Can seat covers be installed with side airbags?
1 Answers
It is not recommended to use seat covers on seats equipped with side airbags to avoid potential safety hazards. The side airbags in the seats are designed to deploy promptly when the vehicle is subjected to a side impact, protecting the upper body of the passengers. Here is additional information: 1. Airbag deployment process: Generally, seat airbags are divided into head-thorax airbags and thorax-abdomen airbags. If the vehicle is not equipped with side curtain airbags, most seat airbags are head-thorax airbags, which protect the head and chest from the side when deployed. The seat airbag takes only 30 milliseconds from receiving the ignition signal to fully deploying, and it must follow a very precise path. This is followed by a deflation process. Only with such speed and process can the airbag effectively protect passengers during a collision without causing secondary injuries. 2. Function of side airbags: Front side airbags are usually installed on the outer side of the front seats to mitigate injuries caused by side impacts, isolating the torso from direct collision with the door panel, thereby effectively protecting the safety of front passengers. Side airbags are typically wrapped in the original seat fabric or leather, but these materials are designed with pre-cut spaces to allow the airbag to expand and deploy. However, aftermarket or replacement seat materials might obstruct the airbag's function. Therefore, it is not advisable to replace seat materials arbitrarily. Even if seat covers are used, semi-enclosed types should be chosen.
