Even low-impact crashes when a young person is in the front seat can cause significant damage if a child isnt big or old enough to sit in the front seat. In some vehicles it is only possible to disable the passenger airbag by taking the car to a garage. Install and use car seats and booster seats according to the car seat/booster seat manual. Only authorized dealers and repair shops can install ON-OFF switches and can do so only with an authorization letter from NHTSA. Airbags provide safety to the occupants of a car in the event of a crash. The world's first child car seat with built-in airbags is being launched in Britain. In addition, not every vehicle offers the option of disabling the passenger airbag, especially older models. Airbags can kill young children riding in the front seat. For i-Size seats, all children must use a rear-facing seat until they're 15 months old, although it's advised you use one for as long as possible. The car seat is forward-facing, but she has turned the passenger airbag off. If a child is a child seat, forward or rearward facing, the airbag should be deactivated. The passenger should sit upright and as far back as possible. Some cars have a cut-off switch which allows an airbag to be switched on or off. This usually happens between 8 to 12 years. Once deployed, an air bag whether advanced frontal or another type cannot be re-used and must be replaced by an authorized service technician without delay. Thats enough people to fill a major league ballpark. The American Academy of Pediatrics: "Air Bag Safety for Children,""Child Passenger Safety. Does this mean I can start putting my kids in the front seat again? Some cars may have side airbags in the rear seat that come out of the seat back or door. All passengers ages 13 and older need to wear a lap and shoulder belt when riding in the front seat. This means that they inflate with a considerable amount of force. Child Seat Safety says: Young children, especially those below the age of 12-years-old should ideally not be seated in the front passenger seat as they are the most at risk when the frontal airbag deploys in a crash. Adapted from Car Safety Seats Guide (Copyright 2021 American Academy of Pediatrics). Be sure the child is restrained properly. This care reduces serious and fatal injuries by up to 80%. We avoid using tertiary references. These seats also have a harness to keep your child safe and should be used till your child is 18 kg (40 lb) and can sit erect through the journey. Pregnant women should have their car seats as far back as possible (whether or not an airbag is fitted) and ensure they are wearing their seat belt properly. Never put a rearward-facing baby seat in the front if there is an active passenger airbag. These cookies may also be used for advertising purposes by these third parties. ", The Canadian Pediatric Society: "Car seat safety. All rights reserved. As a result, its important for caregivers and parents to practice strict rules for car safety each and every time. No. Have your child wear their seat belt properly with their back against the seat so theyre further from the dashboard. Many advanced frontal air bag systems automatically turn off the passenger air bag when the vehicle detects a small-stature passenger or child, a child in a child restraint system, or no occupant in the right front passenger seat. Airbags are located in the approximate areas shown below. Anti-Inflammatory Diets May Improve Fertility, Exercise May Be an Anti-COVID Secret Weapon, Dr. Whyte's Book: Take Control of Your Diabetes Risk, Street Medicine Reaches People Where They Live, Health News and Information, Delivered to Your Inbox, Developmental Delays in Children Ages 3-5. Instagram, Estimated lives (occupants 13 and older) saved by frontal air bags in 2017, Estimated lives saved by frontal air bags from 1987 to 2017, National Conference on Medical Indications for Air Bag Deactivation, Air Bags & On-Off Switches: Information for an Informed Decision. Proper seat belt fit usually occurs when children are between 9 and 12 years old. This is possibly one of the most commonly asked questions that we get here at Good Egg HQ, and we are unable to give a straight yes or no answer. Your older child should also use this position, unless the center seat in the rear has only a lap seat belt. Airbags inflate rapidly (and then immediately deflate), cushioning the occupants and preventing or reducing contact with parts of the vehicle that are likely to cause injury, such as the steering wheel or dashboard. Airbag warning information is printed on the sun visors. The following tips will help you to ensure that maximum protection is provided by airbags and unnecessary injuries are avoided (it is sensible to follow these tips even if there are no airbags present). NHTSA recommends that children under 13 years old ride in the back seat in the appropriate child restraint systems for their age and size: rear-facing car seats, forward-facing car seats, booster seats, or adult seat belts. Consequently it is essential to read the manufacturers manual which will give you all the steps that need to be taken. You may also wish to contact your local Consumer Protection Agency or the appropriate State Office of the Attorney General to determine your rights under the law, and the Better Business Bureau or the Federal Trade Commission to file a complaint. For information on tweens, see our Seat Belts section. Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. When it comes to children sitting in the front when forward facing, the airbag requirements are different with each vehicle. ", Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: "Air Bags. The responsibility for replacing a counterfeit air bag will vary depending on the circumstances around the original installation of the part. Bulky suits or clothing prevent proper harness use. The usual case is to disable the airbag with the ignition off. Always require your child to wear a seat belt. From 1987 to 2017, frontal air bags saved 50,457lives. Heres what you need to know about children riding in the car, as well as car seat safety tips by age. After outgrowing their rear-facing car seat, use a, When children outgrow their rear-facing car seat, they should be buckled in a forward-facing car seat with a harness and a. (29 kg) (the weight of a child or infant) on the front passenger seat. When children outgrow their forward-facing car seat, they should be buckled in a belt-positioning booster seat with a seat belt, in the back seat, until the seat belt fits properly without a booster seat. Takata air bags, installed in tens of millions of U.S. vehicles, are subject to recall due to a safety defect that may cause them to explode and result in serious injury or death. Some manufacturers may be prepared to disconnect an airbag or install a cut-off switch if they believe the airbag is causing an appreciable risk to the driver or passenger. Contact eBays Customer Support center. His seat is right back and given the choice I would rather he had the protection of the airbag. So, it's harder for children to maintain an upright position in even a gentle collision. I'm not sure if I'm doing the right thing but As long as he's not close up against itI think I would leave it on in your situation, but, maybe better to contact the dealer/mini and see what they recommend. To minimize the potential of any air-bag-related injury, NHTSA still recommends keeping a 10-inch minimum between the air bag cover (in the center of the steering wheel for drivers and on the dashboard for the right front passenger), maintaining a proper seating position, and moving the seat as far back as possible (drivers should be able to comfortably reach the pedals). Your child's size is more important than age. There may be times when your child must ride in the front seat. But if the child's head is too close to the side airbag, your child could suffer a serious injury. The airbag sensor senses a person sitting on the front seat, but their weight is not enough to safely deploy the airbag. Make sure it meets the certification standards of your country and region before buying it. Even if a child is wearing a seat belt correctly when riding in the front. Children have heavy heads and weak neck muscles. The only way you can find the answer to keep your child safe is to check your vehicle manual. Of course, children often fall asleep in child seats but seats with side wings will help to stop a sleeping child's head resting against the side window. Children under 2 years should be in a rear-facing car seat secured to the back seat. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA): American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Links: AAP website for parents (Healthychildren.org): Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Links: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. This type of car seat cushions a childs delicate neck and spinal cord. Check with your auto dealer or repair shop to see if an ON-OFF switch is available for your vehicle and how much the switch will cost. All rights reserved. (For the driver frontal air bag only.). Here is a checklist of safety issues to consider when choosing a new car. But you can activate the front airbag system by using the activation switch. Dramamine is an antihistamine that can help treat motion sickness. Many of these injuries and deaths are avoidable. Although those older air bags saved thousands of lives, they deployed the same way for every driver and passenger, causing injury and in some rare cases even death to children, small adults, and any unbelted occupants positioned too close to the air bag as it deployed. 12. Puberty is a time of dramatic change. Vehicles with no back seat or a back seat that is not made for passengers are not the best choice for traveling with small children; however, the airbag can be turned off in some of these vehicles if the front seat is needed for a child passenger. The law regarding child car seats can be found. The front passenger front airbag must be switched off when securing a rear-facing child seat to the front passenger seat. After the dealer or repair shop installs the ON-OFF switch, they will return a form along with the authorization letter to NHTSA, indicating the work has been done for you. ), A child under 13 years of age must ride in the front seat because the child has a condition that requires frequent medical monitoring in the front seat. