Pontiac 2007 Torrent - Manual (Page 79)

Frontal airbags may inflate at different crash
speeds. For example:
• If the vehicle hits a stationary object, the
airbags could inflate at a different crash speed
than if the vehicle hits a moving object.
• If the vehicle hits an object that deforms, the
airbags could inflate at a different crash
speed than if the vehicle hits an object that
does not deform.
• If the vehicle hits a narrow object (like a pole),
the airbags could inflate at a different crash
speed than if the vehicle hits a wide object
(like a wall).
• If the vehicle goes into an object at an angle,
the airbags could inflate at a different crash
speed than if the vehicle goes straight into the
object.
Frontal airbags (driver and right front passenger)
are not intended to inflate during vehicle
rollovers, rear impacts, or in many side impacts.
Your vehicle may or may not have roof-mounted
airbags and a rollover sensor. See Airbag
System on page 72. These “rollover capable”
airbags are intended to inflate in moderate
to severe side crashes or during a rollover. A
roof-mounted side impact airbag will inflate if the
crash severity is above the system’s designed
“threshold level.” The threshold level can vary with
specific vehicle design. Roof-mounted side
impact airbags are not intended to inflate in rear
impacts. Both roof-mounted rollover airbags
will deploy when either side of the vehicle is struck
or during a rollover.
In any particular crash, no one can say whether
an airbag should have inflated simply because
of the damage to a vehicle or because of what the
repair costs were. For frontal airbags, inflation is
determined by what the vehicle hits, the angle
of the impact, and how quickly the vehicle slows
down. For roof-mounted side impact airbags,
inflation is determined by the location and severity
of the impact.
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