Well, I got first hand experience of a side airbag deployment, without getting hurt (except for a burn from the torso bag).

I took a turn too fast Black Friday morning, and hit a curb, my fault. Yes a standard issue curb. No body damage, just a slight dint in the rim. My side airbags deployed. I thought this was interesting. The computer said it thought my left two tires left the ground (roll over). The car did not leave the ground from what I remember. So anyways, she is in the shop for about $3400 in repairs to replace the following:

-Headliner
-Side curtain airbag
-Torso airbag
-Seatbelt (tightened, locked and required replacing)
-SRS controller (one time use)
-Rim (may be able to fix)
-Side sensors (not sure if required)
-Some other part related to front steering

I just thought I would warn you guys to STAY AWAY FROM THE CURBS!

PS: No pics

 

Im glad to hear your ok and the car isnt totaled!
You must have been haulin to not be able to control the Fit in a turn , it handles so well!
Hope your Fit comes back like new!

 

Thanks,

That was my first accident.

I think she will be out of the shop tomorrow. I hope.

I have a new GPS for it as a get well gift

 

thas weird it went off cuz u hit a curb... but nice to know it works...

 

haha but does it count as working if it deploys in the wrong circumstances? glad to hear you're ok though. may i ask, were you turning left or right, and did the inside wheels hit the curb or did you not make the turn and went wide into a curb?

 

I slid into a right turn and just the front left rim hit the curb.

I believe she will be ready monday at a final cost of $3100.

 

not to burst your bubble, but legallly, at least in Canada, if ANY airbag deploys, the car is "Total Loss." If you repair it, it MUST be insured as a "Salvage" vehicle. Again, this is the law in Canada. The US is probably different. You may want to check out the info at yoru local insurance provider.

 

I'm not sure about the laws in the US, but I dont think they would total it.

I found this on Consumer Affairs: Consumer complaints about Honda Airbags
Daniel of Diamond Bar CA (09/12/07)
"A few months back, my wife was driving her 2007 Honda Civic Ex in front of me as we were pulling into a restaurant to grab some lunch. She nicked the curb with the front right tire going approximately 5mph which caused the left side curtain bag to deploy as well as the driver seat air bag. These air bags should not have deployed at a speed of 5mph and having no damage done to the vehicle. Honda corporation wont fix it, the dealership the car was purchased from wont fix it. So who will??"

That is interesting.

 

Ive seen a few cars with side airbag deployment due to curbs. All the ones Ive seen had to at least be 30+ mph though. Im talking lower control arms ripped out and wheels hangin off.

And Ive seen similar accidents with the airbags not deployed.
Seems like a roll of the dice. Just the right hit and they go off.