2010 Ford F-150 Airbag deployment

VTFISHERWOMAN1

MEMBER
2010 FORD F-150
5.4L
V8
4WD
MANUAL
86,000 MILES

Recently, I was in a automobile accident. A mid-sized vehicle hit the right front of my vehicle (driver's side) slightly to the right if my right front fog light (slightly below my right front headlight). The impact was significant enough that my right front tire exploded and the wheel itself was pulled from the axle.

Inside the vehicle I hit the steering wheel so hard I broke my wrist. What I don't understand (and what the police commented on) was why my airbag did not deploy. Shouldn't the airbag have deployed where the airbag sensor is near the headlight?

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2015 AT 2:33 PM

1 Reply

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

This is going to sound not right to you but it depends on the severity of the crash that an air bag will not deploy. Because you are in a truck and was hit by a car the angle was probably not close enough to the sensor for it to engage the air bag. It doesn't mean that there is anything wrong with the system it's just how it works. Even though your front wheel got knocked off the sensor is on the inside of the headlight closer to the radiator. See pic for location. Another tip if you have enough fore thought when you can see an accident coming to you let go of the steering wheel. Most race car drivers do that so limbs aren't broken. It won't make a lot of difference.

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