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 impacts with narrow objects
(such as poles or trees). 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 affect the
airbag system, contact Tesla.
Types of Airbags
Model X 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 driver,
front passenger and second row outboard
seats help 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 offset frontal
impact.
•
Curtain airbags: A curtain airbag on each
side of Model X in the front roof-rail help
protect the head. Curtain airbags on both
the impacted and non-impacted side of
the vehicle will inflate if a severe side
impact occurs, a severe offset frontal
impact occurs, or if the vehicle rolls over.
•
Door-mounted airbags: There is an airbag
on each side of Model X mounted in the
trim on the falcon wing doors. These are
the same as the curtain airbags in that
they help protect the head and typically
inflate in the event of a severe side impact,
a severe offset frontal impact, or if the
vehicle rolls over. The door-mounted
airbags on both the impacted and non-
impacted side of the vehicle will inflate.
Passenger Front Airbag Status
The status of the passenger front airbag
displays in the top corner of the touchscreen:
Before driving with a child
seated on the front passenger
seat (if permitted in your market
region), always double-check the
status of the passenger front
airbag to confirm that it is OFF.
When the passenger airbag is
OFF, it will not inflate when a
collision occurs. This indicator
also displays when the seat is
unoccupied.
Airbags
Seating and Safety Restraints
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