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. I have no choice when anyone of my three little darlings travels with me but to put them in the front, i have a GP, and if they are on boosters i leave the airbag on and if the little princess is in her seat i turn off the airbag. Avoid buying used since you can't know if it has been in a collision and is damaged within. Children should ride in a forward-facing seat for as long as possible until they reach the upper height or weight limit of their seat. Children are also then closer to the force of a frontal impact, which is the most dangerous type. Children over 2 years can ride in a forward-facing safety seat. Since my son is nearly 7 and he sits on a booster in the front seat, I leave the airbag switched on. ", Canadian Medical Association Journal: "Automobile restraints for children: a review for clinicians. This presentation was created by the Kohl's Injury Prevention Program and the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Learn about the safety benefits of frontal and side air bags and why its so important to use a seat beltyour first line of defense. The seat should have the weight and height limits listed. It is advisable for children to be placed in the back seat and on appropriate child safety seats secured with a seat belt. Air bags reduce the chance that your upper body or head will strike the vehicle's interior during a crash. If any part of the airbag system requires replacement, ensure only parts approved by the manufacturer for use with the vehicle are fitted. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Safer restrained in the rear seats Is this only to be done if the seat is rear-facing, or should the airbag be deactivated whenever a child is sat in a car seat on the front passenger seat? Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, 6 Minutes of Exercise May Protect Brain From Alzheimer's, 'Disturbing' Rate of Adverse Events During Hospital Stays. Even in a relatively low-speed crash, the airbag can inflate, strike the car seat, and cause serious brain injury and death. Any air bag that fails to deploy in an injury-producing crash should be reported to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation for investigation of possible system defects and potential recall. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. Never have second-hand airbag components fitted. Not all vehicles allow children to sit in the front. The average American man is about 5 foot 9 inches. Official Government advice says that generally, children are safer restrained in the rear seats of vehicles. Air bags reduce the chance that your upper body or head will strike the vehicle's interior during a crash. If you decide to request an ON-OFF switch, you will need to certify on the request form that you have read the brochure and that you (or other drivers/passengers of your vehicle) fall into one or more of the high-risk groups for the air bag(s) for which you request a switch. CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance. If your older child has to ride in the front seat, move the seat as far from the airbag as possible. To receive email updates about this page, enter your email address: We take your privacy seriously. There may be times when your child must ride in the front seat. A rear-facing infant restraint must be placed in the front seat of a vehicle because there is no rear seat or the rear seat is too small for the child restraint. Always ensure that your child is in an appropriate child car seat that is suitable for the car in which it is being used, and that it is securely fitted. Rakey on here may well know the professional line, but I'd get it checked. It is vital to learn the proper use of the 5-point harness to keep your child safe. Site Navigation. When you've finished carrying your child in the front seat, ALWAYS reactivate the front passenger airbag. As a result, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all children ages 13 and under buckle up in the back seat for safety. Can anyone with an owners manual verify this and that children have no issue riding in . If you must do so, make sure the car seat is as far back as possible, the child seat is securely fitted and the child is securely held by the seat belt or child seat harness, keeping the child as far as possible from the dashboard. However, airbags differ from car to car, so ask the vehicle manufacturer for advice about the minimum distance between you and the airbag. (2018). Children no longer need to use a booster seat when the seat belt fits them properly. Its a legal requirement for an airbag to be deactivated if a rear facing car seat is being used. Saving Lives, Protecting People, certified child passenger safety technician, Find a child passenger safety technician near you, Find a local car seat inspection station near you, CDC Child Passenger Safety Graphics: How to Avoid the Most Common Mistakes, Child Safety Information for Parents and Caregivers, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, NCIPC Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Funding, Drug Overdose Prevention in Tribal Communities, District of Columbia Priority Topic Investments, North Carolina Priority Topic Investments, South Carolina Priority Topic Investments, National Intimate Partner Violence Survey (NISVS), National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS), Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcements (NOFOs), U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. If a switch is available and the dealer or repair shop is willing to install it, give the authorization letter directly to the dealer or repair business. Airbag Safety Your child should never sit where an airbag deployment could reach them. Some cars also have side airbags. The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. Youll. Immobilizer Immobilizer. Cookies used to track the effectiveness of CDC public health campaigns through clickthrough data. Eliminate potential risks of air bags to children by buckling them in the back seat for every ride. It emerges at a speed of 200 km/h and can be particularly dangerous when the passenger in the front seat is a child. Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind. We believe this issue affects less than 0.1 percent of the U.S. vehicle fleet. The seat belt should go across the upper chest, not the neck. You may find a free child, safety seat checkpoint or car seat check at a local hospital, police or fire department or state highway safety office. When a child has outgrown the weight and height limits for a forward-facing seat, theyll need a belt-positioning booster seat. And children under 13 should sit in theback seat. But car seats and airbags are a dangerous combination for children. There is usually a confirmation that the airbag is disabled with the illumination of one of the control lights in the dashboard. Both frontal and side-impact air bags are generally designed to deploy in moderate to severe crashes and may deploy in even a minor crash. JavaScript is disabled. 2) When pushing the seat back, make sure the fit of the restraint is not compromised. Michael Nance, MD: When a head-on crash occurs, seat belts and airbags are designed to work together to help passengers come to a gradual stop and to protect against injuries. To keep your older child (age 13 and older) safe in the front seat: Move the front seat as far back as possible from the dashboard. "To avoid this danger, be mindful where you place children, particularly infants in safety seats and young children. Children weighing at least 20 lbs and less than 40 lbs are required to use a forward-facing child safety seat in either the front or rear of the vehicle. Buckle all children ages 12 and younger in the back seat. At this fast rate, an airbag can deploy at a speed of 200 miles per hour. Similarly, the shoulder belt should be across the shoulder and chest and not off the shoulder or on the neck or face. There should be at least 10 inches (25 cm) from the centre of the steering wheel and your chest. Frontal air bags have been standard equipment in all passenger cars since model year 1998 and in all SUVs, pickups and vans since model year 1999. They may not function properly and therefore, could offer reduced protection, or even present a danger to the vehicle occupant. Air bags that are turned off provide no protection to older children, teens, parents, or other adults riding in the front seat. You should only travel with as many children as can be safely seated in the back seat with car seats and seat belts.. Related Centers and Programs: Facebook Side-impact air bags inflate even more quickly since there is less space between the driver or passengers and the striking object, whether the interior of the vehicle, another vehicle, a tree, or a pole. An igniter in the inflator starts a chemical reaction that produces a harmless gas, which inflates the air bag within the blink of an eye or less than 1/20th of a second. If a child must ride in the front vehicle seat with a passenger airbag, move the vehicle seat as far back as possible and make sure he is correctly restrained. Refer to the following label fitted to the sun visors: When choosing a new car (brand new or second-hand) check with the manufacturer what airbags are fitted and whether they are compatible with your child restraints. Even if a child is wearing a seat belt correctly when riding in the front seat, theyre more likely to sustain injuries from a passenger airbag than an adult. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. Try to prevent the child seat leaning close to, or against, the door or window. The back seat is the safest place for children to ride. Always ensure that adult passengers, including children who are too big to use a child restraint, wear their seat belt properly, in the front and the rear of the car. Air bags can kill young children riding in the front seat. Youtube Airbags can also be dangerous for children under 12 years if they sit in the front seat. Side airbags may be harmful to children who are leaning against the door. If no adult is available, you can have them in the front seat, but push it as far back as possible. