Elantra - seat covers and side air bags

VicTek · Feb 1, 2007

When I first got my 2003 Elantra I considered front seat covers, but heard
that there was an issue with possibly obstructing the deployment of the side
air bags (which are in the seat backs). I'm thinking again that seat covers
would be good and I wonder if covers are now available that don't interfere
with the air bags?

Hyundaitech · Feb 1, 2007

I saw a car with something that looked like it was designed to allow
the air bag to come out through the add-on seat cover. I don’t know
where it’s available, however

Wayne Moses · Feb 1, 2007

Reply to message from "VicTek" <[email protected]> (Thu, 01 Feb 2007 10:49:18)
about "Elantra - seat covers and side air bags":

V> When I first got my 2003 Elantra I considered front seat covers, but
V> heard that there was an issue with possibly obstructing the deployment
V> of the side air bags (which are in the seat backs). I'm thinking again
V> that seat covers would be good and I wonder if covers are now available
V> that don't interfere with the air bags?

I too would like to know the definitive answer to this issue since I also
had the same idea about seat covers obstructing the airbags.

That said my seats are leather and tightly stitched up so how does the
airbag deploy?

Best Regards
Wayne Moses <[email protected]> Thu, 01 Feb 2007 18:03:13 -0600

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Brian Nystrom · Feb 2, 2007

Wayne said:
Reply to message from "VicTek" <[email protected]> (Thu, 01 Feb 2007 10:49:18)
about "Elantra - seat covers and side air bags":

V> When I first got my 2003 Elantra I considered front seat covers, but
V> heard that there was an issue with possibly obstructing the deployment
V> of the side air bags (which are in the seat backs). I'm thinking again
V> that seat covers would be good and I wonder if covers are now available
V> that don't interfere with the air bags?

I too would like to know the definitive answer to this issue since I also
had the same idea about seat covers obstructing the airbags.

That said my seats are leather and tightly stitched up so how does the
airbag deploy?

It rips out through the side of the seat around the shoulder area.
Remember, air bag deployment is only supposed to happen in
life-threatening events, so damage to the seats, dash, steering wheel,
etc. is a secondary consideration.

VicTek · Feb 2, 2007

Brian Nystrom said:
It rips out through the side of the seat around the shoulder area.
Remember, air bag deployment is only supposed to happen in
life-threatening events, so damage to the seats, dash, steering wheel,
etc. is a secondary consideration.

Yes, I checked my seat backs - there's a tag that says SRS Airbag along the
outside edge and the seam is sewn, so if the bag deployed it would certainly
rip and maybe destroy the upholstery. Anyway, seems like we're not certain
about the safety of seat covers at this point (?)

Hyundaitech · Feb 2, 2007

Wayne Moses said:
That said my seats are leather and tightly stitched up so how does the

airbag deploy?

Your seat covers are made to come apart in the event of a deployment.
They’ve got a failure point designed into the cover. It’s not
dissimilar to steering wheel or dash air bags. The trim is
constructed to split open in a certain way.

Wayne Moses · Feb 2, 2007

Reply to message from Brian Nystrom <[email protected]> (Fri, 02
Feb 2007 06:02:44) about "Re: Elantra - seat covers and side air bags":

BN> It rips out through the side of the seat around the shoulder area.
BN> Remember, air bag deployment is only supposed to happen in life-
BN> threatening events, so damage to the seats, dash, steering wheel, etc.
BN> is a secondary consideration.

Agreed, and I suspected this is what happens.

I was wondering if here was perhaps some sort of mechanism in the air bag
assembly to aid in 'busting through' this apparently solidly stitched seat
cover, or if it simply relied on sheer explosive power to rip through.

Maybe there is a cutting edge that helps start the ripping apart. That
would certainly reduce the magnitude of the explosive power required to
deploy the air bag.

What I am getting at is - if it were just relying on explosive power only
then adding a regular seat cover would add an extra 'membrane' layer the
bag would have to bust through.

Best Regards
Wayne Moses <[email protected]> Fri, 02 Feb 2007 08:15:23 -0600

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Wayne Moses · Feb 2, 2007

Reply to message from Hyundaitech <[email protected]> (Fri, 02 Feb 2007 13:25:
14) about "Re: Re: Elantra - seat covers and side air bags":

H> Your seat covers are made to come apart in the event of a deployment.
H> They’ve got a failure point designed into the cover. It’s not
H> dissimilar to steering wheel or dash air bags. The trim is constructed
H> to split open in a certain way.

Thanks - this is the explanation I was looking for - designed-in failure
point / line.

Best Regards
Wayne Moses <[email protected]> Fri, 02 Feb 2007 20:48:04 -0600

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Brian Nystrom · Feb 10, 2007

Wayne said:
Reply to message from Brian Nystrom <[email protected]> (Fri, 02
Feb 2007 06:02:44) about "Re: Elantra - seat covers and side air bags":

BN> It rips out through the side of the seat around the shoulder area.
BN> Remember, air bag deployment is only supposed to happen in life-
BN> threatening events, so damage to the seats, dash, steering wheel, etc.
BN> is a secondary consideration.

Agreed, and I suspected this is what happens.

I was wondering if here was perhaps some sort of mechanism in the air bag
assembly to aid in 'busting through' this apparently solidly stitched seat
cover, or if it simply relied on sheer explosive power to rip through.

Maybe there is a cutting edge that helps start the ripping apart. That
would certainly reduce the magnitude of the explosive power required to
deploy the air bag.

That seems highly unlikely, as anything sharp would be a potential
hazard, even with a side airbag.

What I am getting at is - if it were just relying on explosive power only
then adding a regular seat cover would add an extra 'membrane' layer the
bag would have to bust through.

That's exactly the issue. The stitching and material strength in the
side of the seat is most certainly carefully calibrated to the power of
the airbag. That wouldn't be true of a seat cover. The only safe course
of action is to not cover the area from which the airbag deploys.