anyone know the speed you have to be driving before the airbag will pop off in the event of a frontal collision? just wondering.

 

I'm not positive but have been told 25mph in a straight ahead collision.

 

Welcome to FTE attyscott

 

It is 10-12mph. The bags are actually made to go off if they are hit anywhere within a 30* pattern of the front of the vehicle. They deploy at a speed of 55 milliseconds (it takes you about 100 milliseconds to blink your eyes). The new vehicles actually have two speeds of deployment, depending on how fast you are going when the impact occurs. The sensors decide which one will activate the bag at the time of impact.

 

My husband was in a front end collision in our 2007 F-150. He was going between 25 and 30mph. The airbag did not deploy. Is this something that should be reported to Ford? He's fine by the way. Thank God.

 

There is no reason not to report it.

The Air Bag will not deploy below 16 - 28 MPH (depending upon generation). Many people equate deployment with damage results. Damage results are inconclusive as the vehicle is designed to crumple and absorb energy reducing injury potential to the occupant(s).


If he applied brakes at 30 prior to impact, the actual speed is less than he believed he was going. Perhaps 20, or 22, or even lower. They are testing in design by striking a concrete pole at 16 MPH which simulates a 28 MPH impact.


There is a Global Recall currently but I don't know what year vehicle he has. You can go to NHSTA and look it up.


There is no way to test the Air Bag. Just the Circuitry. The Air Bag is deployed by a chemical reaction.