GMC Terrain: How Does an Airbag Restrain? - Airbag System - Seats and Restraints - GMC Terrain Owner's ManualGMC Terrain: How Does an Airbag Restrain?

In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions, even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside of the vehicle.

Airbags supplement the protection provided by safety belts. Frontal airbags distribute the force of the impact more evenly over the occupant's upper body, stopping the occupant more gradually. Seatmounted side impact and roof-rail airbags distribute the force of the impact more evenly over the occupant's upper body.

Rollover capable roof-rail airbags are designed to help contain the head and chest of occupants in the outboard seating positions in the first and second rows. The rollover capable roof-rail airbags are designed to help reduce the risk of full or partial ejection in rollover events, although no system can prevent all such ejections.

But airbags would not help in many types of collisions, primarily because the occupant's motion is not toward those airbags. See When Should an Airbag Inflate? on page 3‑24 for more information.

Airbags should never be regarded as anything more than a supplement to safety belts.

    What Makes an Airbag Inflate?
    In a deployment event, the sensing system sends an electrical signal triggering a release of gas from the inflator. Gas from the inflator fills the airbag causing the bag to break out of the cover ...

    What Will You See after an Airbag Inflates?
    After the frontal airbags and seat-mounted side impact airbags inflate, they quickly deflate, so quickly that some people may not even realize an airbag inflated. Roof-rail airbags may still be at ...

    See also:

    Before driving
    Before entering vehicle: • Be sure that all windows, outside mirror(s), and outside lights are clean. • Check the condition of the tires. • Check under the vehicle for any sign of leaks. • ...

    Automatic moonroof
    The moonroof only operates when the ignition switch is in the ON position. The automatic moonroof is operational for about 45 seconds, even if the ignition switch is turned to the OFF position. ...

    System Status
    Displays SYSTEM OK if there are no active Warning Messages stored. Pressing and releasing the DOWN button when SYSTEM OK is displayed will do nothing. Displays SYSTEM WARNINGS PRESENT if there ar ...