Vehicle Airbag Types & How They Work — All Airbags Guide

Airbags aren’t all the same. Different crash types trigger different bags, at different speeds, using different sensors and algorithms. If you’re shopping for a replacement, you need to know which bag you’re looking at, what it protects, and why OEM matters. All Airbags sells OEM airbags only, so let’s walk you through the landscape in plain English.

Here’s the thing: modern Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS) are layered. The seat belt still does most of the work. Airbags fill the gaps, timing, angle, secondary impacts, head strikes, you name it. Below is a quick map of what’s in most late‑model vehicles, then we’ll go deeper.

The quick map (All Airbags overview)

Now let’s break down the major players, how they deploy, what triggers them, and what you need to know if you’re replacing one with an OEM unit from All Airbags.

Front airbags: still the workhorse

Front airbags are what most people picture: driver airbag in the steering wheel, passenger airbag in the dash. They’re tuned for frontal impacts and inflate in milliseconds, typically 20–50 ms, based on speed, deceleration rate, seat belt use, occupant weight sensors, and even seat position.

Why OEM? Module geometry, inflator output, venting holes, connector types, and squib resistance all matter. Mix-and-match or counterfeit airbags can alter deployment timing or not fire at all. All Airbags sticks to OEM because “almost right” can be dangerously wrong.

Side-impact torso airbags: targeted protection where cars are thinnest

Side impacts give you the least crumple zone. That’s why torso airbags (mounted in the seat or door) deploy fast and close. They protect ribs, lungs, liver, spleen, vital organs that don’t like lateral G-forces.

Real-world example: a T-bone at an intersection. The side torso bag plus the curtain bag coordinate to keep your body centered and your head off the window and B-pillar. If you’re sourcing a replacement, confirm whether your vehicle uses door-mounted or seat-mounted modules, different part numbers, different wiring. All Airbags can help you match the right OEM part by VIN.

Curtain airbags: the tall shield for heads and rollovers

Curtain airbags drop from the roof rail to protect heads in both side impacts and rollovers. They often stay inflated longer to handle multi-roll events. You’ll also see them in three-row SUVs, spanning A- to D-pillars.

Detail worth knowing: some vehicles use separate curtain bags for each row; others run one long unit. Open the wrong trim panel, order the wrong bag, and you’ll waste time and money. All Airbags catalogs these by row and pillar coverage so you don’t.

Knee airbags: small, underrated, effective

Knee airbags don’t just protect knees. They also control how your lower body moves so the torso meets the front bag at the right angle. That reduces femur loads and prevents submarining (sliding under the belt). They’re common on driver sides and, on higher-end models, for passengers too.

If your lower dash exploded during deployment, that plastic cover is part of the airbag assembly in many cars. Don’t try to reuse or “repair” it. Replace the whole OEM unit.

Center airbags: newer, but growing fast

A center airbag deploys between front occupants to stop head-to-head collisions in far-side crashes (you’re hit on the passenger side, but you’re the driver). Euro NCAP pushed this tech hard, and more U.S. models are adopting it. You won’t find many aftermarket versions, which again is why All Airbags sticks to OEM stock.

Rear-seat airbags: because back seats aren’t automatically safer anymore

With today’s high-speed highways and compact interiors, rear passengers face serious loads. Some makers now deploy rear frontal airbags from the front seatbacks, or integrate airbags into the rear seat belts. If you’re repairing a family hauler post-crash, check your build sheet, rear SRS parts are easy to miss.

Seat-belt airbags: softening the blow for fragile chests

These live inside the belt webbing and spread forces over a bigger area, great for kids in boosters, elderly passengers, and smaller adults. They’re paired with specific pretensioners and inflators. If one deploys, you replace the entire belt assembly with the OEM part. No shortcuts. All Airbags can match the exact assembly you need.

Pedestrian airbags: niche, but clever

Found on a few European and luxury models, pedestrian airbags pop from the cowl or hood area to soften a head strike on the windshield base and A-pillars. Complex, sensor-driven, and very model-specific. If you see it on your estimate, you’re almost certainly in OEM-only territory.

How everything decides to fire: sensors, modules, algorithms

Modern SRS controllers don’t just look at one sensor. They correlate:

• Accelerometers (multiple axes)
• Wheel speed and yaw data (stability control ties in)
• Seat occupancy and weight
• Belt latch status
• Crash angle and delta-V calculations
• Rollover gyros

Translation: the module fires exactly the set of airbags needed for that crash. No more, no less. That’s another reason to stick with original parts. Resistance values, connector pinouts, and even cable shielding can alter how the module “sees” the system. All Airbags only sells OEM airbags because compatibility isn’t optional.

After a deployment: what gets replaced?

Here’s a fast, practical checklist most shops (and insurers) follow:

• Deployed airbags (obvious, but list them all)
• Seat belts with pretensioners fired
• SRS control module (often needs reset or full replacement)
• Impact sensors (if damaged or specified by OEM)
• Clockspring/steering angle sensor (if driver airbag deployed)
• Dash/trim covers integrated with airbag modules
• Wiring harnesses if heat-damaged or per OEM guidelines

Tip: scan the car before and after. Clear codes only when the hardware is right. If the module keeps flagging a squib circuit fault, you may have the wrong resistance spec on a non-OEM part. Save yourself the headache, source correctly from the start. All Airbags can verify the exact OEM match against your VIN.

OEM vs. aftermarket vs. counterfeit: the uncomfortable truth

Let’s be honest. The market is full of “compatible” or “universal” airbags. Some are outright counterfeit, re-skinned, re-badged, or harvested from junk vehicles. Problems you’ll see:

• Wrong inflator output → over- or under-inflation
• Different fold patterns → late or misdirected deployment
• Connector hacks → intermittent faults, no-fire events
• Wrong resistance values → SRS module never arms or fires the wrong set

Your SRS system is a closed, tuned ecosystem. That’s why All Airbags refuses to play the “universal” game. We sell OEM airbags so you don’t gamble with deployment timing, sensor logic, or your customer’s life.

Buying from All Airbags: what we’ll ask (and why)

Have your:

• VIN (to match exact part and revision)
• Airbag location (driver, passenger, side, curtain, knee, etc.)
• Seat configuration (bench vs. bucket, row count)
• Any previous repairs or module resets
• Photos if trim is removed (helps identify connector types)
• That detail lets us ship the right OEM unit the first time. No returns for “close enough” parts. No wasted labor reinstalling the wrong module twice.

Quick FAQ

Can I reuse an airbag that didn’t deploy?
If it’s never deployed and passes inspection, maybe, but many insurers and OEM procedures say replace if it’s been in a significant crash. Follow the service manual.

Do I have to replace the SRS control module?
Some can be reset by certified services; others must be replaced. Check your OEM procedures. Codes like “crash event stored” often mean it’s done.

Why did my curtain airbag deploy in a rollover without a side impact?
They’re designed to. Rollover sensors trigger them to keep heads inside the cabin.

What about seat weight sensors and passenger airbags?
If the sensor’s out of spec, the bag might not fire. That’s by design. Replace or recalibrate as specified.

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Need the exact OEM airbag for a safe, clean fix? Reach out to All Airbags. Tell us the VIN, the position, and what deployed. We’ll get you the right part, no guesswork, no counterfeits, no compromises.