Sometimes it requires even more than that.

Back when I had my 1995 Dakota, I hit a little 1980s Chevrolet cavalier-sized car (can't recall the exact model) from behind. My front driver's brake had failed (no pad left). Thats a long story unto itself where my grandfather, a long time mechanic, said it was fine when it wasn't. I won't go into that.

Anyway, exited the interstate onto an off ramp, it was wet (been lightly raining all day), and wet plus no pad means I couldn't stop. Hit that car doing approximately 45 mph.

My airbags did not deploy. Even though I had literally put his trunk into his back seat, the ol' Dakota only needed new front headlights, grille, bumper, and hood latch. The radiator was a little scraped, but other than that, untouched.

The airbags go off after a certain amount of "crunching" takes place.

 

Did it have air bags to start?

 

No, they didn't invent air bags until the late 90s.

Yes, it had air bags.

 

uhh. you got me jason. They should have popped. I did fins this. On wikipedia,
"Airbags became common in the 1980s, with Chrysler and Ford introducing them in the mid-1980s; it was Chrysler that made them standard equipment across its entire line in 1990 (except for trucks until 1995). Airbags were not mandatory on light trucks until 1995"

 

I suggest you do the practical testing and write a report of your findings. Use your own truck.

 

They should not have popped.

The damage to my truck was no where near fatality causing, let alone causing any injury besides a bit of neck soreness from the sudden deceleration. The engine was untouched.

 

Air bags only deploy when the crunch sensors (front ones are typically on or behind the front frame rail or metal bumper (for cars with plastic up front)) are activated. Or also when the car suddenly decelerates. There are advanced sensors typically mounted in the passenger compartment that detect a vehicles forward g's, lateral g's, and the tilt of the body. This data is sent to the SRS computer to help determine what the car is doing. If the sensors say the vehicle is cruising at 70MPH, then is suddenly going 0, the air bags will deploy. If you combine more crash sensors for side and rear, more or other air bags (such as side curtain or seat mounted ones) can be deployed to better protect the occupants based on impact speed and direction. Air bags are intended to prevent your torso and head from impacting with the steering wheel, just as head rests are there so your neck doesn't wrap around the seat back. However, if an air bag were to go off for you bumping into the car in front of you while parking at Wal-Mart, they would do more damage than good. Air bags deploy at amazing speed and slam into your face causing rashes and bruises. Also, the gas used to inflate them can asphexiate you.

But yes, the dashboard pieces, along with whatever crap is laying on your console or in your hand, will contine to travel forward (away from you) when the truck stops.

 

Umm.... Nah, my truck isn't a good example. It sat outside in the scorching sun all of it's 12 years. Not a single crack.

Was thinking a little more about this last night, and isn't the dash made from vinyl not plastic?

 

It's plastic I believe.

Laramie you are right, earlier I talked about the business side of the issue, didn't even think about the odds of the event even happening. Truthfully, if it was possible to happen, it already would have. I don't think it's likely at all. Seems like someone is trying to get a new dash....but with the age of these trucks, give up on any recalls at this point.

 

I wish this could happen. My wife just noticed 2 weeks ago that my dash has finally started to crack. I guess 8 years wasn't a bad run.