Front Air Bag Deployed Without any Impact

jrak · 12-23-2007, 12:39 PM

The front driver airbag in our 2007 Honda Civic LX deployed while driving over a metal plate in the road. It was not a particularly big bump and there was not damage to the car. Has anyone else experienced this?

**firmhonda** · 12-23-2007, 12:43 PM

Wow, I have never heard of this in the time that I've been a member here. The only thing that I can think of is if the piece of metal bounced up into a sensor of some sort which should have only been accessible in an accident.

Was anyone hurt?

***dobiejoe*** · 12-23-2007, 12:58 PM

..pics

jrak · 12-23-2007, 01:37 PM

My wife was driving and she was startled, but not hurt. She was wearing a heavy overcoat and that blunted some of the impact. There was no damage to the car as far as I could see. I'll take a photo of the deployed air bag later.

I'm scheduled to bring it to the Honda Dealer on Wednesday.

SilverSedanDJVG · 12-23-2007, 01:41 PM

wow I would have freaked out and swerved off the road....airbags are rated as a 12 gauge shot gun going off....I still have ringing in my ears from when it went off in my left ear when I totaled my car a couple years ago

***Zeuceone*** · 12-23-2007, 01:48 PM

One of the guys ran over a strip of tire thread and it set off his airbags after it hit inside the fender. He was lowered and that helped in the deployment. His airbags went off and they shattered his window. He has a lx coupe.

***WhiteSicivic06*** · 12-23-2007, 01:51 PM

Hmmm not to doubt your wifes fine judge of character,...but are you sure she only ran over a metal plate? not to be confused with a cliff? Airbags are not that sensitive. Well, if that was the case id get a lawyer and expect a huge lump sum from Honda!

**firmhonda** · 12-23-2007, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrak

My wife was driving and she was startled, but not hurt. She was wearing a heavy overcoat and that blunted some of the impact. There was no damage to the car as far as I could see. I'll take a photo of the deployed air bag later.

I'm scheduled to bring it to the Honda Dealer on Wednesday.

Well I'm very glad to hear that no one was hurt in the incident. I wish I had a bit more to offer in the way of explanations but I simply don't.

I would suggest trying to see if your insurance would cover it (if the dealership doesn't). Airbags are no joke to pay for, they're very expensive.

Keep us posted with how your visit with the dealership goes.

***WhiteSicivic06*** · 12-23-2007, 01:54 PM

Yeah good thing she wasnt hurt but I think its gonna go something like this,...

" Sir, were not sure if your aware, but whatever your wife hit ripped the entire subframe off the car!"

jrak · 12-23-2007, 02:01 PM

In as much as there is no visible damage to the car, I would expect that this would be covered by the warranty. My wife was not going very fast when it happened (<20 MPH) and the bump in the road was not all that severe. The bottom line is that it should not have happened.

Does anyone know if the car's computer would record any data related to the deployment of the airbag?

buurner · 12-23-2007, 03:13 PM

I've never heard of an airbag deploying Wow dude tha sucks. Im just glad your wife was not hurt. GL dealing with Honda

Civic$peed · 12-23-2007, 03:19 PM

Hey does your car smell really weird now that your airbag deployed? Jw

Highrev1 · 12-23-2007, 03:33 PM

Its an explosion that deploys the airbag...Thats why it stinks from the powder..

BigT · 12-23-2007, 03:38 PM

If the bump really wasn't that bad I would have to guess a defective air bag system. The air bags shouldn't deploy unless multiple sensors trip (interior sensor, and at least one exterior sensor). They are designed to not deploy unless there is significant enough force inside the car to warrant it.

BigT · 12-23-2007, 03:45 PM

By the way, I woudn't jump to a lawsuit if no one was hurt (thank God).

However, I would definitely tell Honda to fix the car and guarantee you that the air bag system is working correctly before you drive the car again. If they cannot guarantee this I would request a new car.

jrak · 12-23-2007, 04:16 PM

The car does smell bad. Here are some photos:

I noticed that the seatbelt is full extended and will no longer retract. I also checked under the front end and it looked very clean. No sign of any damage there.

distrbd · 12-23-2007, 04:24 PM

About 5 years ago (in Toronto) the airbag in a small Acura got deployed in a very light bumper to pumper collision and KILLED the tiny woman driving it,Honda scrambled to the scene of the accident to find out why that happened and admitted that the amount of force was no where near enough to cause the air bag to deploy.
Honda also blamed the driver for being too close to the steering wheel and being a woman of a small frame didn't help.
You are lucky that your wife escaped with no injuries.

***Zeuceone*** · 12-23-2007, 04:32 PM

you will need a new seat belt.

rkalloo · 12-23-2007, 04:55 PM

thats messed up, i had an accident in my si at about...40-50kmh about 25-30mph and not one airbag deployed, the impact was dead center with the front of the car too

***sh33t_0f_p4p3r*** · 12-23-2007, 05:16 PM

lemon?

12-23-2007, 12:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
jrak Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 18 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Front Air Bag Deployed Without any Impact The front driver airbag in our 2007 Honda Civic LX deployed while driving over a metal plate in the road. It was not a particularly big bump and there was not damage to the car. Has anyone else experienced this?

