Rescue With Undeployed Air Bag

Remember air bags deploy only in moderate to major frontal or near-frontal crashes. An air bag is not designed to deploy in side, rear, rollover, or less severe frontal crashes. For this reason, it is likely that you will be involved in a rescue from a vehicle with an air bag that did not deploy. Use the guidelines that follow if you think the vehicle might be equipped with an air bag that did not deploy



1. Determine if vehicle is equipped with air bag(s).
a. Check for a larger and more rectangular steering wheel hub, about 6 inches by 9 inches.



b. Check for "AIR BAG" on Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) plate of Ford air bag-equipped vehicles, except Tempo/Topaz. The VIN plate is located on the top driver-side corner of the instrument panel.
c. Check the fourth position of Ford VINs for a:
- "C" if equipped with driver-side only air bag;
- "L" if equipped with both a driver and a passenger-side air bag; OR
- "B" or "P" if not equipped with an air bag.
d. Check for an "SRS" molded on the trim cover of all Ford passenger-side air bag modules.
2. DO NOT place your body or objects/tools on the air bag trim cover or close in front of an undeployed air bag. Except for cutting the steering column (see step 3), rescue operations should begin immediately
Air bags should not deploy during a rescue. Since two sensors must close at the same time, it is unlikely that rescue operations will result in a deployment. The diagnostic module will also disable the air bag system if it defects crash sensor circuit "shorts" that exist for ten seconds while the ignition is "ON."

3. Safely disconnect or cut a battery cable before cutting into the steering column. Disconnecting the battery immediately stops all power sources inside the steering column. No power from the back-up power supply should be in the steering column.

Turning the ignition switch to "OFF" WILL NOT deactivate the Ford air bag system. The air bag deployment system operates independently of the ignition switch.

4. If the battery cannot be disconnected before working on the steering column:
a. DO NOT place your body or objects/tools on the air bag trim cover or close in front of air bag.
b. DO NOT cut into the steering column.
c. DO perform rescue efforts from the side of the vehicle and away from the potential deployment path of the air bag.
d. DO move the seat of a stabilized occupant back as far as possible or lower the seat back.

Cutting the steering wheel rim or spokes or rolling the instrument panel WILL NOT deploy an air bag if the battery is still connected.

5. Never cut or drill directly into an undeployed air bag module or attempt to take the module apart. This will avoid possible deployment and exposure to toxic chemicals. Do Not touch exposed chemicals in the unlikely event the metal inflator canister of an undeployed air bag module is ruptured or cut.

The metal combustion chamber in the module is sealed and protected. It is contained inside a permanently closed metal inflafor located under the folded air bag that is behind the air bag module trim cover. It is unlikely that the combustion chamber will rupture during a crash.