbag protection as vehicle designers intend for all elements of an occupant protection system to work.

2. Unexpected Deployment

Airbags should deploy only during a collision. When airbags deploy without warning, drivers can lose control of their vehicles or sustain serious injuries from the unanticipated impact. Serious crashes can also occur if the driver is unable to regain control of the vehicle.

3. Excessive or Explosive Deployment

Some of the most dangerous defects involve airbags that explode with excessive force. The chemical propellants used to inflate the airbags can degrade over time and deploy with greater than intended force rupturing the metal inflator housings.

These cases have been linked to:

• Metal shrapnel being propelled into the cabin
• Severe lacerations and puncture wounds
• Fatal neck and chest injuries

These types of defects have led to some of the largest recalls in automotive history.

4. Sensor Malfunctions

Airbag systems rely on sensors to determine when to deploy. Defective sensors can cause delayed or even non-deployment of airbags in crashes where deployment was called for. Deployment in scenarios where an airbag was not needed and caused more harm than would have occurred but for the deployment.

5. Seatbelt & Airbag System Integration Failures

Airbags work as part of an occupant protection system, along with seatbelts, seatbacks, and the vehicle’s frame. If the system components are not properly synchronized airbags may deploy when the occupant is not in the intended position and injury severity can increase dramatically.

6. Chemical or Defective Inflators

Airbag inflators can degrade over time or react improperly, causing:

• Delayed deployment
• Overinflation or rupture
• Release of dangerous chemicals or gases