12-23-2007, 12:58 PM	#3 (permalink)
*dobiejoe* VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NJ Age: 38 Posts: 4,643 Joe iTrader: 1 / 100%	..pics __________________

LinkBacks (?) LinkBack to this Thread: http://www.8thcivic.com/forums/mechanical-problems-technical-chat/70536-front-air-bag-deployed-without-any-impact.html
Posted By	For	Type	Date
8th Generation Honda Civic Forum	This thread	Refback	12-24-2007 11:27 AM

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
U.S. & Canadian Tint Laws	jc21	Inside and Out	42	11-24-2008 05:46 PM
Dumb Laws	C2i0v0i1c	Water Cooler	61	11-20-2008 01:07 PM
Weapon R is here!!!	Si2006	Bolt-Ons And All-Motor	44	10-28-2007 12:58 AM
Front and Side impact crash videos	arisenfury	Inside and Out	11	05-11-2007 04:28 PM
Replacing Front Tires	HAQER	Wheel And Tire Upgrades	3	02-24-2007 04:52 PM

12-23-2007, 01:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
jrak Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 18 iTrader: 0 / 0%	My wife was driving and she was startled, but not hurt. She was wearing a heavy overcoat and that blunted some of the impact. There was no damage to the car as far as I could see. I'll take a photo of the deployed air bag later. I'm scheduled to bring it to the Honda Dealer on Wednesday.

12-23-2007, 01:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
SilverSedanDJVG Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Florida Age: 20 Posts: 447 iTrader: 0 / 0%	wow I would have freaked out and swerved off the road....airbags are rated as a 12 gauge shot gun going off....I still have ringing in my ears from when it went off in my left ear when I totaled my car a couple years ago

12-23-2007, 01:51 PM	#7 (permalink)
*WhiteSicivic06* Bottle Fed! Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Quantico Age: 27 Posts: 5,826 Ryan iTrader: 0 / 0%	Hmmm not to doubt your wifes fine judge of character,...but are you sure she only ran over a metal plate? not to be confused with a cliff? Airbags are not that sensitive. Well, if that was the case id get a lawyer and expect a huge lump sum from Honda!

12-23-2007, 01:54 PM	#9 (permalink)
*WhiteSicivic06* Bottle Fed! Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Quantico Age: 27 Posts: 5,826 Ryan iTrader: 0 / 0%	Yeah good thing she wasnt hurt but I think its gonna go something like this,... " Sir, were not sure if your aware, but whatever your wife hit ripped the entire subframe off the car!"

12-23-2007, 02:01 PM	#10 (permalink)
jrak Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 18 iTrader: 0 / 0%	In as much as there is no visible damage to the car, I would expect that this would be covered by the warranty. My wife was not going very fast when it happened (<20 MPH) and the bump in the road was not all that severe. The bottom line is that it should not have happened. Does anyone know if the car's computer would record any data related to the deployment of the airbag?

12-23-2007, 03:13 PM	#11 (permalink)
buurner Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Memphis,TN Age: 21 Posts: 505 iTrader: 7 / 100%	I've never heard of an airbag deploying Wow dude tha sucks. Im just glad your wife was not hurt. GL dealing with Honda

12-23-2007, 03:19 PM	#12 (permalink)
Civic$peed Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Canada Age: 20 Posts: 369 Alex iTrader: 0 / 0%	Hey does your car smell really weird now that your airbag deployed? Jw

12-23-2007, 03:33 PM	#13 (permalink)
Highrev1 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: PM me NothernNJ Installs/Details Posts: 3,823 iTrader: 1 / 100%	Its an explosion that deploys the airbag...Thats why it stinks from the powder..

12-23-2007, 03:38 PM	#14 (permalink)
BigT Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Duff Beer Krusty Burger Buzz Cola Costington's Department Store Kwik-E-Mart Stupid Flanders Park Posts: 1,784 iTrader: 1 / 100%	If the bump really wasn't that bad I would have to guess a defective air bag system. The air bags shouldn't deploy unless multiple sensors trip (interior sensor, and at least one exterior sensor). They are designed to not deploy unless there is significant enough force inside the car to warrant it.

12-23-2007, 03:45 PM	#15 (permalink)
BigT Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Duff Beer Krusty Burger Buzz Cola Costington's Department Store Kwik-E-Mart Stupid Flanders Park Posts: 1,784 iTrader: 1 / 100%	By the way, I woudn't jump to a lawsuit if no one was hurt (thank God). However, I would definitely tell Honda to fix the car and guarantee you that the air bag system is working correctly before you drive the car again. If they cannot guarantee this I would request a new car.

12-23-2007, 04:16 PM	#16 (permalink)
jrak Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 18 iTrader: 0 / 0%	The car does smell bad. Here are some photos: I noticed that the seatbelt is full extended and will no longer retract. I also checked under the front end and it looked very clean. No sign of any damage there.

12-23-2007, 04:24 PM	#17 (permalink)
distrbd Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Toronto ,Canada Posts: 279 ken iTrader: 0 / 0%	About 5 years ago (in Toronto) the airbag in a small Acura got deployed in a very light bumper to pumper collision and KILLED the tiny woman driving it,Honda scrambled to the scene of the accident to find out why that happened and admitted that the amount of force was no where near enough to cause the air bag to deploy. Honda also blamed the driver for being too close to the steering wheel and being a woman of a small frame didn't help. You are lucky that your wife escaped with no injuries.

12-23-2007, 04:55 PM	#19 (permalink)
rkalloo Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 608 iTrader: 0 / 0%	thats messed up, i had an accident in my si at about...40-50kmh about 25-30mph and not one airbag deployed, the impact was dead center with the front of the car too

12-23-2007, 05:16 PM	#20 (permalink)
*sh33t_0f_p4p3r* Ears bleed at 70mm Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: North Port, Florida Age: 22 Posts: 3,123 Tobie iTrader: 1 / 100%	lemon?