What are the 4 types of airbags?

The four main types of airbags are frontal (driver and passenger), side torso, curtain (head), and knee airbags. These systems work together to reduce the risk of serious injury in crashes by cushioning occupants and managing forces across different parts of the body, with each type designed for specific impact scenarios and occupant positions.

The four core airbag types

Modern vehicles typically integrate multiple airbag modules, each engineered to address different kinds of collisions and occupant vulnerabilities. Below are the four foundational types most commonly referenced by safety regulators, automakers, and insurers.

• Frontal airbags (driver and passenger): Deploy from the steering wheel and dashboard in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal crashes. They work with seat belts to reduce head and chest injuries by distributing impact forces and preventing contact with hard interior surfaces.
• Side torso airbags: Mounted in the outboard seat or door trim, these deploy in side impacts to protect the chest and pelvis. They are designed to counter the limited crush space in side collisions by creating a protective cushion between the occupant and intruding structures.
• Curtain (head) airbags: Stored along the roof rail above the side windows, curtain airbags drop like a curtain to protect the head in side impacts and rollovers. Many remain inflated briefly to help reduce the risk of ejection and protect against secondary impacts.
• Knee airbags: Typically located beneath the steering column (and sometimes the passenger side), these deploy in frontal crashes to help control lower-body movement, reduce knee and femur injuries, and improve overall occupant kinematics for better interaction with the seat belt and frontal airbag.

Together, these four categories form the backbone of passive restraint systems in today’s cars and SUVs, addressing the most common crash modes and vulnerable body regions.

How they deploy and protect

Airbags are triggered by crash sensors—accelerometers, pressure sensors, and sometimes gyroscopes—that detect rapid deceleration or specific side-impact signatures. If thresholds are met, an electronic control unit fires inflators that fill the bags in milliseconds. Many frontal airbags are “multi-stage,” adjusting output based on crash severity, seat position, occupant weight, and belt use. Side and curtain airbags deploy even faster due to the short time between impact and occupant contact with the door or window. Airbags are supplemental; their protection is maximized only when occupants are correctly seated and belted.

Where you’ll find them and adoption trends

In most markets, frontal airbags are standard equipment; side torso and curtain airbags are standard or widely available in mainstream models. Knee airbags appear in many mid- to high-end trims but aren’t universal. Automakers are increasingly adding specialized modules—such as front center airbags between the driver and front passenger—to reduce head-to-head contact in side crashes. Safety ratings from IIHS and Euro NCAP, along with regional regulations (e.g., FMVSS 208 for frontal protection in the U.S.), continue to shape which airbags are fitted as standard.

Limitations, care, and safety basics

Airbags do not replace seat belts. Proper seating position—upright, with the seat at a safe distance from the steering wheel or dashboard—is essential. After any deployment or airbag warning light, professional inspection is critical; components, sensors, and control units may require replacement. Ongoing recalls, including those related to older inflator designs, underscore the need to check your vehicle identification number (VIN) with your national safety authority or manufacturer and to avoid counterfeit or salvaged airbag parts.

The tips below outline simple steps that help ensure your airbags can perform as designed.

• Always wear seat belts and seat children in the rear, using appropriate child restraints; never place a rear-facing child seat in front of an active passenger airbag.
• Maintain proper seating distance: drivers should keep at least 10 inches (about 25 cm) between the chest and the steering wheel.
• Address airbag warning lights immediately and follow manufacturer service intervals after any crash.
• Check your VIN for recalls and have them remedied promptly at an authorized service center.

Following these practices helps airbags deploy effectively, reducing the risk of avoidable injury during a collision.

Emerging and specialized airbags

Beyond the core four, newer designs aim to close protection gaps: front center airbags (between front occupants) to mitigate far-side impacts; rear-seat airbags and inflatable seat belts to protect back-seat passengers; seat-cushion airbags to control occupant “submarining”; and limited-use external pedestrian airbags to reduce head injuries in certain frontal impacts. Availability varies by market and model, but these systems are becoming more common as testing protocols evolve.

