jalalski
Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: SUTHERLAND, SYDNEY
TOTAL POSTS: 29100
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Airbag Functionality
Hi Guys,
It's been several visits to the wreckers (my 2nd home as I now call them)  and I have seen about 8-10 totally smashed-up xtrails (from the front, back, above and the sides) and today I noticed one that had an RTA sticker on the passenger's side airbag, saying it has not been deployed and therefore requires special attention and caution when reconnecting the battery (which was gone anyway).
The interesting observation I have made after seeing all of the above written-off xtrails, is that not a single one of them had a deployed airbag (passenger and driver)
All of the steering wheels were intact and all of the passenger side airbags were in place.
This made wonder when DOES the airbag deploy and under what sort of collision conditions? As I've seen the damaged xtrails from all angles and all of them warranted the airbag to be deployed, yet it hasn't! 
Do we have a luxury accessory that is there just for show?
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21/May/2005, 5:57 pm
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jalalski
Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: SUTHERLAND, SYDNEY
TOTAL POSTS: 29100
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Re: Airbag Functionality
Hi Nick,
Nice to see you back in the forums.
You have a lot of catching-up to do
I will be calling Nissan Australia about this and will mention to them what I've seen hopefully they'll get back with an explanation.
The xtrails were so badly smashed-up that there was nothing left of the cargo cover you're asking about. I haven't seen a single one that was worth salvaging/buying.
Will send you a PM about the wrecker.
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21/May/2005, 8:40 pm
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jalalski
Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: SUTHERLAND, SYDNEY
TOTAL POSTS: 29100
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Re: Airbag Functionality
quote:
nico1 wrote:
Just wondering have you heard any talk of a new look Xtrail, not a face lift but complete new vehicle possibly with a 6 cylinder engine??
Nope, have you?
The complete new vehicle that is 6 cyl. which will be hitting the stores in July is the Pathfinder '05
Last edited by jalalski, 21/May/2005, 9:08 pm
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21/May/2005, 9:07 pm
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jalalski
Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: SUTHERLAND, SYDNEY
TOTAL POSTS: 29100
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Re: Airbag Functionality
HI Guys,
Can I please ask those of you who know friends that had accidents in their xtrail to specify what type of accident was it and if any of the airbags have been deployed.
If you/your mates have pics of the damaged exy by any chance it would help as well.
Thanks for your help.
I'll be taking my camera with me when I visit the wreckers next time to take photos of the damaged xtrails and the airbags that haven't been deployed.
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22/May/2005, 12:45 pm
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jalalski
Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: SUTHERLAND, SYDNEY
TOTAL POSTS: 29100
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Re: Airbag Functionality
Guys,
Just got off the phone with Nissan Australia after discussing the above subject with them.
The explanation I received from the lady I spoke to was less than satisfactory and she stated that the first safety feature in any car is the seat belt (obviously) and that the airbags have been designed to only go off if the impact reached the sensors at a certain speed and or direction.
She could not tell me at what speed the sensors are triggered nor she could tell me where the sensors are located or from which direction the impact should take place for the airbags to go off.
When I mentioned the xtrails I've seen which have been damaged from every possible direction, she simply could not reply to this and came back with the standard manufacturer’s line "our cars are tested and approved by the insurance companies and road traffic authorities"
She did ask me to write a letter to nissan to receive the information about the airbag sensors, but I can look it-up myself in the manual.
I will be sending them a formal letter with photos once I gather all of the information.
Basically what they're saying is don't worry about the airbag saving your life as long as you have a seat belt
Yes, thanks for the advice, but what is the purpose of having an airbag that doesn't do what it's supposed to do? 
Last edited by jalalski, 23/May/2005, 7:57 pm
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23/May/2005, 11:58 am
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jalalski
Date Registered: 02-2004
Location: SUTHERLAND, SYDNEY
TOTAL POSTS: 29100
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Re: Airbag Functionality
In preparation for the material am gathering to approach nissan with, I have come across these 2 crash tests for the xtrail (one in Australia and the other one in Europe) which show that both airbags get deployed during a front impact at 64Kms/Hour.
Australian Crash Test
European Crash Test
HERE you can watch a video of the European crash test
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23/May/2005, 2:22 pm
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petersxtrail
X-TRAIL FANATIC
Date Registered: 02-2004
TOTAL POSTS: 339
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Re: Airbag Functionality
jalal
Have you thought about talking to NRMA Technical, they would probably have access to their own accident reports. There is also some info on the Depart of Transports site.
Before I write the next bit I do completly agree with your comment:
quote:
but what is the purpose of having an airbag that doesn't do what is supposed to do? .
The comments about seatbelts and airbags is probably true though, noting airbags were first concieved in the US because they refused to wear seatbelts, whereas the rest of the world adopted them as Supplementry Restraing Systems (SRS), following pressure from groups. Which is why (and I am happy to be corrected) that our airbags are smaller and less impacting then in the US
Doesn't explain why they havnt gone off, shouldnt there be two sensors the first near the front and the second around the cabin, that both must measure a change.
Just for interest (not related), I was told by (damm I cant remember who it was) but there was a few thefts from xtrail's in the eastern suburbs of airbags. A bit of a market for replacinfg cheaply the ones that had gone off
Last edited by petersxtrail, 23/May/2005, 3:14 pm
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23/May/2005, 3:10 pm
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Re: Airbag Functionality
