"Smart" Airbags Not Passing the Test of Time
The first generation of airbags were far from perfect. Most will remember the media coverage regarding death, decapitations, and serious injuries caused by the force of these airbags. Due to the potential for serious injury or death caused by these airbags, a second generation “smart” airbag was introduced. A recent Washington Times article explains:The occupant detection system of the front passenger seat is designed to signal the airbag whether to deploy, when to deploy, and in some systems with how much force to deploy based on the weight of the passenger.Some systems use sensors on a mat in the seat bottom to determine weight; others use bladders filled with gel. In the simplest terms, the system tells the airbag controller not to deploy in a crash when the front-seat passenger weighs less than 105 pounds.
These occupant detection systems and “smart” or “advanced” airbags were first phased in with 2004 model-year vehicles and were installed in all passenger vehicles by the 2007 model year. They replaced the first-generation airbags, which were designed to protect an unbelted, 165-pound man and deployed at a single level with a force powerful enough to kill or injure small adults or children seated in the front passenger seat.
Now, it appears, that some of these “smart” airbags are not fulfilling expectations. The explanation for the failures is still uncertain. The above-cited article opines, “Temperature extremes can change the way gel flows; a leather seat can read weight differently when it’s hot than when it’s cold; and over time, foam in the seat can break down or shift. That means things can go wrong.” Regardless of the reason, there have been reports of airbags not deploying when they should or deploying when they should not. There have also been lawsuits arising out of this defect. The longer this technology is on the road, the more the above-referenced hypotheses will be tested.