Summary

The four primary airbag types are frontal, side torso, curtain (head), and knee airbags. Each targets specific injury risks—frontal for head and chest in head-on crashes; side torso for chest and pelvis in lateral impacts; curtain for head protection and ejection mitigation; and knee for lower-body control and protection. Used with seat belts and proper seating, they form the core of modern crash protection, with newer specialty airbags increasingly filling remaining safety gaps.

What are 6 airbags in a car?

A car with 6 airbags includes dual front airbags, two side airbags, and two curtain airbags.

What is a steering wheel airbag called?

Frontal Airbags
Frontal airbags are the most common type of airbags found in vehicles and are typically located in the steering wheel and dashboard. These airbags deploy in the event of a head-on collision, cushioning the impact for the driver and front passenger.

What is the 5 10 20 rule for airbags?

The “5 10 20 Rule” is a safety guideline for operating in and around vehicles with airbags, recommending a minimum clearance of 5 inches from side airbags, 10 inches from a driver’s steering wheel airbag, and 20 inches from a passenger’s dashboard airbag. This rule helps prevent serious injury from the powerful, rapid deployment of both activated and unactivated airbags during rescue operations.
 
What Each Number Represents 

• 5 inches: For side impact airbags (including side-curtain airbags).
• 10 inches: For the driver’s side airbag in the steering wheel.
• 20 inches: For the front passenger’s dashboard airbag.

Why the Rule is Important

• Rapid Deployment: Airbags deploy extremely fast, at speeds up to 200 mph, to provide life-saving protection in a crash. 
• Severe Injury Potential: Even a deployed airbag can cause serious or fatal injuries if a person is too close to the deployment zone. 
• Undeployed Airbags: The risk of injury exists even with airbags that have not deployed, as they can still activate unexpectedly after the vehicle’s power is shut off. 

How to Apply the Rule

1. Locate Airbag Modules: Look for “Airbag” or “SRS” (Supplemental Restraint System) labels on the vehicle’s interior surfaces. 
2. Maintain Safe Distances: Keep the recommended distances from these modules. 
3. Be Aware of Full Deployment Zone: Understand that the airbag will inflate a specific distance into the compartment; the rule is about the space the airbag occupies when fully inflated. 
4. Avoid the Zone: If possible, work outside these defined zones to minimize the risk of injury. 

What are the different types of airbags?

The common types of airbags in vehicles are front airbags, located in the steering wheel and dashboard; side airbags, found in seat backs to protect the torso and head; curtain airbags (also called roof rail airbags), which deploy from the roofline to protect heads in side impacts and rollovers; and knee airbags, positioned under the dashboard to protect the driver’s legs and prevent submarining. Newer or luxury vehicles may also feature specialized types like inflatable seatbelts, rear seat airbags, or panoramic sunroof airbags. 
Here’s a breakdown of the main airbag types:
Front Airbags

• Location: Steering wheel for the driver, dashboard for the front passenger. 
• Function: Deploy in frontal collisions to prevent the head and upper body from hitting the steering wheel or dashboard. 

Side Airbags

• Location: In the seat backs or door panels. 
• Function: Protect the occupant’s chest, torso, and sometimes head during a side impact. 

Curtain Airbags

• Location: Along the roofline, above the side windows. 
• Function: Deploy during side impacts or rollovers, creating a protective cushion between the head and the window. 

Knee Airbags

• Location: Under the steering column for the driver and under the glove box for the passenger. 
• Function: Cushion the knees and prevent leg injuries and submarining (sliding under the seat belt) during a frontal crash. 

Other Types

• Seatbelt Airbags: Opens in new tabIntegrated into the seatbelt to provide additional chest protection in a collision. 
• Inflatable Seatbelts: Opens in new tabWider, inflatable seatbelts that provide more protection to the chest during a crash. 
• Rear Seat Airbags: Opens in new tabFound in some luxury vehicles, offering additional safety for rear passengers. 
• Far-Side Airbags: Opens in new tabA more advanced type of airbag designed to prevent occupants from hitting the vehicle’s interior in a severe side impact.