Why didn't My Airbag Go Off in a Collision?

There are certain types of accidents in which the airbag would not be expected to provide additional protection. These include rear impacts, second or third collisions in multiple impact accidents, as well as low speed impacts. Damage to the vehicle indicates collision energy absorption, and is not an indicator of whether or not an airbag should have inflated.

Airbag collision sensors

To reduce the risk of an airbag deploying unexpectedly and causing serious injury or death:

Do not hit or allow any objects to impact the locations where airbags or sensors are installed.
Do not perform maintenance on or around the airbag sensors. If the location or angle of the sensors is altered, the airbags may deploy when they should not or may not deploy when they should.
Installing bumper guards with non-genuine Hyundai parts may adversely affect the collision and airbag deployment performance.

To ensure correct function of the airbag system, have the bumper replaced with genuine Hyundai part specified for your vehicle.
Press the Start/Stop button to the OFF or ACC position and wait for 3 minutes when the vehicle is being towed to prevent inadvertent airbag deployment.
Have all airbag repairs conducted by an authorized HYUNDAI dealer.

SRS control module/Rollover sensor
Front impact sensor
Side impact sensor (Pressure)
Side impact sensor (Acceleration)

Airbag inflation conditions

Front airbags

Front airbags are designed to inflate in a frontal collision depending on the severity of impact of the front collision.

Side and curtain airbags

Side and curtain airbags are designed to inflate when an impact is detected by side collision sensors depending on the severity of impact resulting from a side collision.

Although the driver's and front passenger's airbags are designed to inflate in frontal collisions, they also may inflate in other types of collisions if the front impact sensors detect a sufficient impact. Side and curtain airbags are designed to inflate in side impact collisions, but they may inflate in other collisions if the side impact sensors detect a sufficient impact.

Also, the side and curtain airbags are designed to inflate when a rollover is detected by a rollover sensor.

If the vehicle chassis is impacted by bumps or objects on unimproved roads, the airbags may deploy. Drive carefully on unimproved roads or on surfaces not designed for vehicle traffic to prevent unintended airbag deployment.

Airbag non-inflation conditions

In certain low-speed collisions the airbags may not deploy. The airbags are designed not to deploy in such cases because they may not provide benefits beyond the protection of the seat belts.

Front airbags are not designed to inflate in rear collisions, because occupants are moved backward by the force of the impact. In this case, inflated airbags would not provide any additional benefit.

Front airbags may not inflate in side impact collisions, because occupants move in the direction of the collision, and thus in side impacts, front airbag deployment would not provide additional occupant protection.

However, side and curtain airbags may inflate depending on the severity of impact.

In an angled collision, the force of impact may direct the occupants in a direction where the airbags would not be able to provide any additional benefit, and thus the sensors may not deploy any airbags.

Just before impact, drivers often brake heavily. Such heavy braking lowers the front portion of the vehicle causing it to "ride" under a vehicle with a higher ground clearance. Airbags may not inflate in this "underride" situation because deceleration forces that are detected by sensors may be significantly reduced by such "underride" collisions.

Front airbags may not inflate in rollover accidents because front airbag deployment would not provide additional occupant protection.

The side and curtain airbags may inflate in a rollover situation, when it is detected by the rollover sensor.

Airbags may not inflate if the vehicle collides with objects such as utility poles or trees, where the point of impact is concentrated and the collision energy is absorbed by the vehicle structure.