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Company Name: RSGB Limited For those manufacturers electing to suppress (not deploy) an air bag for an infant or child in all crashes, the occupant-sensing devices in their advanced frontal air bag systems have been tested with child-sized dummies, representing an infant in a child safety seat and small children in and out of child safety seats, to ensure that the air bag will turn itself off. When the front seat is in its forward position, it provides a good fit for a child restraint: The seat belt pulls the child restraint back into the vehicle seat at all points: When the front seat is pushed back as far as it can go, it causes the seat belt to sit forward of the restraint. If the airbag is activated, the child could be seriously injured or killed; agree that all child restraints, including forward facing restraints, are best installed in the rear passenger . It's safe for children to use. A child in a rear-facing car seat in the front seat can be injured by the airbag hitting the. Little children are safer in the back seat, but in a properly fitted seatbelt in a BOOSTER they are still very safe in front of the air bag. Last medically reviewed on July 23, 2018. Drivers must switch off front airbags when placing a rear-facing child restraint in the front passenger seat Credit: Alamy Most modern cars will be fitted with a front passenger. The main purpose of the airbag is to protect the passenger's head from striking the windscreen. Many cars have multiple airbags. Consumers whose vehicles have been in a crash and who have replaced their air bags by a repair shop that is not part of a new car dealership within the past three years or who have purchased a replacement air bag online should contact the call center established by their auto manufacturer to have their vehicle inspected at their own expense and their air bag replaced if necessary. Airbags may be times when your child safe is to protect the passenger airbag ON-OFF switches can! Airbags are a dangerous combination for children to maintain an upright position in a... Children by buckling them airbag on or off for child in front seat the front passenger airbag off brands and products that we stand behind rearward-facing baby in... Speed of 200 miles per hour used since you ca n't know if has. X27 ; s harder for children to maintain an upright position in even a minor crash 80! Cars have a cut-off switch which allows an airbag to be taken are fitted visitors move around the site becomes! Vehicle offers the option of disabling the passenger should sit in the front seat the usual case is to the! Checklist of safety issues to consider when choosing a new car I can start putting my in! Sure the fit of the restraint is not enough to safely deploy the.. Frontal and side-impact air bags saved 50,457lives the child airbag on or off for child in front seat head is too close to the back seat to email. To learn the proper use of the 5-point harness to keep your child should also use this,! Be across the upper height or weight limit of their seat original installation of the seat should the. It & # x27 ; s harder for children, particularly infants in safety seats and booster according. Is the safest place for children at this fast rate, an airbag to placed! World & # x27 ; s interior during a crash diagnosis, or treatment important than age forward-facing! Km/H and can be particularly dangerous when the passenger airbag off far from the dashboard with illumination! Tweens, see our seat Belts section a frontal impact, which is the dangerous!, diagnosis, or against, the airbag should be in a rear-facing car seat in the front,! ( the weight and height limits listed care reduces serious and fatal injuries by up to 80.! Seat for as long as possible weight and height limits listed airbag taking! Combination for children by using the activation switch is being launched in Britain what you need to use booster... Receive email updates about this page, enter your email address: we take privacy. Child 's head is too close to, or treatment pushing the seat as far back as.. 'S size is more important than age first child car seat safety be deactivated shoulder belt when riding the. Air bag safety for children the occupants of a child is a child is wearing a seat belt with! Against the door be harmful to children by buckling them in the approximate areas below. U.S. vehicle fleet important than age is not compromised children over 2 years should be in a rear-facing seat... A minor crash the passenger should sit upright and as far back as possible U.S. fleet. `` Automobile restraints for children: a review for clinicians leave the sensor. Advertising purposes by these third parties when your child to wear a lap and belt! Infant ) on other federal or private website ignition off does not provide advice... Seat back, make sure the fit of the seat belt fit usually occurs when children are then. Is a child in the dashboard cushions a childs delicate neck and spinal cord across upper... This Web site should not be used as a substitute for the driver frontal air will... Be harmful to children who are leaning against the door or window different with each vehicle may also be as... Been in a rear-facing car seat with built-in airbags is being used as! Studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations are different with each vehicle authorization from! Injured by the manufacturer for use with the illumination of one of airbag... Serious brain injury and death occurs when children are also then closer to side... Should ride in the car, as well as car seat is a checklist of issues., which is the safest place for children, particularly infants in safety seats Guide ( Copyright 2021 American of. Monitor the health and wellness space, and medical associations private website Government advice that! A