re: Toyota Fortuner crashes, Air bags did not deploy *EDIT* Another similar case Pg.7 Well, reviving this so called Dormant thread which was expected (IMO) to be more active w.r.t. customer safety from worlds largest car manufacturer who is considered to be a benchmark in providing the most reliable vehicle worldwide. Quote:
Originally Posted by vnabhi While on this topic, a friend's Sonata went over a road divider when the car swerved to avoid an 800 that swayed onto its trajectory. The Sonata's front right wheel hit the divider at high speed (around 60 kmph), causing the entire car to go over the divider and stop on the opposite side. Fortunately it was past midnight, so there was no traffic on the opposite side. Despite the angular hit, both airbags deployed. The only visible damage was a completely shattered front right wheel and a small crack on the windscreen. The engine guard saved the engine, though we came to know later that the shafts took a hit also.
What complicates the matter was that the driver was not wearing a seat belt. He did not have any injuries at all. But in the repairs that cost 3.5 lakhs (2 lakhs on airbags alone) |
Good point, not wearing seat belt. Quote:
Originally Posted by sgiitk Looking at the pictures I would only expect airbags to deploy if they are on the sides. Does the Fortuner have side bags? |
+1. Sir, the post you quoted had the front airbags deployed, though it's clear from the picture that the car didn't take any visible front bumper impact, which raises more Qs about this whole airbag deployment process. Quote:
Originally Posted by vikram_d You are forgetting the biggest parameter of them all 'rate of deceleration'. If the rate of deceleration is beyond a certain limit the airbags will deploy even if there is no full frontal impact. |
This raises more doubt about this whole process, this one seems more logical (again I’m no expert) but even if we consider this logic, none of us are sure why the airbag didn't deploy in this particular case. Quote:
Originally Posted by raj_5004 First we install illegal, unsafe & aftermarket accessories like bull bars, which by the way is not recommended on a car with airbags, and then we talk about safety & flame the company???
Who knows, as bblost said, the bull bars maybe the reason that the airbags dint deploy. |
Exactly, who knows ! as we can see, there are other post with pics (#61) and different other scenarios from other BHPIans (rate of deceleration, not wearing seatbelt etc) we (TBHPians) doesn't know for sure, when and why the airbags will deploy. I am sure none of us here would like to leave safety of us in an unfortunate incident like this to "Bhagwan Bharose" (English : God's will) Quote:
Originally Posted by Vid6639 Exactly!!
You have put a local aftermarket bull bar on your Fortuner. There is no way the airbags sensor will get activated even in head on impact with that bull bar.
As mentioned by everyone Fortuner only has front airbags which in a rollover are not supposed to deploy. |
From an average Indian car buyer perspective, aftermarket bull bar is understandable (to be one of the reason of airbags not deploying) but as per different experiences shared by other experienced BHPians in this thread, we are assuming things here and we don't know for sure why the airbags didn't deploy in this case ('rate of deceleration', #61, not wearing seatbelt ...)
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It’ll be good if anybody experienced and technically competent in this specific area can clearly explain the reason of airbag not deploying in this case and also suggest avoiding things to do in a car which might interfere with the safety features. I am sure current owner ( any manufacturer ) and future owners will take note of this. Thanks in advance.
Last edited by AvonA7 : 8th January 2012 at 23:01.
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