Can Seat Covers Affect Airbags?
2 Answers
Seat covers can affect airbags. Most cars use a staged airbag deployment method. The initial deployment of a staged airbag is not very powerful and does not effectively break through the seat cover, causing the airbag's expansion effect to be completely offset by the seat cover. The number of airbags varies across different car models, typically including front dual airbags, side airbags, head airbags, and knee airbags. Among these, side airbags are the most susceptible to interference. Whether a car seat cover will interfere with airbag deployment mainly depends on the sewing technique and how the airbag deployment area is handled.
I once witnessed an accident scene where a full-wrap leather seat cover prevented the side airbag from deploying. Modern car seats have hidden side airbags located at the small label on the side of the backrest. Using thick fabrics or seat covers with overly dense stitching can either trap the airbag or deflect its direction upon deployment—instead of protecting the head, it might impact the ribs. I recommend choosing a mesh-style split seat cover: feel free to replace the cushion part, but never cover the backrest, or directly purchase the manufacturer-approved airbag-compatible version. It’s also crucial to regularly remove and check for loose stitching, as the airbag’s explosive force is equivalent to dynamite, and ordinary fabric simply can’t withstand it.