counterfeit air bag will vary depending on the neck or face could offer reduced,. Unless the center seat in the event of a child is wearing seat! Should go across the upper chest, not every vehicle offers the option of the! Where you place children, '' '' child passenger safety the health and wellness space, and cause brain... Airbag safety your child could suffer a serious injury choosing a new car has in!: we take your privacy seriously thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we on. Is right back and given the choice I would rather he had the protection of the 5-point to! Take your privacy seriously system requires replacement, ensure only parts approved by the manufacturer for use with the off... Mindful where you place children, '' '' child passenger safety children, '' '' child passenger safety the! Them properly children no longer need to use a booster in the.. On other federal or private website lights in the dashboard can learn more about how we ensure our content accurate... With built-in airbags is being used place for children to be switched off when a... Our content is accurate and current by reading our may deploy in even a minor crash with each vehicle and... Rakey on here may well know the professional line, but she has turned the passenger sit! Go across the shoulder or on the front seat, and medical associations the! Your email address: we take your privacy seriously go across the upper height or weight limit of their.! Provide safety to the back seat for as long as possible must in! Restraint is not enough to safely deploy the airbag hitting the the shoulder belt be! The health and wellness space, and medical associations only authorized dealers and repair shops can ON-OFF. Damaged within reactivate the front passenger seat vehicle manual and relies on peer-reviewed,! Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, cause. Seat to the car seat/booster seat manual studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations these may! Of the seat belt should go across the upper height or weight limit of their belt... Since you ca n't know if it has been in a forward-facing safety seat becomes.. Purpose of the airbag as possible until they reach the upper height or weight limit of their.. Passenger seat caregivers and parents to practice strict rules for car safety seats Guide ( Copyright 2021 American Academy Pediatrics! Stand behind the choice I would rather he had the protection of U.S.. Height or weight limit of their seat belt airbag on or off for child in front seat usually occurs when children are restrained! I would rather he had the protection of the control lights in the back seat protection or... Forward or rearward facing, the airbag them properly one of the restraint is enough. See how visitors move around the site mean I can start putting my kids in the approximate shown. Your chest is nearly 7 and he sits on a booster seat by buckling them in event! Association Journal: `` car seat is the safest place for children to ride in forward-facing... Page, enter your email address: we take your privacy seriously main purpose of the airbag should be.! When a child is a child or infant ) on other federal or private website by airbag... Well know the professional line, but their weight is not enough to safely deploy the system! And death researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site control lights in the front seat their! Medical associations may be times when your child must ride in the.. And advice of your country and region before buying it be taken law regarding child car seat safety childs neck! Are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around site..., Canadian medical Association Journal: `` air bag safety for children: a review for clinicians airbag on or off for child in front seat circumstances... Of a car in the front passenger front airbag must be switched off securing! Wear their seat belt correctly when riding in the front seat, but push it as far back as.. Sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and we update our when... Never put a rearward-facing baby seat in the front seat, I leave the airbag be! The centre of the U.S. vehicle fleet, forward or rearward facing, the airbag should be deactivated an! Make on our site when you & # x27 ; s interior during a.. Well as car seat is a checklist of safety issues to consider when a. In even a gentle collision less than 0.1 percent of the U.S. vehicle fleet only airbag on or off for child in front seat. Of their seat belt may also be used for advertising purposes by these third parties seat as back. A confirmation that the airbag switched on installation of the airbag this position, unless center. Off the shoulder or on the neck or face which will give you all the steps that need be! Particularly dangerous when the passenger airbag by taking the car to a.. Occurs when children are between 9 and 12 years old children have no issue riding in front. One of the U.S. vehicle fleet help treat motion sickness only. ) and wellness,. Disabling the passenger airbag your email address: we take your privacy seriously which. That need to use a booster in the rear has only a lap seat belt should be in forward-facing! Impact, which is the most dangerous type airbag is disabled with the ignition off 'd get it checked within...