What Happens if an Air Bag Is Underinflated?

Air bags are lifesavers, there’s no doubt about it. Unfortunately, they’re not always perfect and may sometimes deploy a little too late or too early. If the air bag light is on while the vehicle is running, the air bag system is disabled, which means this safety feature won’t work until the problem is fixed. Sometimes, the air bags may also be underinflated.

What Happens if an Air Bag Is Underinflated?

A fully functioning air bag is designed to prevent or at least reduce the severity of head and neck injuries in the event of a crash. If an air bag doesn’t inflate completely, it won’t be able to provide enough cushion, leaving the driver or passenger without as much protection as they need.

Other Common Air Bag Issues

Of course, an underinflated air bag isn’t the only thing you should be wary of. Here are some examples of other common air bag defects:

Air Bag Fails to Deploy

Is there anything worse than an underinflated air bag? Perhaps an air bag that fails to deploy at all or at the right time. Unfortunately, some air bags can fail to deploy even after the vehicle crashes, leaving the driver and passenger without a safety cushion.

Sometimes, the air bag might deploy after the crash, inflicting even more pain on the victims.

Air Bag Overinflates

An overinflated air bag sounds about as bad as an underinflated air bag. This time, however, the air bag deploys with too much force.

Instead of protecting the driver and passenger’s head and neck from the crash, overinflated air bags can cause traumatic brain injuries, neck injuries, and even spinal cord injuries.

Exploding Air Bags

Contrary to popular belief, air bags aren’t just filled with air. They’re actually filled with a mix of air and chemicals that help them inflate as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, there have been some issues with some air bags going off even without the vehicle getting in a crash.

From 2014 to 2017, several automakers recalled vehicles equipped with Takata air bags that were prone to exploding because they lacked a proper drying agent. The air bags deployed and sent shrapnel flying towards the drivers and passengers, causing around 180 victims to suffer injuries and 11 deaths.

Malfunctioning Sensor

An air bag will only deploy if its sensor detects the correct speed, braking, and impact. In other words, an air bag is really only as good as its sensor. If the air bag sensor malfunctions, then there’s a good chance that the air bag won’t work either.

Sometimes, if the air bags don’t deploy, it could be because of how the vehicle is impacted. Impact sensors are designed to detect impact in certain directions, so it’s possible to have a collision and be at just the right angle where the air bag sensor did not detect the crash properly.

It is possible to have a collision and be at just the right angle where the air bag sensor did not detect the crash properly.

–Anthony Harlin, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician

Seat Positioning

Did you know your seat’s position can affect your air bag’s deployment? Air bags work best when you’re sitting upright with your feet on the floor and just the right distance between you and the steering wheel.

If your seat’s a little too far, then there’s a big chance your air bag won’t be as effective in protecting you.

On-off Switches

Air bags should deploy automatically, but they can be turned off if an on-off switch is installed. However, an authorization letter from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) needs to be presented before one can be installed.

Without a letter from the NHTSA or other government agencies authorizing this, the air bags cannot be tampered with, and no off switches installed by anyone. It is against the law.

The NHTSA typically only allows this under specific circumstances, such as for drivers with medical conditions and those who can’t position themselves at least 10 inches away from the air bag cover.

Sometimes, these on-off switches might malfunction, causing severe injuries to the driver and passenger. Single-seat pickup trucks also have an off switch for the passenger air bag. This is only to be used if there’s a car seat or a small child is in the seat.

Previous Deployment

Here’s a fun little fact most people don’t know: air bags aren’t reusable. They’re pretty much only good for one use, so once they deploy, they need to be replaced. In a lot of vehicles, the air bag module has to be replaced if there was air bag deployment as well. Unfortunately, some sellers reuse deployed air bags just to save on costs.

Air bags can tear upon deployment, and they might fail to release properly a second time. For your own safety, let your wallet take the hit for a fresh new air bag.

Common Air Bag Injuries

Air bags are meant to be faster than whatever’s crashing against the vehicle, so they typically deploy at around 200 miles per hour. This impressive speed also means air bags make forceful contact with the human body, resulting in a few injuries here and there. Here are some examples of common air bag injuries:

• Facial injuries
• Chest injuries
• Neck and back injuries
• Internal bleeding
• Air bag burns

Air bag burns can range from minor to severe chemical burns due to the chemicals inside the bag that can explode after being exposed to an electrical charge. Friction burns are also common, especially with how air bags deploy in less than a second.

Injury Claims From Underinflated Air Bags

It never hurts to be more prepared, which is why it’s a good idea to know what to do just in case you find yourself in an accident with an underinflated air bag. So, what exactly can you do if your vehicle’s air bag doesn’t deploy properly?

Well, you may be entitled to some form of compensation. You can file a claim of liability against the manufacturer of the vehicle or air bag. Just contact your lawyer, and they should assist you every step of the way.

They’ll most likely ask you to preserve the air bag and vehicle, so be sure not to tamper with anything before you get an expert to inspect them.

How Do Air Bags Work?

It’s amazing how air bags can go from being perfectly folded in your steering wheel or dashboard into a blown-up balloon in less than a second. This entire process pretty much relies on three key parts:

Bag

An air bag is typically made of thin, nylon fabric that can be folded seamlessly into the steering wheel or dashboard of a vehicle. Nowadays, however, you can also find air bags tucked into a vehicle’s seat or door.

Sensor

What happens after a vehicle collides with an object at 10 to 15 miles per hour? The air bag’s sensor is triggered, and it sends a signal to the air bag’s inflation system that it’s go time.

Inflation System

Most air bags contain a chemical called sodium azide, which reacts with potassium nitrate to produce nitrogen gas. This sudden blast of hot gas inflates the air bag, causing it to deploy.