Tesla MODEL Y 2022 - How Airbags Work; Types of Airbags

How Airbags Work
Airbags inflate when sensors detect an impact that exceeds deployment thresholds. These
thresholds are designed to predict the severity of a crash in time for the airbags to help protect
the vehicle's occupants. Airbags inflate instantly with considerable force accompanied by a loud
noise. The inflated bag, together with the seat belts, limits movement of occupants to reduce
the risk of injury.
Front airbags are not ordinarily designed to inflate in rear collisions, rollovers, side collisions and
when braking heavily or driving over bumps and potholes. Likewise, front airbags may not
inflate in all frontal collisions, such as minor front collisions, underride collisions, or minor
impacts with narrow objects (such as posts or poles). Significant superficial damage can occur
to the vehicle without the airbags inflating and, conversely, a relatively small amount of
structural damage can cause airbags to inflate. Therefore, the external appearance of the vehicle
after a collision does not represent whether or not the front airbags should have inflated.
WARNING: Before modifying your vehicle to accommodate a person with disabilities in a
way that may aect the airbag system, contact Tesla.
Types of Airbags
Model Y has the following types of airbags:
•
Front airbags: The front airbags are designed to reduce injuries if larger children or adults
are riding in the front seats. Follow all warnings and instructions related to seating a child on
the front passenger seat (if permitted in your market region).
•
Seat-mounted side airbags: A seat-mounted side airbag in the front seats helps protect the
pelvis and the thorax region of the torso. The seat-mounted side airbags on both the
impacted and non-impacted side of the vehicle will
inflate in the event of severe side impact
or severe oset frontal impact.
• Curtain airbags: Curtain airbags help protect the head. Curtain airbags on both the
impacted and non-impacted side of the vehicle will inflate only if a severe side impact
occurs, or if the vehicle rolls over.
Passenger Front Airbag Status
The status of the passenger front airbag displays in the top corner of the touchscreen:
Before driving with a child seat on the front passenger seat (if legally
permitted in your market region), always double-check the status of the
passenger front airbag to confirm that it is OFF. When the passenger front
airbag is OFF, it will not inflate when a collision occurs. This indicator also
displays when the seat is unoccupied.
Before driving with a child seat on the front passenger seat (if legally
permitted in your market region), always double-check the status of the
passenger front airbag to confirm that it is OFF. When the passenger front
airbag is OFF, it will not inflate when a collision occurs. This indicator also
displays when the seat is unoccupied.
Airbags
47Seating and Safety Restraints