Is it serious when the airbag deploys?
3 Answers
It is serious when the airbag deploys, as the airbag is already damaged and must be replaced. Here is an introduction to airbags: 1. Main components: The airbag mainly consists of an airbag sensor, an anti-collision airbag, and an electronic control device. The driver-side anti-collision airbag is installed in the steering wheel, while the passenger-side anti-collision airbag is usually installed on the dashboard. The airbag sensors are installed on the left, right, and middle partitions of the driver's compartment; the middle airbag sensor and the airbag system are installed together with the electronic control device. 2. Function: The airbag evenly distributes the impact force on the head and chest, preventing fragile passengers from directly colliding with the car body and significantly reducing the possibility of injury. Airbags are indeed effective in protecting passengers during frontal collisions.
I've been running this auto repair shop for over 20 years and seen too many wrecked cars. When airbags deploy, it's never a minor incident. They only activate when hitting a fixed solid object at speeds above 30 km/h or during sufficiently severe frontal collisions. Think about it - the explosive force can shatter windshields, blast the steering wheel cover off, and even deform the steering wheel itself. Last month I repaired an Audi involved in a rear-end collision - three airbags deployed and the owner ended up with cracked ribs. The repair process is complicated too - requires replacing the entire system with parts alone costing 7-8 thousand yuan, plus reinstalling the ECU and recalibrating sensors. Most crucially, such cars lose half their resale value afterwards - who'd dare buy a vehicle with deployed airbags?
My kid just got his driver's license and rear-ended someone. The airbag deployed with a bang and swelled up his face. This was no joke—even though he was only going about 40 mph, the entire dashboard got deformed. The hospital check-up cost over 3,000 yuan, and the car repairs were even crazier. Replacing the airbag, front bumper, and headlight assembly set us back 28,000 yuan at the dealership. The insurance adjuster took one look and declared it a major accident vehicle, meaning next year's premium will jump by 50%. To make things worse, the seatbelt pretensioner also locked up and was even more troublesome to replace than the airbag. Now I remind him every day to drive slower—this was definitely an expensive lesson.
