jenl2881

I was just in a wreck today with my HHR (the poor baby!). A truck dropped glass on the highway and he apparently got into a collision with another truck and then drove off, with that truck in tow. I assume he must have passed in front of the car in front of me because she stopped suddenly and I plowed into her before I could stop all the way.

I was going about 65-70 mph and probably hit her going 55-65 mp. It dented my poor hood in pretty badly, the front bumper is bruised, and the radiator was leaking profusely.

I am just wondering if it was a faulty airbag or if anyone knows what the criteria are for a head on collision for deployment?

Krash Kadillak

Based on my 30+ years doing auto damage estimates, I would say no, you did not have an air bag malfunction. The nose of your HHR appears to have gone under the other vehicle (what was it?). Notice that your bumper doesn't appear to have that much damage. The structure above the bumper is mostly sheet metal, + the plastic - it bends a bit easier than the bumper reinforcement and the frame rails behind that.

To me this just looks like the collision wasn't severe enough to meet the parameters of the airbag sensors. If the bumper had taken the main force, they probably would have.....(IMO)

sleeper

Sorry to hear this..

The truck you rearended had to be moving also, cause that sure doesn't look like a 55-65 mph dead-hit.

silverbelle09

20-25 mph collision at the bumper to set them off the bumper doesnt look like it took that at all

1970judge

Sorry for your loss, I saw this wreck happen on the feeder road, I was at Cheddars.

Len McRiddle

We have a witness!

urbexHHR

Ouch! Be glad though they didn't go off (as long as no one inside the car was injured..) That's a hefty price tag you just shaved off by not needing to replace them! Heck, that could make the difference between being totaled or not...

ChevyMgr

Air bags deploy depending on input from the front sensor and how fast your momentum stopped. Doesn't look like it should have deployed to me.

Are you hurt? If your face didn't hit the wheel, theres your answer.

hyperv6

The impact also to me looks like it should not have gone off. It pretty much missed the bumper.

Usally the g force under deceleration has to hit a quick number to set it off. Believe me you don't want it to go off unless you need it.

When I got run off the road the frame it and it set mine off. If it had not gone off I would have walked away with out a scratch. Because it did I had burns on my face, arms and hands. I also had cuts to both hands and arms.

I know they can be a blessing but at time they can do even more damage. I am just glad todays bags are more progressive. The old ones were litterally bombs.

Some Canadian on youtube was setting them off in old freezers and stoves. THey would blow the doors off by 200 years. And there is a video of a drunk Russian who sat on one his buddy rigged. It shot him to the ceiling of the garage.

JoeSchmoe

I am assuming that you are OK... thank goodness.

Be glad it didn't go off.... my friend was seriously injured by the airbag.

I hate front airbags. I wish they would just improve seats and seatbelts. Would probably save as many lives and wouldn't cause the injuries that airbags do.