Kia Soul: How does the air bag system operate - Air bag - advanced supplemental restraint system - Safety features of your vehicleKia Soul: How does the air bag system operate

Kia Soul 2009-2013 AM Owner's Manual / Safety features of your vehicle / Air bag - advanced supplemental restraint system / How does the air bag system operate

  • Air bag are activated (able to inflate if necessary) only when the ignition switch is turned to the ON or START the appropriate position.
  • Air bags inflate in the event of a serious frontal collision or side collision (if equipped with side impact air bag or curtain air bag) in order to help protect the occupants from serious physical injury.
  • There is no single speed at which the air bags will inflate. Generally, air bags are designed to inflate by the severity of a collision and its direction. These two factors determine whether the sensors send out an electronic deployment/ inflation signal.
  • Air bag deployment depends on a number of factors including vehicle speed, angles of impact and the density and stiffness of the vehicles or objects which your vehicle hits in the collision. Though, factors are not limited to those mentioned above.
  • The front air bags will completely inflate and deflate in an instant. It is virtually impossible for you to see the air bags inflate during an accident. It is much more likely that you will simply see the deflated air bags hanging out of their storage compartments after the collision.
  • In order to help provide protection in a severe collision, the air bags must inflate rapidly. The speed of air bag inflation is a consequence of the extremely short time in which a collision occurs and the need to get the air bag between the occupant and the vehicle structures before the occupant impacts those structures. This speed of inflation reduces the risk of serious or life-threatening injuries in a severe collision and is thus a necessary part of air bag design. However, air bag inflation can also cause injuries which normally can include facial abrasions, bruises and broken bones, and sometimes more severe injuries because the inflation speed also causes the air bags to expand with a great deal of force.
  • There are even circumstances under which contact with the air bag can cause fatal injuries, especially if the occupant is positioned excessively close to the air bag.

WARNING - Airbag inflation

Sit as far back as possible from the steering wheel while still maintaining comfortable control of your vehicle. A distance of at least 10" from your chest to the steering wheel is recommended. Failure to do so can result in airbag inflation injuries to the driver.

Air bag - advanced supplemental restraint system
* The actual air bags in the vehicle may differ from the illustration. (1) Driver’s front air bag (2) Passenger’s front air bag (3) Side impact air bag (4) Curtain air bag Even in vehicles ...

Noise and smoke
When the air bags inflate, they make a loud noise and they leave smoke and powder in the air inside of the vehicle. This is normal and is a result of the ignition of the air bag inflator. After th ...

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