Operation
When the sensors detect a moderate-tosevere side impact, the control unit signals the side airbag on the impact side to immediately inflate.

When a side airbag deploys with little or no visible damage
Because the airbag system senses sudden acceleration, a strong impact to the side of the vehicle's framework can cause a side airbag to deploy. In such cases, there may be little or no damage, but the side impact sensors detected a severe enough impact to deploy the airbag.
When a side airbag may not deploy, even though visible damage appears severe
It is possible for a side airbag to not deploy during an impact that results in apparently severe damage. This can occur when the point of impact was towards the far front or rear of the vehicle, or when the vehicle's crushable body parts absorbed most of the crash energy. In either case, the side airbag would not have been needed nor provided protection even if it had deployed.
See also:
Side Curtain Airbags
The side curtain airbags help protect the heads of the driver and passengers
in outer
seating positions during a moderate-to-severe side impact. ...
Types of Airbags
Your vehicle is equipped with three types of airbags:
• Front airbags: Airbags in front of the driver's and front passenger's
seats.
• Side airbags: Airbags in the driver's and front passenger ...
Rear Seat
Folding Down the Rear Seat
1. Remove the center shoulder belt from
the guide.
2. Pull the release lever in the trunk to release
the lock.
3. Fold the seat-back down.
If the rear head restr ...
